Dear Sir
I have seen today the plans that you describe as ‘the regeneration of Pevensey Bay’, and whilst I have some scepticism about the reception that the plans will receive from some local stalwarts that seem to want nothing to change in Pevensey Bay, nonetheless I must congratulate the people concerned who have raised the funds involved to commence these plans.
Perhaps it might be a good idea to consult with local residents as this early stage development takes place to see that their thoughts and ideas can be incorporated into these plans? In this way the matter could potentially involve the whole community.
One passing thought is that with many disabled people utilise the services of the Boots Chemist locally, and many other businesses. The entrance to the businesses should be adequately left free, for example for people, who are entering these premises by assisted means of some kind (mobility scooters), of which there are a number in Pevensey Bay, and it has to be said from other locations in the area. Disabled people are conveyed into the Bay for a variety of purchases and by a variety of means.
Having said that, and with this proviso in mind, nonetheless, I must congratulate the people that have come up with this idea.
I note also that some kind of ‘modern sculpture’ is planned to commemorate the ‘Pevensey Whale’. Would it not be sensible to communicate with the residents of Pevensey Bay about this idea at an early consultative stage before plans go ahead for such a scheme? It would seem to me that a potential funder would be unlikely to consider such a promotion, unless some consultation procedure with local people had taken place first.
Having said that, again, I see the possibility of some kind of ‘modern sculpture’ to the Pevensey Whale as being a potential welcome addition indeed to what is called I believe, the ‘street furniture’ of the locality, and most certainly such a sculpture would be likely to draw some interest from residents and visitors, if it were to have artistic merit.
I wonder on balance whether consideration is being given to what this sculpture might be? Some concrete constructions, it has to be said, in modern shopping precincts, turn out to be monstrosities. I do not think that such a construction would be of any value in the ‘commemoration’ of the Pevensey Whale. Quite the reverse. The ‘sculpture’ could become a talking point for all the wrong reasons.
You may not be old enough to remember but there was such a concrete ‘monstrosity’ in Churchill Square in Brighton in the sixties. I believe that the local Brighton Town corporation, as was, demolished the construction, without at the time consulting inhabitants. Or perhaps they simply moved the horror of the concrete construction out of view of the public. Perhaps such lack of consultation was to the distinct benefit of inhabitants of Brighton with regard to this case.
If there is to be a ‘sculpture’ of some description, having now seen one of the plans for the ‘regeneration’ of the Bay, which I must say are creating some kind of interest in my household, would it not be more sensible and practical to position such a sculpture not in the Sea Road car park, which is I believe is the plan, but in the shopping parade as part of these planter arrangements, which will quite possibly bring the kind of colour that you describe?
Would this not be a more sensible place for such a sculpture? Surely it would be seen by many more people than somewhere out of view in the Sea Road Car Park? After all, the visual appeal of these potentially interesting developments would then work together would they not on some kind of visual, spatial basis?
Please do not label us all as fuddy duddies, we can see the possible value of work that is being done, it is simply that perhaps our views are worth considering, since we have significant knowledge of schemes that have been promoted as possibilities for the Bay, which after the event, do not see the light of day.
I do think that the matter of disabled visitors to the business premises in Pevensey Bay is worthy of consideration with regard to the positioning of these potentially interesting planters that you describe.
Yours respectfully
Harry Caulfield
Pevensey Bay resident
