Row flares over office block

In a withering statement regeneration boss John Shaw demanded a public apology from the Save Our Seafront group, labelling their illustration of the proposed office and apartment block on Marina, as "misleading".

The Sea Space director called the work a "grossly exaggerated piece of juvenile art."

SOS chairman John Lee hit back by saying, "No apology is necessary and one will not be forthcoming."

The pictures were produced by SOS member Jackie Bialeska, based on illustrations she and other members of the recent Community Enquiry were shown.

The Observer published them in October after Sea Space declined to provide the newspaper with authentic drawings of the proposed development.

Mr Shaw this week revealed his opinions on the drawing.

He said: "I want to demand a public apology for misleading the residents of Bexhill with such a grossly exaggerated piece of juvenile art.

"For the avoidance of any doubt on this account, we are not intending a building as high as Nelson's column. The only thing that is as exaggerated as SOS's art is Pinocchio's nose!

"I have spoken to umpteen members of the public who say that one of the biggest impressions they have had of what we are proposing is this art work.

"The people are entitled to a good debate. But I think that they are entitled to some honesty."

His claims were rebuffed by Mr Lee who told the Observer: "I must defend Mrs Jackie Bialeska from Mr Shaw's accusation that her drawings were deliberately exaggerated out of all proportion.

"She is an honourable person of integrity who has done Bexhillians a great service in alerting them to the dangers posed by the current regeneration proposals.

"We asked for copies of the architect's original projections but were denied these. We therefore made our own which were scaled as accurately as possible on the architect's own model." He added: "It has always, alas, been the messenger who gets shot when the message is not welcome."

The issue of Bexhill's regeneration is still prominent among correspondence to the Observer, with a heaving mailbag being received each week.

Projections of the buildings can be seen in the consultative document, "Bexhill On Sea: The Next Steps." The public consultation period is due to finish at the end of the month.