Council rejects "botanical necropolis" claims for seafront

Anthony Hamilton, 70, of Southcourt Avenue, claims the loss of protection afforded by the small wall between the bed and the sea, which was knocked down this week as part of the Next Wave seafront redevelopment, will result in wind, sea spray and shingle destroying the plants.

He is also sceptical of the choice of plants, which he says will not survive more than a year on Bexhill's seafront.

Rother District Council have dismissed the claims, saying a specialist horticulture consultant worked with experienced local groundstaff to design the new beds.

Mr Hamilton, who recently retired as a senior lecturer in botany and plant science at the University of East London, said: "When it's done it will look fantastic but come the autumn, gales will start and it will all be smashed to pieces.

"A few years down the line I think Bexhill is going to be left with an awful mess in its flower beds."

He pointed to the lime and maple trees at Glyne Gap car park, saying he warned the council they would not survive. He claims the first set of trees were replaced with birch trees, which have now also died.

He denied that this latest objection to the Next Wave scheme was part of a wider protest movement designed to disrupt the 5.1 million project, and said the 10-inch kerbs replacing the two-foot high walls would not give plants the same level of protection.

The landscape design by consultancy HTA, which includes evergreen shrubs, flowering plants, Japanese roses and geraniums, says it aims for plants which "thrive despite extreme coastal exposure".

Horticulture journalist and lecturer Noel Kingsbury, who was involved in choosing Bexhill's new plants, could not prepare comment by the time of going to press.

Next Wave project officer Janice Windle said: "While we understand concerns about planting in what can be a hostile seafront environment, we are confident the planting schemes brought in by Next Wave will be a success.

"Next Wave allows for greater numbers of plants and flowers than already exist on the seafront and they will provide a spectacular addition to the promenade.

"Recognising the importance of planting, HTA, our lead consultants, have sought the advice of horticulture experts on plants suitable for the promenade paying special consideration to Bexhill's seafront environment."