Bexhill Town Profile - Rother District Council

6.32 There is some pedestrian movement between the northern parts of the town
centre and the town centre core, by way of a pedestrian footbridge over the
railway line located to the east of Devonshire Square. This is however, a
clear barrier to movement and clearly separates the two components of the
town centre.
6.33 There is good penetration into the centre by buses from within Bexhill and
from Eastbourne, Hastings and Rye. A community-run bus also operates
within Bexhill concentrating on improving public transport accessibility in
and around the town centre.
6.34 Cycle access is perhaps not so developed, although there are plans for a
local cycle network, as well as current work by East Sussex County Council
for a new path extending from Hastings to connect to the existing route from
Ravenside Retail Park over Galley Hill.
6.35 A positive aspect is that the railway station itself is relatively close to the
town centre, fronting Sea Road, although there is a considerable noncommercial
frontage along Endwell Road, between the station and
Devonshire Square.
6.36 Other notable linkages are those between the town centre and the leisure
and community uses along the seafront and at Egerton Park, approximately
325 m to the west of Sackville Road. As well as the various leisure uses
often associated with seaside towns – sailing club, rowing club, cafes,
amusement arcade, “bucket and spade” shops – the iconic 1930’s
modernist De La Warr Pavilion is an attraction in its own right as well as for
the exhibitions, events and performances it hosts. Egerton Park hosts the
town’s Museum and Art Gallery as well as attractive gardens and recreation
facilities.
6.37 Within the town centre, its street pattern means that there is no clear centre,
nor are there any pedestrianised areas within the town centre.
Consequently, pedestrian traffic is dispersed, perhaps with greatest activity
around the Western Road/Devonshire Road area. St Leonard’s Road and
Sackville Road appear to have somewhat less pedestrian activity and
include more local neighbourhood shops.
6.38 Car parking is mainly on street, with only the car parks being next to the De
La Warr Pavilion and a small one on Eversley Road. There is also
Sainsbury’s own car park and a car park off Wainwright Road, accessed
from Beeching Road, but this is generally viewed as too distant and
inaccessible from the centre. Untypically of town centres today, there is onstreet
parking on all the shopping roads, supplemented by spaces on
Station Road and along the seafront, as well as on surrounding residential
streets.
6.39 The only real opportunity to create more off-street spaces is as part of a
redevelopment scheme, as currently provided for. Capacity may also be
created by increasing turnover of spaces, and directing longer stay parking
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