Hotel need: Where is the evidence?

The independent economic impact evaluation on the De La Warr Pavilion sets out in 64 pages to show that the product of the building's 9m refurbishment is to generate 16m a year for the region.

But the Creative Impact study also says, in effect, that the rest of Bexhill has not kept pace.

Going over long-familiar ground, it says wages locally are 20% lower than the rest of the country, that Bexhill as a shopping centre lacks the multiple stores a town of its size would normally be expected to have, offers few opportunities for young people to start their working lives and lacks a single pub, restaurant or hotel listed in any recognised quality guide.

It also highlights the poor public transport links.