October 11, 2018 3.30 pm This story is over 65 months old

Angry campaigners call for public meeting on Colonnade’s future

The council won’t say what they want to do
Posters on the beach huts. Photo: Daniel Jaines

Campaigners angry at “the lack of proposals and time-scale for consultation” of Sutton on Sea Colonnade have called for councillors to hold a public meeting.

However, they were told a nearby paddling pool was “not under any threat of closure” as the debate around the resort continued.

At a meeting of East Lindsey District Council on Wednesday, campaigner Rebecca Dale asked the authority to provide its proposal regarding the structure quoting from the newly-adopted local plan which included “greater protection than before for our historic environment and heritage assets.”

Posters on the colonnade. Photo: Daniel Jaines

In a letter, now-former Chief Executive Stuart Davy, who left the authority on Wednesday, said the council would be undertaking a consultation on regeneration plans for the Colonnade and the Pleasure Gardens.

But, he said no date for when the consultation would begin could be given.
He said however: “As an aside, but linked, I want to be clear… the paddling pool at Sutton on Sea, located by the Colonnade, is not under any threat of closure.”

Ms Dale also asked Councillor Steve Kirk, portfolio holder for coastal economy, to hold a public meeting ‘as soon as possible’.

Mr Kirk responded by saying he was not frightened by the prospect of a public meeting.

He said: “I have no issues meeting with as many people as possible so whatever conclusion we come to is the right one for Sutton on Sea, it’s residents, holiday makers and the whole of the East Coast.”

Following the meeting Ms Dale said: “There wasn’t much in the answer to my original question than isn’t on their website apart from I think the paddling pool is definitely out of the scope of that consultation – so that’s saved.

“Although we’ve had reports that ELDC are happy to talk, there’s still no real commitment to any time-scale on a public meeting.

“People in Sutton are really, really angry about the lack of proposals and lack of any time scale and the constant twisting and turning of what is happening with this issue.

“They’ve basically got no plans, no time-scale and no time-scale for consulting with the residents of Sutton on Sea.”

Campaigners aiming to save the beach huts on the Sutton on Sea Colonnade say they want the council to preserve the resort’s skyline.

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