18-month time-scale for decision on £12m marina plan

Alex McPherson told one questioner that two development companies were interested in backing the scheme.

Outlining the proposed time-scale for another, he said the next stage would be the necessary - and expensive - coastal survey.

This could take three months. It would be another six months before the survey was published. A planning application would then have to be prepared for submission to Rother.

"We could be looking at 18 months before a decision."

Mr McPherson had his model of the proposed development on display in the De La Warr Pavilion for Tuesday's meeting.

Following the Observer's report on his plans, he had been invited to the previous Town Forum and had returned to give representatives of town organisations an update.

Mr McPherson had set out to gauge local opinion on the scheme before proceeding.

Following calls from local traders he had put books in local stores where shoppers could set out their views.

He told the forum: "I have been astounded at the number of people who want it."

Some 97% of responses had been positive.

He said his scheme for a small marina east of Bexhill Sailing Club did not seek to replicate Brighton Marina or Eastbourne's Sovereign Harbour.

The idea was for an 85-100 berth marina with an 84-bedroomed hotel, nine shops and restaurants and underground parking.

The proposal was to build in Edwardian style to match the De La Warr Parade architecture. The hotel would be on one harbour arm with the shops on the other. By putting these at right angles to the parade interruption of the sea view would be minimised .

He told questioners that he had been in discussion with Rother planning department to ensure that the scheme was something which they could consider sympathetically.