Sovereign Light Cafe thrown a lifeline

Paul Cartwright is tenant at the seafront cafe which has served residents and holidaymakers for eight years but feared he might be forced to close because the council has so far refused planning permission for a toilet block to be built behind the premises.

Paul claimed his plans were turned down because they were not in keeping with Rother's ideas for regeneration of the seafront but he received strong support from regular customers and locals who want to see the Sovereign Light Cafe continue to trade in Bexhill.

However Paul faced being fined for trading as a business which serves food and drink to the public but which does not provide toilet facilities.

Now he has met with RDC officials to discuss how he can come up with a proposal that will meet planners' approval and the compromise now is to build a toilet block on the roadside of the building for customer and staff use, with keypad entry.

Paul said: "I feel more encouraged '“ I feel there is a lifeline, something we can clutch at that will keep us open."

He will apply once more for planning permission and is also considering modernisation and improvements to the facade which the Council is suggesting might mean the lease could be extended by a further three years.

"The thing is, it looks like we are not going to have to shut," said Paul this week.

"At last this is something '“ I had nothing before. There was no way I could have opened the business and been fined every day.

"We have had lots of people wanting to sign a petition, and letters coming in, and lots of people didn't want us to shut. We did have a good response."