'Future' exhibition seen by 1,900

Just under 1,900 people had been through the exhibition at Marina by the time it closed. Last Friday's Observer coverage extended over four pages. Saturday's final day saw staff inundated by more than 600 visitors.

On display were three competing designs for the 60-bed hotel, office space and shops that the regeneration taskforce wants to put on the Metropole putting green.

Regeneration body Sea Space short-listed top international architectural practices Ahrends, Burton and Koralek; van Heyningen Haward with Chapman Taylor and Aukett Ltd. to submit designs.

The panel will re-convene on April 30 to re-examine the competing designs in the like of public consultation.

Sea Space communications manager Jayne Skipper said on Wednesday that 850 questionnaires had so far been counted.

"I think the main reason for not having as many questionnaires filled out as numbers through the door is that couples often chose to fill out one questionnaire between them."

Asked which firm's plans the public favoured, she said: "There is no indication yet. It is too early to tell. We have a guy brought in as an analyst who is going through the questionnaires now."

The public's response to the opportunity to view the competing designs and to air their views has pleased Sea Space.

Jayne Skipper said: "I was really pleased with the numbers. I think we got a lot more through the door than I had thought.

"Saturday was fantastic. It was hugely busy with about 600 through on that day. The place was packed all the time.

"Also, we were impressed by how overwhelmingly positive people were about making changes in Bexhill and there was quite a mixture of views about the different designs. I think, having chatted to my colleagues - and from the answers I was given at the exhibition, one firm seems to be at the forefront - but we won't know for sure until we have the analysis from the questionnaires."

The analysis will have to be completed in two weeks to allow the panel a fortnight to absorb the data before it reconvenes.

Asked about the number of people who had objections to the siting of any of the schemes on the Metropole lawn, she said: "I think it was not as many as people would have us believe.

"Clearly, there are some people who don't want anything on there but it was quite a small number in fact."