Pub plan withdrawn

Developers had applied for a change of use to turn the former Courts building, in St Leonards Road, into a bar.

It would have been made for one the largest pubs in Bexhill.

The scheme had looked set to be rejected after officers had advised members to move for a refusal.

Chief planning officer Frank Rallings said the principal of a pub is not objectionable, but new flats have been built above which may be effected by noise from downstairs.

He told members in his report: "I am not convinced the question of noise disturbance can be adequately addressed. The premises are large and noise will exit the building with the opening of doors and the fact that smokers would have no alternative to using the pavement area or the small recessed area to the side in front of the entrances to the flats above.

"There does not appear to be an area available for the storage of waste and recycling bins as there is no rear yard. Indeed, the flats above now have two large scale wheelie bins at the St Leonards Road frontage; this arrangement is not good but it would be worse for residents if the area were also a general smoking area."