Refurbishment works are now underway on Terminus Road, Eastbourne’s main high street. Investment in the town centre is welcome, and improvements to public spaces can play an important role in supporting shops, businesses and visitors.
However, we have heard a number of concerns about how these works are being carried out and the impact they may have on historic features that give Eastbourne its character.
Most concerning is the plan to remove the 13 heritage cast iron 'barley sugar' lamp posts between Bankers Corner and Bolton Road. These were specially cast from patterns based on lost Victorian originals from Devonshire Park, installed specifically to maintain our town’s unique streetscape. We understand the Council plans to scrap these beautiful columns and replace them with standard modern steel tubes.
This section of Terminus Road is lined with heritage architecture, from classical balustraded shopfronts to the historic facade of Superdrug, once a piano shop visited by Debussy. Swapping distinctive local designs for generic modern lighting risks eroding this sense of place, making Eastbourne look like just any other town. These posts are attractive, well-made and simply need refurbishment, not replacement.
Similarly, there are concerns about the removal of cast iron Victorian bollards finished in the distinctive “Eastbourne Corporation blue”. These bear the mark of E. Morris & Son, a well-known local ironfounder. You may wonder why such historic items are being removed while brand new, grey modern bollards are erected nearby.
Finally, we are seeing original Victorian red paving bricks being lifted and lost. Once removed, these materials cannot easily be replaced and opportunities to reuse them to repair other historic areas like Meads are being missed.
Phase 2 of the works is still to come, and with it we hope common sense can prevail.
