LOCALS say their town is being turned into "Disneyland-on-sea" and they're furious because they don't want busloads of screaming kids ruining their lives.
The new plans to build an educational community garden in the idyllic coastal town of Seaford, East Sussex, have been met with controversy from residents.
The gardens, which would sit alongside a row of seafront homes which gaze out across the English Channel, would include sculptures, planters and seating.
According to the application, the garden would act as learning facility providing information about climate change – and help improve pedestrian paths and cycle lanes.
One homeowner, who lives in a seafront home, is livid at the idea and said they don't want the development on the meadow.
Another objector described it as “Disneyland by the Sea, attracting coach loads of noisy children excited at the thought of cultivated flowers in rusting steel containers and mothers with screaming babies and toddlers sitting on Disney seating and yet more fish-inspired sculptures”.
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Kevin Gibbs, 73, told The Sun Online: “I don’t like it and I don’t think it’s the right thing for this area at all.
“You’re going to get busloads of kids coming down on school trips and it will get very busy.
“They should spend the money on improving the seafront toilets rather than wasting money on gardens.
"I am disabled and the toilet facilities on the seafront are absolutely dire and in the summer the place is dreadful.
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“After 5pm they lock the toilets and you get people using this whole area as an open toilet – it’s disgusting.
"Instead on concentrating their efforts on new gardens they should improve the facilities they already have.”
Resident Sarah Austin said: “Parking is already really bad with people visiting the beach leaving their cars parked all over the place.
"If you’ve got buses and all sorts of vehicles coming down here it is going to be crazy.”
Leonard Peach, 95, a retired plumber, also said if plans were to be approved, parking would be a "huge issue".
He added: “The seafront is already jam-packed with cars whenever the sun comes out.
“My wife, Elizabeth – who has lived here for more than 50 years – are against it.
"We don’t think it’s right at all. It’s just going to lead to problems.”
However, some weren't totally against the idea.
Diana Chesildene-Culley, 79, said: “I think it is a nice idea and a good use of that land but it has to be managed properly.
"We want it to be an asset to the area and it needs to be looked after.
“It would be bad if it was vandalised or left to go to wrack and ruin but I’m broadly in favour of it.”
Resident Paul Gribbin, 73, whose home backs onto the grassland, said: “I think it would be a good thing but only if it is kept looking nice.
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"It would be a nice addition to the seafront as the land isn’t doing much at the moment. I support the plans.”
The scheme had been proposed by a partnership known as Ouse Valley Climate Action, which has secured funding from the National Lottery through a bid led by the South Downs National Park Authority.
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