A popular restaurant and bar on Southbourne Beach Promenade is appealing for people to write in and support its plans to stay on site until 2027.
SOBO Beach is applying for planning permission to continue at its location while BCP Council decide on a permanent solution.
However, owner Rich Slater says that what he describes as a pernicious campaign to try and rally people against the application has come to his attention.
He stresses that the restaurant and bar will not be expanding over the next three years and everything will remain exactly as it has been for the last two summers.
Residents and customers are being urged to log in to the BCP planning portal and leave a comment of support.
Anyone with issues or concerns is asked to contact SOBO Beach so that they can try and resolve any matters.
In a social media post, Rich says: “I’m here to say that I know we’re not perfect, and that admission is important.
“By admitting we are not perfect we can keep working on improving, doing little things and big things to make ourselves better every day.
“Just to clarify we’re applying for temporary planning permission in order to stay on site until 2027, which will hopefully give BCP Council long enough to decide what to do with the site permanently.
“We’re not expanding our existing offer in this application, and everything is exactly as it is now and has been for the past two summers.
“We are continuing to work on noise solutions ahead of this summer to ensure the area remains peaceful and idyllic, whilst we still hope to maintain our core events that have given a good time to so many.
“So please, we love being here at SOBO Beach, and it would be a shame to see the site sit desolate if planning is rejected (there is no plan B on the table).
“It’s always easy to garner objections, but getting people to actually sit down and submit a letter of support is never so simple.
“I urge you if you can spare a few minutes to support us we will continue to work to be better every day, and continue to serve the local community in every way possible.”
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