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RESIDENTS, visitors and businesses are being urged to have their say on the future of Eastbourne’s controversial Carpet Gardens after the council launched a major public survey into the landmark’s new look.
The town’s iconic seafront gardens became the centre of heated debate last year after Eastbourne Borough Council replaced the traditional colourful bedding displays, which had been a defining feature of the resort for decades, with a more naturalistic and sustainable planting scheme.
When the redesign was first unveiled in 2025, many residents criticised the stark contrast, with some describing the new appearance as sparse and underwhelming compared to the vibrant floral displays Eastbourne had long been known for.
At the time, designers and council leaders urged patience, explaining that the planting would need time to establish, with the full vision not expected to become apparent for up to 12 months.
Now, with the gardens beginning to mature and pockets of colour emerging across the site, the council says the time has come for the public to decide what should happen next.
An independent survey, launched on Monday (May 18), is inviting residents, visitors and local businesses to share their views on the future of the Carpet Gardens. The consultation will run until Sunday, August 31.
Eastbourne Borough Council leader Stephen Holt told Eastbourne News: “This survey is the chance for the town to tell us what they think of the new look Carpet Gardens. If you like how it looks, tell us, if you don’t like how it looks, you need to tell us too. We will look at the results and figure out the best way forward.”
Mr Holt stressed that the consultation should not only be dominated by critics of the scheme, but also by those who support the changes.
He said it was important that everyone with an opinion took the opportunity to respond, including those who believe the new approach is working.
The sustainable planting scheme was introduced as a one-year showcase designed to test whether a different style of planting could offer a more resilient, environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional bedding displays.
Council officials say the newer design has been created to better withstand Eastbourne’s challenging seafront climate, including increasingly wet winters, hotter summers and dry spells, while also improving biodiversity by using pollinator-friendly plants that provide nectar for insects and food for birds.
Unlike the traditional bedding arrangements, which require flowers to be replaced twice a year at significant cost, the newer scheme is intended to deliver year-round interest with longer-lasting planting.
To help the public compare the two approaches, one section of the Carpet Gardens has remained in the traditional summer bedding style.
Councillor Jim Murray, cabinet member for Carbon Neutral 2030, said: “The Carpet Gardens are one of Eastbourne’s most well-loved spaces, and we know people feel strongly about how they should look.
“This survey is an important opportunity for residents, visitors and local businesses to tell us what they think, having seen both styles of planting on display, and now the sustainable planting has started to bed in.”
He added: “The sustainable planting is designed to be more resilient, better for wildlife and more appropriate for the changing climate, but we fully recognise the affection many people have for the traditional bedding displays.
“The views we receive through this survey will help determine what happens next, so I would really encourage people to take part.”
However, the consultation has already prompted criticism from some residents, who argue the public should have been asked for their views before such a dramatic change was made to one of the town’s best-known landmarks.
Others say the survey has come too late, after the controversial and costly redesign has already been in place for nearly a year.
Paper copies of the survey are also available from the Seafront Office beside the Bandstand, Eastbourne Borough Council offices in Grove Road, and Qualisea Fish Restaurant in Terminus Road.
The online survey can be completed at the council’s website at lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/carpet-gardens
