A woman who wanted a wall rebuilt around her home chaired a committee which voted to spend £15,000 of public money on the work.

Marigold Chamberlin was in the chair for the Southwater Renewal Board when the committee voted by a majority of one to spend £25,000 rebuilding three walls in Ellenslea Road, St Leonards.

The wall around Mrs Chamberlin's corner property will cost £15,000 of the total, taken from £2 million worth of grants from the European Union's Single Regeneration Budget earmarked for the St Leonards area.

The board, made up of residents, has spent money on playgrounds, improving green spaces and parks and paid for the improvement of Victorian gardens and border walls.

Nicky Woolcott, 37, a part-time student who was at the meeting, said: "I was very surprised Mrs Chamberlin did not stand down.

"Although she did not speak on the matter, she should have stood down.

"We need money spent on improving this community with more playgrounds for the young and things like that.

"This expenditure was approved by just one vote. If the voting had been tied, Mrs Chamberlin would have had the casting vote."

Mrs Chamberlin, a retired head of a language school, said the wall would enhance the area and was not for her benefit.

She said: "I am flabbergasted people are making something out of this.

"The wall is one of the first things you see when you walk up from the station.

"Other walls in the area have been done and this will complete the picture.

"I must admit I am surprised the cost is £15,000 as I would have thought replacing a few bricks would have solved the problem.

"But that is not practical and if we are to do the job properly, the whole wall needs rebuilding.

"Nobody asked me to stand down. This is not something for me. It is for the whole community."