Hastings Pier financial problems...

In a letter to shareholders, chair of Hastings Pier trustees Maria Ludkin said "trustees had examined what was successful this year and were working on a new business plan with a restructuring expert.

Cuts would be in areas which will "be fundamentally altered in the future". However, poor weather forced it to close on three occasions in August and the first night of its Beano On The Sea festival in September was also cancelled.

"Sunny holiday weekends made a lot of money for the charity, however when we had to cancel events the opposite was the case," Ms Ludkin said. She added that it would not be right to go to shareholders to raise extra funds or to borrow money and increase the pier's debts.

Jo Stewart, chief executive officer of the charity, said she was 100% sure that with the right business plan the pier would be safe in the future." See BBC website.

Council Tax Questions?

I presume that you, like me, have received your council tax bill with its heralding a 3.56% increase, a new charge for Adult Social Care, and no telling what cuts to ensue... 

Well, if you do have questions you would like to ask, Hastings Borough Council has a link from their website where you may find suitable answers.

Library Consultation now happening.

East Sussex Libraries are now consulting on reduced opening hours, including Hastings libraries, a direct consequence of Government cuts to local government expenditure. I have just completed a paper copy I collected at the library in Claremont, but it can also be completed online, or downloaded from, the East Sussex County Council website.  

Don't lose your voice, libraries are very important for civilisation, let alone society, however much, or little, one uses them...

Cross-Party Consensus on Cuts!

Surprised?!? 

The leaders of all the political parties represented on East Sussex County Council have come together to write and sign a letter to the Prime Minister expressing their concerns over government funding cuts. Despite having already made cuts in East Sussex of £78 million since 2010, a further £70 to £90 million cuts now have to be found by April 2019! 

The letter criticises the Government's funding cuts to local government spending, which does not take account of the "varying needs" of different areas in the UK, for example, East Sussex's ageing population makes the people of the county particularly vulnerable to cuts. The Council Leader, Conservative Keith Glazier, said that the cuts the council were facing would "significantly reduce the quality of life for many people in East Sussex." 

For more on this story see the BBC website or the Eastbourne Independent website.  

East Sussex Announces More Cuts!

East Sussex County Council leader, Conservative Keith Glazier, has announced that the council needs to make 20% cuts over the next 3 years because of central government cuts to local authorities, ie £81 million worth of cuts... He said "Let's make no bones about this... we will have to stop doing services."

For more about this, see the BBC website.   

No More Cuts... We should be so lucky in Hastings!

The Conservative-led Local Government Association has warned the Government against any more cuts in funding to local authorities! 

This means that whatever their political persuasion, Conservative, Labour, Green, Liberal or Independent, local authorities are unanimous in their opposition to cuts in funding, warning the Chancellor that local services would be damaged and that the vulnerable in society would be worst harmed. See this link for more information...

Don't hold your breath regarding Hastings, always the worst hit council in the South East under the last LibCon Government!  

Assault behind the fish market last night!

At about midnight last night, a local man walking his dog was attacked and physically assaulted by 3 young men (late teens or 20s) dressed in the standard muggers' gear, 'hoodies' up over their heads; never trust someone with a hoodie up is a motto I believe in! This happened behind the fish market in the old town, and the Police suspect it was an attempt to steal from the man, but they may not have noticed the dog...    

The police are studying cctv footage, locally, and going along the seafront towards the centre of town, where the attackers ran towards. It is believed one of the assailants may have a dog bite on his leg and another may have a head or facial injury, obviously, if you have any information please contact the police. In addition, even the local fishing industry area isn't always a safe place to be, so be alert, especially when alone anywhere. 

Oh yes, walking nearby, I met a friend earlier, who informed me that a stolen motorcycle was set ablaze between 2 beach huts (damaging them also) on Monday night, near where the old lido was situated at West St Leonards, any information etc etc... Neither of these incidents are on the Sussex Police website yet, and the force is looking to make further cuts in the numbers of police officers as I have previously written, tut tut...

On that jolly note, I'm looking forward to the public meeting this evening!