Clearing up Hastings the Following Morning...

This morning, you'd expect the Pram Race would have left more debris, the worst cause now is the Herring Gull, our perpetual litterlout. Taken before Paul, our intrepid street cleaner, had even started on George Street, just after 06.00, so it was reasonably well cleared up after the pubs shut last night, and many £££s were raised for charity, nice one Hastings!

And what about the forecast trouble? Well, no doubt the Police handling and preparation, not to mention catching, charging and prosecuting rioters, and some already in prison, has made a big impact. So my thanks to local dignitaries, the Police and Courts is well deserved, the organs of State are now well prepared. But I also believe the good people of Hastings, East Sussex, and around the country made an impact too. Hundreds, thousands in some places, turning up to protect our town centres and local people, and to stand against violence. Indeed, in Brighton the handful of thugs present were hiding behind the Police they'd been battering elsewhere, and were happy to seek an exit in Police buses, which they've been setting on fire elsewhere! As you can see above, squeaky clean in Hastings Cambridge Road at 06.00 this morning.

And this image shows that many decent Hastings folk turned up, not the "busload of muslims" I was told by someone yesterday were coming (not necessarily a concern), but ordinary local people; I told him he shouldn't believe everything he hears in Wetherspoons! And this morning someone told me that hundreds of Palestinians were there last night, can anyone else see the hundreds of Palestinian flags she said were present? No, I can't either, I told her to not believe everything she hears or reads on the internet, as Socrates once wrote, "Don't believe everything you see on the internet." Indeed, the anti-hate counter movement followers, the Defenders of Hastings, shall we call them, stretched back to where the Post Office used to be; I know the Police asked people not to turn up, but well done fellow Hastings citizens, respect!

George Street Update

 

All the fuss (blog), and the arson attack on the building, and not to forget wasting the fire brigade's time, risking lives, and resources that are Hastings taxpayers' money, the CCTV unit is still there, but Oasis Developments Hastings Ltd has withdrawn its application to redevelop. Suspicious, or not?!? 

Businesses (& Street) still closed but Cafe/Bar and Butchers open!

Following the significant East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service call outs last month (blog) one end of George Street remains closed, now with a CCTV van in situ (probably due to suspected re-entering of the premises by persons). Also, some shops and businesses, including HMV, remain closed at Priory Meadow (blog) and parking is still restricted in their car park; see Sussex World.

Whereas, a new South American Cafe/Bar has opened up at 44 Marina, St Leonards TN38 0BU, that is Cumbia Kitchen (website). The business having been going for over 4 years selling 'pop-up' street-style food at various festivals and venues around town, eg at the Dolphin Inn, and with a kiosk on Hastings Pier, remember the pier? 😒 

Also, a new butchers is opening at 34 Robertson Street TN34 1HT on Thursday 9th (Sussex World). Beak & Tail is the result of many years of experience working as butchers in East Sussex, London and Kent, of 2 young (compared to me) brothers, one of whom, Tom, I met this morning, Great to have a butchers back in town lads!

Anyway, very good luck to the new businesses👍

Good news and bad news here folks...

Fire Brigade active in George Street Last Night & Today!

After their intervention in Hastings town centre earlier this week (blog), East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service were back in action in numbers again when 10 fire crews last night tackled a blaze at the former night club in George Street (BBC) that I mentioned in a blog last year had planning permission approved for a change to the use of numbers 39-41. This morning, George Street and the road at the seafront was blocked off from Iceland to Rock a Nore Road/The Bourne; George Street still is closed (above).

However, the applicants for the new building venture had requested that all the buildings be demolished, but number 41 (HBC) is a grade II listed building that The Georgian Group opposed its demolition (HBC) and, more importantly, despite accepting the suggestion that numbers 39-40 be demolished, Historic Buildings & Places (Ancient Monuments Society) objected to the demolition of number 41 (HBC). They're facts.

The full list of documents concerning this application are at the Hastings Borough Council website, including those linked above.

So, as ever, rumours abound, but all we know for now is that there was a fire last night, and the above links suggest that number 41 is unlikely to be demolished, but nothing is definite, despite those objections. For now, don't believe all you read. 👌

Stay safe folks!

Hastings the Happiest Place in Sussex - Official! Plus more...

Indeed, Hastings has been rated by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as the happiest place to live in Sussex, with a happiness rating of 7.9, which is above the national average of 7.45 (Sussex Live). If you want to know more about the research, and comparisons to other 'well-being' statistics and areas of the country, go to the ONS website. It appears the really happy English live in Hexham up int' north, and Brits? Well people in Northern Ireland are the happiest, makes you wonder about the Brexit fuss on that side of the Irish Sea! But good news for us still.

Back in September I gave a very unsubtle hint about the takeover of The Italian Way by Rocksalt (blog), well it is now well and truly open, and has been busy when I've passed it whilst open, this image is from earlier this morning. And it most definitely sells Italian style food still, with just the one burger, the Rocksalt Italian Burger!

I've written a few times about the closure of St Mary in the Castle (for example, blog), not such good news, and looking into the restaurant yesterday (above) cleared of trappings, it looks pretty bleak, so for here, still not so good news, yet...

To cheer me up I took a photo of the lights in the town centre early doors, Hastings Council does like to illuminate early every year, but it does look nice. 👍

Oh yes, and the issue of 39-41 George Street, where scaffolding had blocked the road for ages until removal 2 years ago (blog), well, it's still boarded up (above), but approval has been given for the demolition of the former amusement arcade and nightclub. In its place the construction of ground floor commercial units with 20 flats above has been approved (Sussex World), see the image below of how it should then look.

That's all from me today folks, enjoy the weekend!

Just a Reminder about the Old Town Guided Walks on Tuesdays

This is just a reminder, and mostly a repeat of my previous blog about these walks returning, but the Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) Tuesday afternoon guided walks of Hastings Old Town continue on Tuesday the 10th of May (website). These are guided walks of the old town, of the "premier ancient Cinque Port." You are asked to book your place in advance, cost £6 per person, either on their website, or pop into Hastings Fishermen's Museum, call 01424 461446, or email ohpswalks@gmail.com.

You meet up by the West Hill Cafe (just above the lift by Hastings Castle, with its lower lift entrance at the west end of George Street) at 2.30pm on Tuesday, then every Tuesday until the 27th of September, plus a few other days too. There's a wealth of historic buildings, twittens and cat-creeps to explore in Hastings old town, and the volunteer guide will explain why celebrities of their day (for example, the Pre-Raphaelites in the 19th century, see blog) have, indeed, and still do, flock to Hastings. 

The walk will proceed gently downhill, including a number of steps to manage, and lasts about 2 hours. It's worth wearing comfortable walking shoes, obviously, and the weather forecast suggests it will be fine on Tuesday (Met Office).

Enjoy the day, and/or any future walks!

Hastings Lifeboat, Volunteer Vacancy, Isabel Blackman & More News

I was out earlier today, enjoying my exercise walking along the seafront, and took this 'moody' misty pier photograph (above), still closed of course, and mulling over what I should write about today. Well, I've been thinking for days now of updating regarding the COVID-19 Crisis, Lockdown and Tier 2, but I wanted to see what else the Government is offering the 100-odd Conservative MPs who are suggesting they may rebel tomorrow unless the Government provides evidence of why areas in Tier 1 before the second lockdown are rationally being placed in Tier 2 from Wednesday, and what other help the Government may provide to the Hospitality Sector, which appears to be the only sector not being allowed to reopen, unless they meet the 'substantial meal' proviso. Indeed, even Santa's Grottoes are being allowed and carol singing is to be allowed! What does the Cabinet/Scientists have against the Pub Trade in particular, which before the lockdown had worked hard to successfully implement the 'COVID-19 Safe Surroundings' requested by the Government's rules (Campaign for Pubs)? Anyway...

So, giving the COVID-19 Crisis a miss for the moment (I carry on about it a wee bit a wee bit further down!), I'll move on to Hastings Lifeboat, their television appearance, and an important volunteer vacancy that has been announced. First, we should all be aware of the lifeboat's involvement in Storm Ciara earlier in the year (BBC), but were you aware that this incident was included in the BBC television programme Saving Lives at Sea last week? Go to the BBC website to catch up on iPlayer if you missed it.

With regard to the vacancy, the Volunteer Fundraising Group Leader for Hastings RNLI is being sought, and with many thanks to Sue who has held this position for many years now... This rewarding role includes raising awareness and to create ways of raising funds for the RNLI  and our local lifeboat (website).

Other news includes the scaffolding that has been at the end of George Street for eons (a wee exaggeration) has now been removed, as Councillor Bacon assured us it would be recently on his twitter feed, following the building being 'made safe.' You will appreciate that this photograph wasn't taken today, but yesterday. 😎 

Even better news, the Isabel Blackman Centre in Winding Street has been saved from extinction, having been bought by a consortium of community groups following a long campaign that helped to gain the required funding, as reported by Emma Harwood in Hastings Online Times; go to their website for the excellent full report.

Oh yes... Happy St Andrew's Day! 

Sadly True

Leader/Editor Comment:

Finally! The COVID-19 Crisis, and a few relevant updates I thought I should share from other media sources, as you will be aware if a regular reader of mine, I am not exactly complementary about the Government's handling of this crisis (for example this blog), nor its incompetent, perhaps corrupt, waste of £ billions of taxpayers money and, notably, Hastings going from the safest local area, with the lowest incidence of COVID-19 in England and Wales, to being designated in Tier 2 two weeks later (blog). However, these links provide some relevant further reading, make up your own minds:

The R Rate is now below 1 (BBC), a fact which is supported by the highly respected Imperial College React-1 Study, of over 100,000 people this month, that estimated the R Rate to have fallen to 0.88 (BBC), whilst the nationwide incidence of COVID-19 has fallen by 30% since Lockdown Two began in early November! 

Oh yes! And just how reliable are the stats regarding infection rates? Another report highlights that during the 19th and 23rd of November, 1311 people were noted as testing 'positive' but the test results were actually void (BBC), and that figure, and who knows how many other errors, has obviously been included in deciding what Tiers local areas should go into. Complete and utter ineptitude...

Hopefully I can provide more positive news soon, but whatever, please remember to carry on being careful folks, wear face coverings where appropriate, maintain social distancing of 2 metres, and wash your hands regularly. Be safe! 

If you've got down to here I am impressed 😉 Look after yourselves!

Old Town Guided Walk

Tomorrow afternoon (23rd July) sees the regular Tuesday Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) free guided walk of Hastings Old Town (website). If you wish to take part, and it is well worth it, meet up by the top of the West Hill Lift by 2.30 pm (lower entrance at the west end of George Street). An OHPS volunteer will guide your exploration of the historic buildings of the old town, walking the twittens and cat creeps, and tell you why celebrities of their day flocked to Hastings, and many still do!

The walk proceeds gently downhill, with some steps, and lasts about 2 hours. It is provided free of charge, although the OHPS would be grateful for any donations made, many thanks. Wearing comfortable walking shoes is sensible, of course, and the weather forecast is for a sunny day tomorrow, so please be prepared, particularly, if like me, you catch the sun quickly, so a hat and/or Factor 50 applied may well be appropriate, and do enjoy yourselves!

Hastings Soup Kitchens and Workhouses...

Having recently written about Hastings Foodbank (blog) and the Snowflake Winter Night Shelter (blog) I then thought about similar facilities for poorer people in Hastings over 100 years ago, how can things still be so desperate, haven't we developed as a caring nation, the 5th/6th richest country in the World?!? For example, this shop in Queens Road (above) used to be a soup kitchen, as shown in a photograph of this building taken in 1909 that is in the Hastings Edition of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Robert Tressell (Wordsworth Editions, 2014).

And the building that was the Hastings Old Town Workhouse is still in George Street (Hastings Chronicle), also with a rather nicer usage now!

Since 1909 Britain has fought in 2 World Wars and many others around the world, however, in 1945 Britain adopted the fight against the "5 Evils" described by Beveridge, and there should thus be freedom from "Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor and Idleness."* The Attlee Labour governments began that fight against the 5 evils despite Britain being in considerable debt following World War 2. The NHS was created, Full Employment was a target, the Education system became improved and available to children and young adults of all classes, Unemployment, Sickness and Welfare Benefits and Pensions were improved, and a great wave of building decent homes for the public was started, indeed, the number of council houses built was surpassed by Conservative governments during the 1950s. By the early 1960s there was virtual full employment, even in the late 1970s you could walk into a job which was offered to you on the spot.

How did we allow the return of the evils, poverty and homelessness continuing to worsen despite Britain being a much richer country now than it was in 1945? Hastings is the 7th worst town in the country for unemployment (nomis). Life expectancy in Britain is lower than in other developed countries and has stopped rising, indeed, lowered in some areas of the country (BBC). Furthermore, fear of the USA helping to further privatise the NHS as part of a trade deal when we leave the EU, this may well increase the influence of the evil of Disease.

Makes me feel rather sad, and angry!


* Derek Fraser, The Evolution of the British Welfare State, Macmillan 2nd edition 1984.

Memorial and snow...

I just walked back from the old town, I took this photograph of the excellent memorial to Ron Everett (Popeye - blog) in Butlers Gap, George Street, and it's already snowing, but very light, expecting more tomorrow...

Another Full English Breakfast!

It's a while since I've had a 'Full English' recently, but I was talked into having one by a mate, cheers Mark, many thanks for this!

Apparently, the landlord of the Anchor Inn in George Street, Dennis, had recently suggested to Mark that he come in and eat one of their breakfasts, the Anchor being 'dog friendly', so Mark, his dog Rosie, and I, enjoyed a pleasant early-ish morning there! Steve the Beermeister has already added a blog to this publication about the Anchor Inn, its history, and the argument for and against it being the oldest continuous pub in Hastings, which there should be more written soon, I hope... Anyway, we arrived, and the Full English Breakfast variations, including vegetarian options are:

The Anchor Light Breakfast at £4.95 - Includes 1 x Sausage, 1 x Rasher of Bacon, 1 x Slice of Black Pudding, 1 x Large Flat Mushroom, 1 x Hash Brown, 1 x Egg (Fried or Scrambled), Plum Tomatoes or Baked Beans, a Slice of Toast or a Fried Slice, and a Mug of Tea or Coffee.

The Anchor Gut Buster at £7.95 provides 2 of all the above, and 1 Tea or Coffee.

The Anchor Veggie Breakfast at £4.95 - Includes 1 x Hash Brown, 1 x Bubble & Squeak Sausage, 1 x Large Flat Mushroom, Halloumi, 1 x Egg (Fried or Scrambled), Plum Tomatoes or Baked Beans, A Slice of Toast or a Fried Slice, Mug of Tea or Coffee.

Unsurprisingly, the Anchor Veggie Gut Buster at £7.95 also doubles up!

Well, this is what we both had, with slightly eyes bigger than our stomachs, notably Mark's, the same version of the Anchor Gut Buster, though he had coffee and I had tea, a nice strong mug of Breakfast Tea with the tea bag left in the mug, and milk on the side, so up to you how strong to have it; I forgot to ask Mark about his coffee, but he seemed happy with it. I just made little notes, so here goes my opinion:

The sausages were cooked well, not sure if they were Lincolnshire, though not packed with herbs so I doubt it, very tasty, not bad at all, and we all know how important I place the sausage on the ingredients that often need to be improved upon, so a pass here! The bacon was again cooked well, not burnt, nice and thick rashers of Middle, though not with the extra long thin bit. The slices of black pudding, hash browns and baked beans were what you would expect, difficult to go over the top about either of those ingredients. I love mushrooms, so always happy for as many as I can get of them, and the slices of toast were perfect and well buttered, I presume you could ask for this not to be buttered, but suited me, oh yes, and you can get brown toast if you want.

Overall, a very decent breakfast, pretty good value, and nicely presented. As I suggested, Mark left a bit, though not the meat, I didn't leave any, but was well full up, and we both shared various samples with Rosie (so I didn't eat it all!), so she was happy too. It has been suggested by another friend that you can ask for different combinations too, eg if you'd prefer a slice of bacon to a sausage. Mark's final words were "next time I'll just have the "Light Breakfast" - which means he/we'll be back!