Public Consultation: Should Bottle Alley Have CCTV?

Hastings Borough Council has funding available from Central Government’s Safer Streets Fund (Government website) to use for 'graffiti prevention and to help improve the safety of public spaces.' The council is planning to use this money to introduce public space CCTV along Bottle Alley. Find out more at the Council website and have your say online.

St Leonards Incident, Police Update.

The incident concerning the 'Bomb Disposal Squad' at the seafront in the St Leonards area near West Marina Gardens (blog) continues into the weekend. The Police confirm a 28 year old man is in custody and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team are "conducting a thorough search of the property for any further hazardous material." Also, that "the chemicals are not part of any large scale drugs production and the incident is not believed to be terror-related." (Sussex Police) 73 temporarily displaced neighbours are being provided shelter at the Royal Victoria Hotel (blog), arranged by Hastings Borough Council, and Police are mindful of trying to sort this out before the Hastings Half Marathon tomorrow/Sunday (blog). The seafront and road remain blocked, consequently today's/Saturday's Park Run has been cancelled (website).

Some Updates Regarding Hastings...

Following the public consultation about the town centre over a year ago now (blog), things are happening, ish... The road along the seafront is being worked on (see further down), apparently by the same people as will be working on the proposed new pathway to the seafront from the town centre. However, the so-called 'pedestrianised' town centre still isn't, for a few years now in fact, and be careful dodging the cars, vans and motorcycles tearing through!

Along the seafront, the empty Chatsworth Hotel has now been bought by Buckswood School, apparently for short-stay accommodation for pupils (Sussex World), but maybe for hotel accommodation for visiting relatives too? And will what was the Indian Restaurant be reopened as a restaurant of some sort I wonder, remembering that Buckswood managed the St Mary in the Castle restaurant for some time a while ago (blog), and what will happen there?!?

The refurbishment of the road along the seafront will continue, and the low wall in the middle of the road in front of East Parade is going to be removed; planned for Monday the 10th and Wednesday the 12th of March 2025, working between 09.30 and 16.30 (East Sussex Highways). For details of all planned roadworks go to the Hastings Borough Council website.

Sussex Mayor, Your Opinion?

For the future, Central Government at Westminster plans for you to be served by just one council (known as ‘unitary government’) rather than the present two-tier system of East Sussex County Council and a borough or district council (For example Hastings), with a Mayor elected for overall policy in Sussex. Now, I know that in Hastings there are varying opinions about Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex County Council, whatever, you now have your chance to make your opinion known about the future of local governance in Hastings and Sussex. For further information, and to give your opinion, go to the Government website.

Foreshore Trust Grants for Voluntary/Community Groups

The Hastings Foreshore Trust will offer awards of up to £6,000 for grants to support smaller voluntary and community groups in carrying out activities, services and events that benefit and support the local community within Hastings & St Leonards. This round of funding is for events and activities that are set to happen between April 2025 and March 2026; go to the website for more details and how to apply. You have until Friday the 17th of January 2025 to apply.

Refuse & Recycling Collection During Holiday Period

Seasonal information, see above for details of refuse and recycling collection days adjustments over next few weeks, or go to Hastings Borough Council at Hastings Online.

Severe Weather Emergency Provision & Homelessness

The Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP) has been activated in Hastings for tonight (Thursday 19 December - facebook). The council has been working with Warming Up The Homeless (website) to provide a place of overnight safety for rough sleepers during the severe weather expected tonight. The overnight centre will be at Gizmo House, 23 Priory Street, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 1EA.

Warming Up The Homeless have confirmed that: • People with pets are welcome • Three hot meals a day will be provided at no cost • People can access free shower facilities • People can access free laundry facilities. People do not need to approach the council in order to access this SWEP provision. But if anyone has any queries regarding this provision outside of office hours, the out of hours team can be contacted on 01424 451999.

The Council is continuing to offer support to rough sleepers this winter including support to find a longer-term home. If you are concerned about someone who is rough sleeping, please get in contact via StreetLink. Stay safe folks.

Waste & Recycling, and Leaks!

I've been away for a break celebrating my birthday and when I returned, this leak in St Andrews Square is still there and uncovered; they know about it, obviously, they did this work there weeks ago, but not a big enough leak for them to worry about, I presume. Meanwhile water is being wasted and 3 car parking spaces, in an area with precious parking spaces, cannot be used!

From Hastings Borough Council: "If you use pink sacks for your recycling and have run out, there are now more in stock at Muriel Matters House. You can collect these from main reception during office opening hours. You just need to give your address when you collect them. You can also use any plastic bag other than black bags to put your recycling in for collection.

Your waste and recycling should be left outside your property on the morning of your collection day. You can check your collection day using our online checker at the website."

Don't be a Tosser! Anti-litter Campaign.

Hastings Borough Council are again in the middle of an anti-litter campaign, for example on posters, facebook and twitter (wants to be called X), and it's amusing they've returned to the Don't be a Tosser message, well it amuses me! Indeed, it's a phrase I've often used and an ex-colleague (R.I.P.) used to tell me how much she missed my using this, well, it's better than the alternative. And a wee bit more litter humour in the image below, I do have a sense of humour!

Muriel Matters House Re-Glazed

Yes, Muriel matters House has been re-glazed after the destruction of the windows (blog), I wonder if Hastings Borough Council has any money left in the kitty now?

Perpetrator in Custody & Muriel Matters House Reopens!

As I said in yesterdays blog, someone must have been upset by the Council, and that person is now in custody, I believe. Presumably kicked off the day before, and caught on CCTV, not only silly, but expensive too, for us, and for him/her!

Anyway, the windows are all boarded up now, so artificial light will be the order of the day there until new windows are installed, at our expense! I spoke with one of the lads boarding up, obviously nice emergency payout for them, and looked at the notices later on, which have to be exhibited so that the public is aware of what is going on, plus legally, for notice of the general election on the 4th of July (blog). As you can see below, Muriel Matters House is due to reopen today at 09.00.

Sad News, Good News, and Entrepreneurial News...

Walking up to the station earlier and what did I see? NOTHING on the island in front of the railway station and bus terminus, yet another empty space sadly...

Where, up until recently, Jimmy Toller's retired fishing boat RX53 Dorothy Melinda was situated (blog), lack of money apparently again being the culprit, as it was allowed to fall into disrepair, sadly. Thoughts with you Jimmy, R.I.P. 😞

Wednesday Low Cost Menu

Despite what happened at the Bale House (blog), the 'not for profit' Grumpy Cook Hastings, 1A Robertson Street TN34 1HL (facebook), continues to help those more needy, vulnerable and lonely. They also provide training opportunities for people to work in the hospitality sector. Nice one, keep up the good work, my respect!👍

An early reminder that Jack in the Green 2024 is to be soon upon us, that is on the public holiday for May Day, Monday the 6th of May 2024, but with the events for the weekend starting on Friday the 3rd of May (website).

For those readers who are entrepreneurial leaning, the seafront kiosk on the promenade above Bottle Alley (blog) is again up for renting. The Council has asked for 'Expressions of Interest' by 5pm on Tuesday the 23rd of April 2024 at the latest (website). You have a little over a week to apply, good luck!

2024/25 Council Tax Bill

Yes, indeed, my 2024/25 Council Tax Bill came through the letterbox this afternoon, unsurprisingly it's gone up again, this year by an overall 4.7%. January saw the last official British inflation rate at 4% and it was projected to drop over the year. So, the rise is slightly more than the inflation rate at the moment, but of course, prices have increased significantly more than 4% since March 2023.

Adult Social Care has the lowest increase since last year at 2%; East Sussex County Council, Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex Fire Authority have all had increases of 3%; as usual, the amount of increase gone to the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner is higher, that is by 5.4% (remember this when you're told more money is being spent on increasing the number of police officers).

Local elections coming in May, General Election soon-ish?!?

Refuse & Recycling Collection Seasonal Alterations

Above are details of the refuse and recycling alterations over the next few weeks, until collections return to normal on Monday 15th of January 2024; for further information from Hastings Borough Council, go to their website.

There you go! 👍

Have a good holiday folks. 🍻

Connected Futures: Research Project for 16-24 Year Olds

Connected Futures is a research project led by younger people which, in this instance, is exploring barriers to employment for younger people in Hastings  (16-24 years old), and is a collaboration between CXK, East Sussex County Council and Hastings Borough Council, and funded by the Youth Futures Foundation. For further information go to the CXK website, and to take part in the survey go to this CXK Survey.

CXK state that the research group will explore:

• The barriers NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) young people face.

• Rates of school suspension and absence

• The experiences of young people with challenging family circumstances

• Appropriate, tailored prevision post-16 that addresses the needs of our young people

• The experiences young people face with prejudice, discrimination and hostility

• A coherent approach that enabled young people to succeed and flourish

• Plus, many more areas…

HBC Out of Hours & Other Council Telephone Contact Numbers

Hastings Borough Council Out of Hours telephone number is 01424 451999; a 24/7 service is maintained (website). 📞

Other Contact Telephone Numbers during normal hours:

Litter, graffiti and fly-tipping: 01424 451077;

Collection of bulky household items: 01424 451077;

Abandoned & Untaxed Vehicles on Hastings & St Leonards' highways: 01243 642222;

Street Lighting Faults (East Sussex County Council). Each streetlight has a number, quote this number when calling: 0345 6080 193.

More details may be found at the website.

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!

Alexandra Park and Cycling, sensible Council Vote!

I'm surprised that Hastings Borough Council came to a sensible decision about having a cycle path running through Alexandra Park, as in, no cycle path approved (Sussex World). I've already expressed my opinion about this, eg in this blog, but ruining a safe environment in the park, and making it dangerous to walk, or indeed, use a wheelchair or pushchair, doesn't help the ecological problems of the world. Having cycle paths within the roads adjacent to the park, thus narrowing them, would discourage drivers to come into Hastings town centre, and more buses together with out of town parking would also help, but a cycle path through the park doesn't stop carbon emissions... 

Refuse and Recycling Collections for Christmas & New Year

Refuse and recycling collections from your homes are not planned to be too disruptive this Christmas and New Year, indeed, from Monday the 2nd of January 2023 should return to normal! See changes planned over the seasonal period below (HBC):

Christmas Waste Calendar 2022

Normal Collection Day              Revised Collection Day 

Monday 26 December               Tuesday 27 December 

Tuesday 27 December              Wednesday 28 December 

Wednesday 28 December         Thursday 29 December 

Thursday 29 December             Friday 30 December 

Friday 30 December                  Saturday 31 December

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!