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.

Less than a week to save Hastings Pier!

So, less than a week in which to support Friends of Hastings Pier, save Hastings Pier, yet again, incidentally, they helped save the Pier in the first place, but had no part in the running of the Pier for the last 2 years. They have come up with a Stage 2 Plan to ensure Hastings Pier remains in the ownership of the local community, but they still appear short of the necessary funds to get the Administrators to pass on ownership of the Pier, indeed, have recently tried to get the Foreshore Trust on board (see previous blog). Here is the Crowdfunding Link, if you would like to support their bid.

Indeed, with just 10 days to go, time is getting short, so, if you know someone who lives quite locally with plenty of money to share, Paul McCartney maybe, or a philanthropic businessman like Bill Gates, or even the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, or anyone who would like to support Hastings Pier being kept in community ownership, after all, private enterprise tried to have it burnt down, yet it was the community who resurrected the Pier, then please encourage them to come and support the Pier, maybe have a new pavilion named after them! Please get them to, or go yourself to Crowdfunding and make a pledge, all pledges would be very gratefully received, many thanks!



Fishing from Hastings Pier Update.

My apologies for being a few months late sharing this (though not since this photograph was taken, and many thanks again to Sandra Bryant for sharing this image), but I only realised how big the changes to rules for fishing from the Pier have been since the Administrators took over running Hastings Pier (see below) after speaking to Paul (facebook)... Essentially, on the days when people are more likely to have time off, and children can participate, they are the days fishing has been banned from the Pier, ie at weekends, public holidays, and school holidays! What kind of administrator/manager would create such rules?!?

Helps emphasise just how important it is to ensure Hastings Pier remains in the ownership of the local community, as I've said numerous times, and we've less than 9 days now to help raise necessary funds (see blog), although the Friends of Hastings Pier are trying to raise alternative funds too, not least by inviting the Foreshore Trust to seek ownership of the Pier. If you haven't already, or know someone who is willing to pledge funds towards this project, please go to Crowdfunding, many thanks!

Stacey Marie, New Year Update!

Another miserable day today, but the work that's been going on around the Stacey Marie, and regular readers will know I have an interest, is complete (see facebook page for more about this retired fishing boat). I'm presuming it has been financed and arranged by the Foreshore Trust, and the ground has been dug back a bit, a membrane put down to prevent weeds growing through, and shingle from the beach brought up to even out the surface, looking better indeed! It's a shame that a 'right of way' apparently, prevents the fish market bins from being shielded... 

News...

News from Hastings Old Town Residents' Association's Spring 2017 Special Newsletter, and not only concerning the old town...

There's more in the newsletter than this blog contains, but, some news and information I thought are worth sharing include that Hastings Borough Council's Aquila House is now called Muriel Matters House, named after the Australian-born suffragette who lived for 20 years in nearby Pelham Crescent from 1949 to 1969 (though it still said 'Aquila House' on the outside of the building this morning).

Important for people living in the old town is that revised plans have been submitted to the council's planning committee for the 'Rock a Nore Surgery' at the old Ice House; that is, a health centre for 2/3 GPs, treatment rooms for physiotherapy etc, a pharmacy, 'healthy eating' cafe, gym, and possibly a dentist and/or an optician.

There are proposals for a new free play facility at the west end of Pelham car park; it is hoped that a 'water play' area will be open this summer (don't hold your breath!).

Parking Income: This was something I wasn't completely aware of, but, the seafront car parks are owned by the Hastings & St Leonards Foreshore Charitable Trust, Hastings Borough Council own the Bourne and other off-street car parks, and on-street parking is operated by a contractor on behalf of East Sussex County Council... Interesting, indeed!