White Rock Regeneration II

Well, over 4 years on (see older blog), and the raised area and food kiosk are opposite the bottom of Robertson Street, and now the "new water feature" is being worked on...

And what is new at Hastings Pier? A few bits and pieces for children and slot machines in the Heritage Lottery Fund resourced 'educational, archive & information centre' deck building in the centre of the Pier, oh well... 

What a Waste!

Another gorgeous day, Hastings old town and centre heaving, and Hastings Pier remains closed (allegedly to reopen in March, already missed the earlier stated 'it'll be open for St Valentine's Day' - obviously not!). What a waste, "businessman," what business? You're having a laugh Gulzar, HLF and administrators!

Apologies about Pirate Day!

Indeed, I said that the Pirate Day celebrations would spread from the Stade to the Pier yesterday, sadly, the new owner of the Pier had arranged nothing, except to fly 4 skull & crossbone flags from the Deck (which is still not in use!), cancelling all else that was in the 2018 programme (most events ended up in the town centre, cheers!).

Oh well, better luck next year Mr Gulzar, I thought that one of the reasons you had been given Hastings Pier so abruptly by the administrators and the Heritage Lottery Fund was because it meant you could use the potential of summer takings, shame you weren't ready and appear to have no plans, and now the deal smells even fishier!

Hastings Pier update...

Well, this is from yesterday, and I have to admit they didn't say which Friday Hastings Pier would open again, but now it appears that, following the new owner not knowing he had to have 3rd Party Liability Insurance for the Pier (see previous blog), now the reopening will not be until Monday, hmmm, watch this space...

Yesterday, all our troubles seemed...

Anyway, I did a bit more research as I am a concerned person, notably, what is happening with the archives previously gathered, and what about the staff? Regarding staff, it appears that the majority have left already, but I was assured that the archives remain with friends, so are in safe hands! Oh yes, and the Heritage Lottery Fund Interactive Tables and Exhibition is going to Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, so at least some things are safe!

In addition, Friends of Hastings Pier are continuing to exist, primarily to secure a sustainable future for Hastings Pier "that serves the community's interests" and to explore ways of working with the new owner to achieve mutually beneficial objectives. If you wish to support or volunteer to work with the Friends of Hastings Pier and aren't already on their mailing list, email FriendsofHastingsPier@gmail.com 

Oh yes, and I have written to some major players, I shall share answers with you, though I doubt I'll get much different to what others are receiving...

Hastings Pier Sold & Closed!?! And Online Petition...

Hastings Pier this Lunchtime, CLOSED!

I've been away over the weekend, and guess what happened, indeed, Hastings Pier was sold to the owner of Eastbourne Pier, Mr Gulzar, a businessman who doesn't appear to be too successful when taking note of comments about the other Pier miles over from our west side! Even more worrying is that he doesn't appear to have any plans about what to do with it, he got it for less money than Friends of Hastings Pier were prepared to pay, reported to be a mere £50,000, for a pier that has had £14 million or so from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and, again it is reported, that he can sell it after 2 years... it doesn't look too promising does it, but it does look suspicious!?!

I've regularly reported about Friends of Hastings Pier, who actually do have a plan, and today I read Jess Steele's excellent explanation of funding 'How the Money Works' (link), which is well worth the read, please don't have an opinion until you do read it, else you'll not really have an informed opinion! I'm guessing there will be some sort of demonstration tomorrow, because the Pier is reported to be reopening tomorrow (Tuesday 19th June), presumably with labour coming in from Eastbourne? 

In the meantime, there is an online petition 'Why have the Heritage Lottery Fund sold Hastings Pier?' (link) to sign, if you, like me, believe what has happened to be very suspicious, consequently it really does need to be investigated by someone in authority, surely?!? Whatever, watch this space, there's something fishy going on...

And I've not even mentioned shareholders being ignored and getting no recompense, supporters buying planks and making donations, etc etc...

Here is the Heritage Lottery Fund Statement.

Hastings Pier: Meeting of Shareholders and Supporters

Most local people will probably be aware that Hastings Pier/Charity has gone into administration, with Smith & Williamson LLP (website) appointed administrators of the Charity towards the end of last year. They are looking at ways of bringing the Charity out of administration, whilst the Heritage Lottery Fund is supporting shortfall (to a limit) until the end of the year, by which time it is hoped a solution will have been found. If you have any spare £millions please get in touch with Adam Henry Stephens and Finbarr Thomas O'Connell, the licensed insolvency practitioners appointed.

More likely, if you are a shareholder, or would like to become active and support the survival of the People's Pier, there will be an informal meeting of supporters/shareholders tomorrow (Saturday 3rd February 2018) at 2.30pm in the Sussex Rooms at the White Rock Theatre, opposite the Pier.

Fingers crossed this will be sorted out by the administrators with local support.

St Leonards Gardens

We are, indeed, very lucky in Hastings, with beautiful countryside within easy walking distance, the seafront, and 2 excellently designed gardens; Alexandra Park (see previous blogs) and St Leonards Gardens. Pictured here is the South Lodge, Grade II listed, and divided by the doric arch with its fluted doric columns, half private residence, half home to the Burton St Leonards Society, and open to the public at these times:

Wednesdays, 11-2pm;

Saturdays, 11-4pm;

Sundays, 1-3pm.

Situated behind what was James Burton's St Leonards Hotel in 1828, but renamed the Royal Victoria Hotel following the young princess's visit. Burton bought part of Gensing Farm for his dream of a seaside resort for wealthy visitors, and so, Burton St Leonards was created. Burton was strongly influenced by John Nash for his design of the gardens, which were designed for those inhabiting, or visiting, the nearby villas or hotel that he built, consequently, the gardens were not free for public access, but could only be enjoyed by subscription payers, as they were the property of the Burton family!

They remained 'subscription' gardens until Hastings Corporation bought them in 1880, opening them up to the public, and renaming them St Leonards Gardens. Happily for me, and yourselves, they remain owned by Hastings Borough Council, were more recently renovated with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, and are a pleasure to walk through, and spend time contemplating, whilst sitting on one of the many benches.

Whilst sitting by the pond, chatting with the gardener, Denis, who was busy planting young shrubs and herbaceous plants, I spotted 2 moorhens and their 6 chicks walking across the lily pads, though they shot off every time I approached to try and take a photograph! The pond has a very interesting wildlife, and Dennis said they get a monthly visit from a heron, and every now and then a cormorant may enjoy a visit too...

So, I wandered uphill, after thanking Denis for the information he had shared, and promising to pass on a message to a friend we have in common. When I looked back southwards towards the sea, I had to take another photograph, though the sea view is blocked by the South Lodge and Royal Victoria Hotel, whatever, such a beautiful day!

Still lovely walking uphill, so, another wee stop to enjoy the peaceful environment...

St Leonards Gardens has an interesting wildlife presence, and within the exquisitely designed beds is a mixture of exotic, and more local, trees and shrubs, herbaceous plants and flowers, indeed, you can enjoy a mixture of colours all the year round.

On leaving the gardens onto Maze Hill you come to the North Lodge, just below St Michael's Hospice. This is another building with an interesting history and list of visitors, notably with a blue plaque celebrating Sir Henry Rider Haggard, who authored King Solomon's Mines, Allan Quatermain and She: A History of Adventure, amongst others, and who lived here from 1918 to 1923.

If you want some peace, give St Leonards Gardens a visit!

For more information about the gardens and St Leonards try this website.

Cinema on the Pier!

OK, before I talk about the films to come, I sat at the end of the Pier, and noticed these FREE binoculars, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and yes, I did use these ones, though there are a few more available for different directions, though they swivel! 

And today sees the start of Cinema on the Pier, with "A Pier", the story of Hastings Pier, from 7pm... tomorrow will be Jaws! Much more to come, of course; see the Luna Cinema website for more details, eg future films include Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Saturday, and to book tickets. 

Sadly, bye bye to the Old Town Hall Museum!

Well, the partial eclipse was a disappointment down here with the cloud cover, and more disappointing news is that the Hastings Old Town Hall Museum is closing (as I hinted earlier this year) on the 1st April 2015, and this isn't a joke, sadly...  

I dropped in and had a chat to Rebecca, who gave me the bad news earlier today. The Old Town Hall Museum (website) provides an introduction to the history of the town, with historical and interactive exhibits, and with a number of paintings adorning the walls (some now on display at the main museum), as told in my blog about Early 19th Century Watercolourists in Hastings a couple of months ago. This has happened as a result of the cut in funding from Central Government to Hastings Borough Council, and, if you haven't been for a while, hurry up and visit, because there are some great exhibits, which will need to be found a place up at Bohemia Road, who knows when... 

The building has a wonderful history too. It was built in 1823, and offices here became the earliest police station in  Hastings, when Hastings Police Force was set up in 1836; the oldest force in Sussex, I believe! The newer town hall in Queens Road replaced the old town hall in 1881; also see my blog of 18th January about that building. Since 1949, the old town hall has been a museum, more recently being reopened in 1999 following refurbishment that was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. 

  

We shall have to wait and see what will develop for this Grade II listed building...