Bring Eurostar back to Ashford!

There is an online petition to get Eurostar returned to the Kent stations (website) and it would be jolly good if it was returned, many thanks!

Sign here to support the petition, cheers!

Help Save our Sea, Marine Life & Fishing Industry!

The Wildlife Trusts have started up an online petition to support the Government's plans to introduce 5 Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMA). The purpose is to protect our waters in those HPMAs by banning development, over-fishing (and Hastings fishing boats are small/sustainable, this means larger trawlers!), and other damaging activities, and I think we all know the sort of thing this could be (blog).

So, if you want to share your opinion, please go to The Wildlife Trusts website, and click on the Add Your Name button. Good stuff! 👍

Threat to ENT Care...

With plans to move NHS Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) services away from Hastings Conquest Hospital, is this what we want? See online Petition.

Save the Isabel Blackman Centre!

Due to austerity cuts thanks to central government, East Sussex County Council have planned to stop day services being provided at the Isabel Blackman Centre, that is, 'social care facilities for adults over 50 suffering from... dementia; stroke; learning disabilities and other long-term conditions.'

This has been going on for a while now, but consultation time is quickly shortening. There are petitions around town, and online (for example at the ESCC website), which need to be completed soon should you wish to support these continued facilities for vulnerable people in Hastings; the ESCC online petition runs until the 12th of October.

Once it's gone that will be it sadly...





Hastings Old Town Surgery

I've already posted about the petition recently, but I was in the surgery the other day, waiting for someone (not my surgery), and read this; I have since 'liked' the Hastings Old Town Surgery facebook page. Some have asked me for further information, so I reproduce some info from the facebook page. 

"Planners may force them (the surgery) out of the Old Town. The Old Town Surgery in Roebuck Street has served residents well for many years, but the practice no longer has the space to provide the safe, modern service that patients expect and deserve.

Dr Craig Namvar has drawn up plans to move to new premises in the Ice House on Rock-a-Nore. Besides GP consulting rooms, there would be a healthy-eating restaurant, a pharmacy, an optician, and facilities to deliver physiotherapy, chiropody, and more clinical services that are not possible in the crowded Roebuck St site.

Hastings council have refused planning permission, because they claim the surgery would take away hotel space and cause traffic, waste and parking problems. These “objections” don’t stand up to close inspection, and Dr Namvar (has resubmitted) his application. He needs your support to get his application approved. 

What’s the alternative? It’s true that moving our GPs to Rock-a-Nore would mean a longer walk for many Old Town patients, but the alternatives are worse. Staying in the Roebuck Street building is not an option in the long term. The council accept this, but are unofficially floating the idea of moving the surgery to Clive Vale, where it would also serve a new residential development. This would mean much longer journeys for old town residents, many of whom are frail, live alone and have mobility problems." 

Further updates as and when... 

Rock a Nore Surgery Petition

A petition objecting to the refusal by Hastings Borough Council to approve the 'Change of Use' for the former Ice House has been launched. The completed petition must be submitted to the Council by February 3rd.

Copies of the petition are available at the Roebuck Surgery, High Street, and in the following places in the Old Town.

• The Stag
• The FILO
• Lloyds pharmacy
• Interiors, 32 High St
• Nelson House Antiques, 80 High St
• John Bray
• Land of Green Ginger
• Penbuckles
• Fagins
• Butlers Emporium, George St
• The Bourne Stores

The campaigners assert that future provision of G.P. surgeries in the Old Town depends on securing approval by Hastings Borough Council for the revised application. Over 8,500 patients are served by the Old Town surgeries, some live outside the Old Town.