New Hotel Approved...

Further to my blog in November, Hastings Borough Council's Planning Committee yesterday approved the building of a new Premier Inn hotel on what is now the carpark at the corner of Cornwallis Street/South Terrace/Mann Street (Sussex World).

 

Let's hope this brings jobs to Hastings, which it should really!

Hastings Pier Video

Here is a link to a film on YouTube showing how sad an empty Pier looks, indeed, the new owner still hasn't done anything with it except add a few plastic 'statues' and close it down because he can't afford to pay staff wages. Even those who moaned about the Charity have to see that this charlatan is much worse, there is NO-ONE on Hastings Pier, people cannot even promenade on the Pier! Indeed, the Friends of Hastings Pier had a serious plan to improve facilities on the Pier (one of previous blogs, for example) and a new pavilion designed by the architects who built the Eden Project in Cornwall (drMM Architects) would have already been under construction by now, sad days...

You still can have a say on Gulzar's application to get planning permission to have a further 4 sheds on Hastings Pier for 5 years, plus permission for a shed already there without planning permission/approval; go to the Hastings Borough Council website.

Hastings Pier Closed...

So, Hastings Pier remains closed today, following yesterday's fire in the kitchen of the Pavilion Restaurant (Eastbourne Herald), which was, apparently, caused by an electrical/wiring fault. Hardly suprising it's still closed, I suppose, as nothing else is open on the Pier these days...

Oh yes, and rather than the permanent pavilion that an award winning designer was proposing for the Friends of Hastings Pier proposal (blog from earlier this year), Gulzar is asking for a further 5 sheds on the Pier, to last 5 years (?!?), despite the majority of those sheds already there being empty for most of the Summer. If you wish to make a comment regarding the sheds to the Council Planning Committee go to their website, and re Listed Building Consent, here.

And the comments on my last blog have answered themselves, many thanks to the 'anonymous' writers, cheers!

Town Centre Toilets...

This photograph was taken yesterday, and the toilets in Harold Place are certainly being demolished, no doubt about that, so the building now being used for anything else is out of the question... The Observer recently suggested that a restaurant could be sited here, is an idea, but how many restaurants and cafes are in the vicinity anyway?!? A friend suggested the old underground toilets could be reopened, but the Council wants to save money, not spend more... What about keeping it flat and using as car parking space so the Council can get an income from the space? 

Just a thought, anyone else have ideas or knowledge, I haven't been to a Hastings Borough Council meeting or planning meeting for ages?!?

The Ice House, Health Centre or Waste of Space?

OK, I'm sure those who are living there now may disagree it's a waste of space, but, no-one wants to buy, or rent, the ground floor space in Rock-a-Nore Road, except doctors from the Roebuck Surgery... Hastings Borough Council Planning Committee will be considering the Health Centre application at 6pm on Wednesday 23rd of August at Muriel Matters House. 1,675 signatures were collected on a petition in support of the proposal by local GP, Craig Namvar MD, but Borough Council planning officers are opposing (back-handers of some sort?) and have recommended refusal to the Planning Committee. It may be interesting to go along and observe 'local democracy' in action, and perhaps see whether councillors will ignore the strength of local opinion.

John Hodges is sorely missed by constituents, a local councillor who cared for Hastings, we'll see what happens... but is there some sort of corruption here?  😢