Leaking Pipe and SIX Pits!

Well, since I last wrote about the leak in St Andrew's Square 2 weeks ago (blog), it's still leaking! The only difference is that 4 holes/pits have been dug off each corner of the square, one just down from the leak in Cornwallis Street close to queen's Road, the second just in Cornwallis Street at the diagonally opposite corner of the square opposite where the foundations for a hotel appear to be being dug (blog).

The other 2 pits are at either end of Waldegrave Street, one virtually opposite Marks & Spencer, and the other just below Earl Street which, as you can see in the photograph above, means that the road is blocked off! How many weeks is this going to continue with parking spaces depleted and a road cut off? How many gallons of water are going to be lost? I give up!

West Marina Gardens Sewer Damage...

Walking to and from Bexhill yesterday we were met with many tankers and yards of drainage pipes earlier at West Marina Gardens. As we arrived into Bexhill, where the water company building is at the eastern edge, there was a nasty damp sandy/muddy seafront. Consequently, on the way back we decided to use Galley Hill, rather than return by the beach, where these tankers are photographed (above).

However, all the distance between Bexhill and West Marina Gardens (above), had no overland pipes, so the transfer of sewage had been within the usual subterranean sewage system, apparently. So why so many tankers, we'd seen them here at West Marina Gardens in numbers on our way westwards from Hastings and in numbers at Bexhill, where a steady stream of tankers were heading away from Galley Hill and up Sea Road with their rather awful baggage! 

Anyway, here at West Marina Gardens is where the problem lay, with more tankers carting away sewage, because this, we were told, was where the damaged sewage pipe was. Apparently, this is going to be ongoing for about 48 hours... 

You have been warned!

Hastings Floods, oh yes, and Hastings Pier.

Well, following our second town centre flood this year (January blog), where water flooded out of this manhole cover (above), where is it?!? It now appears they couldn't/didn't fix a replacement manhole cover, and now it's fully tarmac. I shan't go into the possible resulting complications...😲

Of course, the drain opposite the Carlisle pub had been fixed, hadn't it? I'm shaking my head as this has been going on for ages (eg blog), and the drain that replaced the raised drain into the sea is often now below seawater, NB High Tides, and seawater just pushes back up the drain. Priory Meadow and much of the town centre used to be Hastings harbour, eg in 1066, thus much of it below seawater... I'm shaking my head now, Southern Water still don't seem to have figured all this out!

Oh yes, and Hastings Pier, the company that was running it, Lions Hastings Pier Ltd, ie the company owned by the owner of the Pier, went into administration earlier this year (blog). However, Gulzar, the owner, said that no way would the Pier close, only "over my dead body" he asserted (Sussex World), indeed, he has "£100 million in reserve to keep it open." Why hasn't he spent any money on the Pier for its upkeep then? Or for improvements? Or a new pavilion on it like the Friends of Hastings Pier (blog) planned for in their bid; just what was in that brown envelope?!?

And La Belle Vue, in the central pavilion, had to close down for now, sadly, although I believe they have plans to reopen in the future. It all looked so positive when I visited and had a few beers back in May (blog). I shan't go into the problems there, but no doubt having the excellent view obscured by stages, boxes and speakers didn't help for a restaurant called La Belle Vue. 

But La Belle Vue has merged with Casa de Pier (blog) in the remaining pavilion, and this is still open, pretty much all that was open on the Pier at the weekend...

Good luck to both businesses! 👍

No Hosepipe Ban in Hastings, YET!

We are all aware there's been very little rain recently. indeed, we had the driest July on record since 1935. I've heard talk about whether or not there is a hosepipe ban coming up for Hastings, and checking the local water companies, not yet folks! South East Water have announced a hosepipe ban in the parts of East Sussex they supply starting today (website). This will effect the dark pink area in the image above, not the encircled area of Hastings, because water isn't supplied by South East Water to Hastings.

Southern Water, who do supply water to Hastings, applied a hosepipe ban in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (website) from last Friday, however, that does not include Hastings. So, for now, there is no hosepipe ban planned for Hastings by water companies... HOWEVER!

The National Drought Group (website) are holding a meeting later today, at which it is expected a drought will be officially announced, but leaving it to individual water companies to make decisions regarding hosepipe bans/water restrictions. So, wait and see, although we are all sensible enough to heed the request, of course, that 'we carefully consider the amount of water we use given the conditions.' Also to take note of the tips given by the Water's Worth Saving campaign (website).

Stay safe and stay sensible folks.

South Terrace Closed

South Terrace (photograph from corner with Queens Road, by M&S) will remain closed for another 2 to 3 weeks due to Southern Water undertaking Sewer maintenance.

Water Leak!

OK, I've had a few days away, but noticed this leak when I got back, it's been leaking for at least 3 days now! This photograph was taken at the corner of South Terrace and Earl Street this morning, with a mixture of flowing water, standing water and ice... I have since found out (many thanks Rod!) that this has been leaking all week, also, that a leak in Stainsby Street in St Leonards has been flowing for several weeks!

No wonder our water rates are so high!