Hastings Local Plan 2020

Hastings Borough Council are currently seeking feedback from us about the latest Local Plan for the borough. I apologize for the short period of time still available (submissions are requested by the 10th of September), but I only just found out myself within the last hour. To find out more go to their website, and you can provide feedback from the same page, I have just provided my tuppence worth!

Hastings Pier: Enjoy it whilst you can!

Yes, fingers crossed it can go on, but Mr G has only leased the Pier to the present management until the 4th of October, let's hope the lease can be extended, because...

The present management have ensured there are things to do for everyone on Hastings Pier (facebook)) including rides for children, LIVE MUSIC, fishing from the end of the Pier, food and drink from 08.00 hours, indeed, the Pier is now open from 08.00 until 23.00 hours, which means it can be enjoyed for 15 hours a day, every day, which is more than was available under Mr G's management!

OK, it looks empty because I took these photographs at about 08.30 this morning, but food & drink was already available, there were about 10 people fishing from the end of the Pier, and I took all these photographs then, including the one above that shows the extent of what is the largest 'beer garden' that I have ever seen!

There has been live music on Hastings Pier from Friday afternoon until Sunday evening most weekends since the lease was granted to people who appear to know how to entertain us, weather permitting, indeed this weekend starting with Live & Unlocked on Hastings Pier from 16.00 hours until 23.45 hours (facebook).

Fingers crossed the present management do get a lease extension, I've missed walking, drinking, enjoying the views, and the lad I spoke to seemed a decent lad...

Good luck for that extension!

Hastings RNLI Lifeboat Shop Reopening

Hastings RNLI Lifeboat Station shop is reopening today (Friday 4th August 2020), from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm daily. Of course there will be observation of Covid-19 precautions, including visitors required to wear face coverings and to maintain social distancing. Welcome back, although the lifeboat never went away thankfully!

A Stork in Hastings!

I kid you not, walking into the 'old town' at about 07.00 this morning, into the sun with my shades on, and I spotted a gigantic 'heron' up on a roof to my left opposite Swan Lake, couldn't believe it as it was about 3-4 times the size of the biggest heron I ever remember seeing... Took the shades off, and it didn't look anything like a heron, and the gulls were very disturbed, it appeared, as they kept well way! I kept staring, grappled for my mobile phone to take a photograph, but, before I could even turn it on, let alone switch to camera mode, the enormous bird flew majestically across the road. I rushed back hoping it landed on one of the islands on Swan Lake, but it had carried on...

I remembered that storks had been recently re-introduced to this country, and even had a breeding site in Sussex (Guardian). A friend suggested that it may have been on its way back south seasonally, but I think it was a 'juvenile' and probably exploring, watch out for it folks! I wish I'd got that photograph...

Pavement Widening, Pay & Display Suspension & Sweets!

Along the Seafront, mostly opposite East Parade from 'Swan Lake' to the golf courses, it appears the footpath is being widened, and from today to the beginning of December pay & display on the sea side of the road is suspended.

As in for the "installation of Covid-19 footway widening measures..."

And there's a new sweet shop in town, Mr Burp Sweet Shop, (facebook page) at 1 Waldegrave Street TN34 1SJ (outside St Andrews Market, virtually opposite M&S).