Social Housing Needs versus Objectors/NIMBYs?

This is a combination of me out walking out along the seafront to Bulverhythe, then to Filsham Reedbed, and reading another excellent article in the Hastings Independent (website), which highlights the problems Hastings Borough Council have in building affordable and social housing, and what they are doing to try to solve the issue. That article is well worth the read, I recommend you do.

One of the objections to council plans comes from the Bulverthythe Protectors (website), who appear to be making reasonable objections to council plans for Bulverhythe, so it's not just the council versus simple NIMBY-ism, there's plenty more to it, and that goes for other areas of Hastings too. 

The Hastings Independent article explains that there is agreement among all political parties on the council that more social housing is required, but it appears to be the reality that they will never agree how to do anything, which is one of the reasons I stopped attending council meetings (it became monotonous the outright opposition to everything the council proposed by the political opposition).

Anyway, I thought it was worth writing this blog, a beautiful walk to Filsham Reedbed (which I've written about many times before, eg blog), if you ignore the crossing the main road at Bulverhythe 😉 and the attempts by Hastings Borough Council to build more affordable and social housing, and their difficulties and honest objections...

FreeWheelin FEASTival TODAY!

As I was walking past the Stade earlier I noticed that there has been a "feastival" over the weekend, sorry I missed that folks, I was at football on Saturday, not been around until early today. Anyway, Day FOUR is today, open from 10.00 until 18.00 (website).

Have a great Bank Holiday Monday folks!!

And Soul and Reggae music on Hastings Pier tomorrow!

From 16.00 this Sunday the 29th August, on Hastings Pier, free music played, Soul meets Reggae (Hastings Pier facebook), memories 😉 what's not to like?!?

Free music, Hastings Pride (blog), and the usual, enjoy your weekend folks!

Baroque Music on Saturday 4th September

The Friends of Holy Trinity Hastings are presenting the Sussex Concert Orchestra playing a Programme of Baroque Music, with works from six different composers including Bach, Purcell and Handel, in Robertson Street TN34 1HT, next Saturday the 4th of September from 2.30pm (Sussex Concert Orchestra). 

There will be refreshments available, free entry, with a 'retiring' collection.

Holy Trinity Hastings was designed by the English Gothic Revival architect Samuel Sanders Teulon and built by Hastings building and engineering company John Howell & Son in the 1850s, with some alterations late in the 19th century.

And enjoy yourself this 'bank holiday' weekend too folks! Don't forget the Hastings Pride Procession this Sunday 29th August (blog).

Hastings Pride Procession Returns...

All over town we're again seeing the multicoloured flags and bunting, and witnessing the advertising of Hastings Pride 21 and yet another sign of a gradual return to normality,, the last 18 months having been lost to most of  us... Long live the next 18 centuries! As we do return to some semblance of 'normality' the Hastings Pride 21 procession (website) begins on Sunday the 29th of August at 11.00, as was usual, in the car park opposite Pissaro's  (website)  in Cornwallis Street TN34 1ST, and  then walking along to Queens Road, and turning right, and again turning right down at the seafront, then, well, look at their website...  Follow, and enjoy! 

Latest COVID-19 Self-Isolation Guidance

Yesterday I received advice by email from East Sussex County Council regarding the revised Government Guidance for when to self-isolate; repeated below:

"As of 16 August, guidance on when to self-isolate due to Covid-19 has changed.

If you are fully vaccinated (with more than 14 days since your second jab) you no longer need to self-isolate when identified as a close contact. You just need to have a PCR test to check you aren’t unknowingly carrying the virus and as long as you get a negative result, you can carry on as normal. 

If you get a positive result you must self-isolate even if you have been fully vaccinated.

You now only need to self-isolate if you:

• Have symptoms of Covid-19
• Have tested positive for Covid-19 

Or, if you’ve come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 and:

• You are unvaccinated or have only had one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine
• It has been less than 14 days since the second dose of your vaccine

You also no longer need to isolate as a close contact if you are aged under 18 years and 6 months. As with those who are fully vaccinated you just need to book a PCR test to check your current status."

So, there you are, reminds me of Joy Division...

Yacht towed to safety by Hastings Lifeboat.

Hastings Lifeboat Station (early hours)

It was a few nights ago, but I just noticed on their facebook page, that the Hastings Lifeboat RNLI 13-28, the Richard & Caroline Colton, was called out to just off Pett Level as a 36ft yacht was in difficulties. The coxswain assessed that the best course of action was to tow the yacht to safety, which happened, as appropriate. 

With respect to the RNLI and its crews and volunteers, many thanks! 

Butterflies and Moths in Sussex

I've recently noticed that the Sussex Wildlife Trust (and I own up to having an 'interest' as I am a member of the Trust 😉) have a free eight part email course called Beginners Guide to the Butterflies of Sussex, which I have just signed up to. If you are interested in this course then please do go to their website and sign up too; I am now awaiting the first video.

If you'd like to learn more about butterflies and moths, but can't be bothered with the course, they have plenty of information about butterflies and moths, and details of how you can help them, at a different part of their website, please feel free to learn more.

And please do enjoy seeing these beautiful creatures!  

And while I write about the Sussex Wildlife Trust, there is a very interesting account written by the Chief Executive, Tor Lawrence, and a 'grand day out' visiting Sussex farms and seeing how farmers are caring for habitat management and wildlife preservation, well worth a read too at their website.

I get knocked down...

Indeed, they get knocked down, but they do get up again, sorry, I shouldn't laugh, but it's almost like a game, that is the art exhibit outside Hastings Contemporary art museum in Rock-a-Nore Road, called Seawall, as I have written about before (eg blog). So, I've decided to have a wee bit of fun myself, because a couple of songs keep coming to mind, first of all Chumbawamba (Youtube).

Now, I do know that children enjoy climbing and playing on them, but I suspect there's something more afoot. I noticed the other day, when passing the exhibit just before 06.30, that it was fully erect (above), but by 07.30 it had fallen down again, hmmm...

Anyway, my second track and Declan McManus, aka Elvis Costello (Youtube).

I've enjoyed the music anyway 😉

Hastings Old Town Carnival Parade Returns & more to come still!

OK, we're very unlikely to see the lifeboat heading the parade this year (I took this photograph 3 years ago - blog), or ever again, as I believe it's too long to get around the roundabout by Iceland, but thinking back to past parades what great days they were; but maybe the RNLI inshore boat will lead the procession this year? 

Anyway, the carnival procession shouldn't be too spoilt by the morning thunder and lightning predicted by the Met Office, as it begins during the afternoon (website). And there are still many other events going on this weekend. Look at the website for details of the events being held on Saturday, and again at the website for Sunday. 

Keep a check with the website for changing weather conditions.

Whatever you do, please enjoy the weekend folks, and remember, be safe! 

Local Fisherman Dies...

I've not been around the Old Town since Thursday, so missed the flag flying at half mast outside the Fishermen's Museum, sadly done for when local fishermen die. So it is with sadness I report that Gary Cornelius, a well-loved local character, died whilst out fishing, again reminding us what a dangerous job they do, R.I.P, Gary... 😢 

Reported by Sussex Live.

That didn't last long!

The exhibit, Seawall, as I saw it early this morning, and as it was when re-created/re-built/whatever over the weekend by children... But it has been rebuilt to the original specifications again within a few hours (blog), they're on the ball now! 😉