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I believe our town is continuing to improve. Reinstatement work on the pier is carrying on; now, with Heritage Lottery money at last unlocked, the Council is able to proceed with its restoration work on Alexandra Park; this Summer has been a significant success for our tourist businesses and local unemployment has fallen to 4.3%.
We recently repeated last year's seafront walk (page 4) and could really see the impact of the Council's campaign to improve the appearance of our town. We even went into the old Regent Court and were taken right through it to see the new floors that are now in on every level. We will all be watching the progress on that building very closely.
The Council and its partners have many more plans for the regeneration of Hastings & St Leonards. Hopefully we can share these and many more ideas for improving what we do during our Meet your Council day on 20th October.
The test for all of us is how to give a new lease of life to the town with fresh projects to attract visitors and to improve life for locals, without undermining the unique character and appeal of Hastings & St Leonards and its buildings. Things have to change - to stand still is to go backwards, back to those years of decline and decay and we are not prepared to ever allow that again.
Many of the problems in our town stem from that period of decline. However let's always keep a sense of proportion. We all know very well the problems of Hastings & St Leonards but they exist in every town. What disappoints me is when anyone appears to be wallowing in the difficulties we face, rather than helping to tackle what's wrong but also appreciating just how many positive activities are going on across the communities that make up our town.
Residents have said to me that the About magazine is a breath of fresh air because it gives space to the positive side of Hastings. I hope you find this current edition as refreshing as usual and that helps recruit more activists to participate in the enriching of local life.
"Hastings still remains something of a well-kept secret. The high cliffs, promenade, the 1872 pier and old wooden net shops on the beach make it an intriguing seaside town."
Sunday Telegraph 5th August 2001
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Pictures courtesy of Bob Mazzer, Chris Parker, Rachel Lever, Kevin Boorman.
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This page last updated: 15/10/2001