A resounding YES to positive change - and soon - was the clear message from residents who responded to the outline consultation on the Masterplan for Hastings & Bexhill, last November.
The Masterplan consultation was part of a huge programme of events to inform and consult the community on outline ideas drawn up by MBM Arquitectes from Barcelona to improve the town. MBM were commissioned by the Hastings & Bexhill Task Force to come up with a framework of proposals to open up debate about how the town could look in the future. This is what you said you wanted:
| IDEA | % For | % Against | % Not Sure |
| 1 Millennium Community Metro Services | 83 | 7 | 10 |
| Metro Services | 92 | 2 | 6 |
| 2 Country Avenue | 69 | 21 | 10 |
| 3 Sea Avenue | 76 | 13 | 11 |
| 4 University Centre | 90 | 4 | 6 |
| 5 Arts Quarter | 76 | 10 | 14 |
| 6 Beach Community | 70 | 14 | 16 |
| 7 Countryside Park | 85 | 9 | 6 |
| 8 Hill Community | 48 | 32 | 20 |
The consultation has indicated to the Task Force that while the community is very much behind ideas such as the University centre, Arts Quarter, road & rail improvements or a Countryside Park – there are still concerns about exactly what business and job opportunities would be created and how traffic should be handled. There was also an overall feeling that priority needs to be given to developments to improve the town centre, before considering any initiatives that might involve the outskirts of the town, for example the Hill Community.
As people want to see change on the ground as soon as possible, the Task Force has focused on the most popular ideas. The first task will be to develop a business plan and set up a development company. Once up and running, the company, which is due to be established this month (April), will have to find the additional funds required to build on initial government investment and quickly put into action the physical projects designed to improve the town. The first planning applications – for the Media Centre and the University Centre - will be lodged in the Spring and, providing they meet with public approval, work will commence in the summer.
Meanwhile, the project team will develop the Business Plan projects, taking account of the comments made during the consultation. To ensure projects are delivered on time, the focus will initially be on Hastings Town Centre and the first Millennium Community in the Ore Valley. Detailed urban design briefs for three projects in the town centre (around Hastings Station, University Centre and on the central seafront) are being worked up with local interest groups and statutory bodies. Further detailed urban design briefs for the Ore Valley, Bexhill Town Centre and Rye Harbour are also to be drawn up during this first phase.
For more information about the Masterplan visit www.ourfuture.org.uk or the Regeneration Centre, Robertson Street.
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This page last updated: 04/04/2003