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Once again About is full of information about the exciting plans to revive our town - but now we are moving from plans to implementation.
Bulldozers are at work on the demolition of the old Hastings Station and the creation of the new after deputy Prime Minister John Prescott recently dug the first piece of ground.
The first students have now crossed the threshold of University Centre Hastings in the refurbished BT building. The new entrance and improvements to the building's frontage on Havelock Road should be completed by the spring.
Internationally famous architects have been appointed to design the Station Plaza development. For Pelham Square, three top architects are producing competing designs to go on public exhibition starting on 11th October.
All this can help transform the image of Hastings. People from outside will start to look at us in a completely different way. That's the way we get the new investment and the additional and better-paid jobs we so desperately need.
But there's still more change going on. The Central St Leonards housing renewal area will be formally declared by the end of the year. The recent community consultation has told us what local people see as the priorities on top of the housing improvements.
In Ore Valley the Millennium Community plan for new houses and community improvements is to go out for discussion with local people in November.
Truthfully there is no town of our size with as much going on; and there is no Council of our size involved in as much activity.
But for all the great regeneration plans we cannot afford to ease up on the all the important everyday services we provide to local people. Making Hastings & St Leonards a better place to live is about transforming its economic fortunes and providing top quality services too.
That's why I am so pleased the Council's Summer Citizen's Panel survey was so positive. 62% of residents are satisfied with Hastings as a place to live and enjoy a high quality of life compared to 45% four years ago. That is how much the town is starting to change.
As the changes continue you can be assured that Hastings Borough Council will be at the heart of it and About will keep us all up to date with the progress.
Councillor Jeremy Birch
Leader of Hastings Borough Council
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This page last updated: 01/10/2003