Plans are afoot to bring change to Central St Leonards. The Council has given its mark of approval to a Renewal Strategy, which clearly sets out problems in the area and how they can be dealt with.
In one study the Strategy ties together all the work being done by various agencies across the town, including the Task Force, Council, Job Centre Plus, Sussex Police, Primary Care Trust and Regeneration Partnership.
It describes in clear terms where we are now, where we want to be and how we get there.
One big step towards achieving these goals will be to attract £1.7m in Government funding through the SRB.
Central St Leonards has much going for it: A stunning built environment with a wonderful concentration of historic buildings, a kilometre of beach and Channel seafront and a collection of excellent parks and gardens.
It has a lively and resourceful community and people enjoy living there. Residents have ready access to a good range of shops, community services, and public transport and there are plenty of local jobs in the many public sector offices and local businesses.
Yet there are problems. Central St Leonards has some of the worst unemployment and poverty in the country, and health and mortality figures are similarly distressing. Even though crime rates are coming down, they are still high and many of the streets are messy and untidy. More than a quarter of the housing is classified as unfit and a further quarter shows “substantial disrepair”.
For all of these reasons, there has been a major shift of resources in recent years to initiate the area’s regeneration. There are important programmes already in place to reduce crime, to reduce
unemployment, to improve housing, and to restore the local heritage.
The Strategy describes a vision for Central St Leonards that builds on its assets and addresses its problems. It sees a neighbourhood with safer streets, a strong community with better housing, an environment to be proud of and pathways to work for local residents.
Councillor John Humphries said:
“As well as helping to attract funding, the Strategy is also a positive statement and a frustrated one. It sees that Central St Leonards has many wonderful assets that should make it one of the best places to live in the country. The fact it is one of the most disadvantaged, is a challenge for everyone including the Council, public agencies, charities, businesses, and local residents.”
A brochure outlining details of the Hastings and Bexhill Task Force’s regeneration programme will be dropping on doormats throughout the town in the next few weeks. The Council is a key member of the Task Force.
The brochure has been produced by Sea Space, the development organisation set up by the Task Force to deliver its regeneration projects.
It outlines what the organisation has been up to in terms of its education, business, transport, technology and architectural initiatives. It also explains how these projects are designed to bring a new prosperity to the town by helping to create new jobs and homes and boost business and tourism.
You can also stay up-to-date on Sea Space’s latest activities by looking at its new web site at www.seaspace.org.uk.
Do take a look at both the web site and brochure to find out about the regeneration plans and how they affect you and your town.
Anyone who’s ever looked after a long-term ill family member or friend will understand the pressure carers face, day in, day out.
For carers in Hastings and St Leonards help comes in the form of the Association of Carers, a voluntary group providing support for carers and their families within their own homes.
The respite service means carers can take a short well-earned break, knowing their loved one is in safe company.
Volunteers do not carry out nursing or domestic tasks but do offer dependents a warm, friendly service and companionship.
The service also extends to families coping with a terminal illness. Volunteers in this area receive training to visit and support the families. If required this support extends after the dependent dies or moves into residential care.
Volunteers have the opportunity to socialise during the year with an appreciation lunch for all volunteers in June and a Christmas dinner for members in December.
The dedication and commitment of volunteers is immense and contributes so much to the lives of carers and those they look after. In return volunteers gain great satisfaction from their work and receive full support and on-going training.
Volunteers are interviewed and references obtained before they join and they are introduced to their potential family before they start visiting.
If you are caring for someone and think the Association could help, or if you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please call on 01424 722309.
Back to top of page...
< Hastings Regeneration Partnership | What’s On >
This page last updated: 29/09/2004