Questions asked of the Leader of the Council are displayed below (the most recently answered questions are displayed first).
Q: Could you please explain how the premises formerly occupied by Burslems (The Monumental Masons) situated on The Ridge within very close proximity to The Borough Cemetery has been allowed to be occupied by a company whose business is totally inappropriate for that particular area of Hastings.
I own and run a business on Ivyhouse Lane Industrial Estate and traverse The Ridge several times a day. I was delighted, a couple of weeks ago to see a Dyer Commecial notice stating that the premises had been sold and then noticed last week some painting and decorating of the same. Imagine my horror today when instead of a florists (which I had predicted to many associates) I saw that there were alloy wheels and tyres in the showroom.
Worse than this . . . on the public highway there are between 3 and 5 vehicles with fluorescent signs advertising them for sale. I understood that this practise was illegal, notwithstanding that The Ridge is already overcrowded with vehicles . . . that premises is in very close proximity to Helenswood Upper School. This matter needs your urgent attention.
I look forward to your prompt response to my concerns.
A: The issue was drawn to our attention recently by one of our licensing team and after talking to the owner of the shop, I understand the cars are now being removed from the road.
Posted: 15/10/08
Q: The bus shelter near Ravenside was detroyed in a car accident some months ago. Since then the old one was removed and nothing has been done to replace it. The litter bin is no longer bolted down and daily moves around the area, bolts are sticking out of the pavement which could be a tripping hazard. If all the Councils want people to use public transport could sheltering the poor travellers from the harsh weather as they wait for the buses stuck in the traffic to get to them be more of a priority. I realise this may be a County matter but surely Hastings BC could push this along.
A: Unfortunately the police have been unable to supply details of the driver who demolished this bus stop, so we haven't been able to charge the cost of a replacement to anyone. We do, however, have some budget available and while ongoing maintenance of existing bus stops must be our priority we do have a list of replacement priorities and this is right at the top. As soon as there are funds available to replace it, we will.
Posted: 15/10/08
Q: At the risk of sounding petty, I have noticed on my daily walk that the 'Quality Award' flag that is flying at the lifeguard hut on Pelham beach is looking extremely dog eared and tatty to the extent that a third of the words and the year that the award was given are missing. A small item I know but bad for our image nevertheless and certainly not reflective of the message that the flag is meant to be giving. Could the flag be replaced perhaps with something representative of our town?
A: Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We've had a particularly windy summer, so I'm not surprised it's got a bit tatty. Our Foreshore team will go down and take a look and either replace or remove it.
Posted: 15/10/08
Q: Over the last few years I have noticed that there has been a large scale infestation of Japaneese Knotweed in Ecclesbourne Glen. The area around the old costguard cottages in Ecclesbourne Glen has large areas of Knotweed infestation.
I have reported this infestation several times over the last few years but the problem remains and is becoming more widespread every year.
The Country Park Management Plan Objective INV.01 states :
"Keep habitats free of invasive non-native species such as japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica and Rhododendron ponticum."
I dont believe that any progress has been made in getting rid of this infestation.
Could you please let me know what steps are going to be taken to ensure that Japanese knotweed is eradicated from the country park.
A: The council has a programme of treating Japanese Knotweed on its own land. If anyone has identified Japanese Knotweed and wishes to report it, please contact 01424 451107 where the location will be added to the programme for works. Unfortunately the location of the patch in the Country Park is in a particularly hard to reach spot for safe spraying. Nevertheless we will try and treat it as best we can. It can take up to three years for Japanese Knotweed to be eradicated.
I will pass this particular observation on for the attention of our officers responsible for treating Japanese knotweed in the town.
Posted: 14/10/08
Q: Could you please give all council tax payers a breakdown of all expenditure as well as any investments of bonds and stocks that may be under threat as I am a very concerned resident living in the St Leonards area.
A: We do not invest in stocks or bonds. We do however have some deposits with banks but we do not believe any of them are under threat. To view our budget books visit: www.hastings.gov.uk/finance
Posted: 13/10/08
Q: Who does the Council bank with and what is the current balance of all Council accounts??
A: The Council's Bankers are The Co-operative.
We do not however have much money with them at any given time. We have strict criteria to determine who we will lend to and only those with high credit ratings are given our deposits. At the moment we have around £20 million lent either directly by ourselves or by our Fund Manager. To look at our budget books, please go to: www.hastings.gov.uk/finance
Posted: 13/10/08
Q: In the report to Cabinet 6th October 2008. The Jerwood Foundation have indicated that because they need to register for VAT, they cannot offer 'free' admission to the gallery, as they had originally hoped.
The Jerwood Foundation are seeking an arrangement where the site for their Gallery is made available to them without charge, they are free of Business Rates and Hastings picks up the bill for the roads parking infrastructure improvements.
Would the same conditions be available for any other organisation that charges admission and wishes to relocate to the Stade?
A: The Jerwood Foundation is a non-profit making organisation, and business rate relief is available to such organisations.
Even though they may now have to charge for admission, any money made will be ploughed back into the running of the Gallery.
The Foundation intend to charge a lower admission price for Hastings residents, and all money made from Hastings residents will be separately accounted for, and used to fund education/outreach work to directly benefit Hastings people.
The Jerwood Foundation intend to invest around £4m of their own money in a scheme which will bring £75m of British art to Hastings, and provide a boost to the local economy of several million pounds a year. Their Gallery will act as a catalyst which could bring another £4m of external funding to the town.
Clearly each case must be judged on its merits, but I suspect the Council would welcome any further investment on this scale, although not on the site chosen, which will remain predominantly open space.
Posted: 08/10/08
Q: I am a childminder in St Leonards and currently have a very bad house fly infestation, no matter how many I kill the numbers just keep getting worse. I have checked the whole house for anything which could be causing this but have found nothing. I have also enquired of my neighbours and found that they too have a large number of flies. I have installed a "zapper" with ultra violet light in the kitchen which is killing around a dozen per day, all other rooms are regularly sprayed with a variety of different products but the condition is not improving, because of my profession I have young children (3 month old to 5 years) in the house and am concerned.
Do you know if the council could offer any sugestions or help?
A: My colleagues in the environmental health team have received a small number of complaints about this and they are working to try and identify any source. Currently the cause is suspected to be agricultural activity somewhere in Rother District Council's area, so we are working jointly with them to identify any possible origin. Once a source is identified it will be possible to determine whether any steps can be taken to eliminate this problem.
Posted: 07/10/08
Q: So our area is getting communal bins.
The council keep going on about how successful they are in Brighton.
Most Brighton/Hove residents were not consulted and just had these bins forced upon their street, like we are going to here in Hastings/St Leonards.
Consultation is a joke.
These bins might do ok in nice areas of Hastings/St Leonards like in Brighton but won't do so well in the deprived areas. Fly tipping and dirty streets will still be an issue.
A: Following the introduction of the Twin Bin scheme last year we saw a real improvement in street cleanliness as the rubbish was contained along with a sharp rise in recycling. We know that the remaining weekly collection areas still have problems from black sacks being attacked by wildlife, which is causing litter to be scattered across the streets. We also know that these areas recycle less and we are looking at ways to make this easier for residents.
In Brighton communal bins provided a solution to this problem and significantly improved street cleanliness. The scheme has been a success and is now being extended to a further 13,000 properties. You highlight the issue of fly tipping around the bins and this is an acknowledged risk and we have identified the need for robust enforcement to ensure the scheme works.
In Brighton all properties received a consultation document in the post inviting their views about the scheme and the proposed locations. We are looking to consult with all residents in the same way and our consultation document is being released in November. We would encourage you to use this opportunity to feed back your views.
Please do take a look at our website and in particular our Frequently Asked Questions pages
Posted: 07/10/08
Q: Whilst there are some tremendous efforts made to brighten up the face of our town such as the year round plantation of the seafront flower beds, other features appear to be left to go to rack and ruin and negate to some extent the great efforts that have been made.
It's sad to see for example that the bund wall around the fountain roundabout opposite Iceland's still remains broken and very tatty. I know it's not a great architectural feature but it is a very prominent one and is seen by all who visit our town. You did advise some time ago that three new segments of wall have been commissioned but there was nothing in the budget for the aesthetics. I replied to this with my opinion that once the new segments had been installed it would probably only take a local plasterer two days to patch up the remaining damage to the wall with a render mix at a cost of say £120 per day and a local decorator to apply two roller coats of white paint at a similar cost and time. Maybe £500 of labour? As far as materials are concerned, surely the council can find a few bags of ballast, sand, cement and a few tubs of white paint in their stores. It's a small price to pay for our civic pride and identity wouldn't you agree?
Another area that is crying out to be brightened up is the islands on the boating lake, an area where thousands of visitors congregate during the summer. These bare, flat, earth mounds are in dire need of a bit of plantation and dare I say 'feature lighting'. I heard that there was once a problem with birds nesting on these islands but that's not an insurmountable problem with the correct choice of 'spiky' plantation and materials, is it?
A: We have addressed the issues of the roundabout in previous questions (see q588). In relation to the islands on the boating lake, they are not Council managed but form part of a wider area that is leased to Stade Developments who operate the Amusement Park. I do know that Stade Developments is considering a couple of schemes at the moment to brighten up the islands but these would of course be subject to relevant planning consent and permissions.
Posted: 07/10/08
Q: More of a comment than a question really. I run virtually every day over Hastings Country Park and wanted to congratulate everyone connected with its upkeep - who I understand to be a mixture of volunteers and council staff. It really is one of the best things about the Borough.
A: Thank you very much for your kind comments about Hastings Country Park. It is a source of pride to all of us that so many residents, visitors and holidaymakers can enjoy such a beautiful area literally within walking distance of the Old Town.
The changes in the management of Hastings Country Park and Fairlight Place Farm have helped turn it into one of the most spectacular nature reserves in the South East and are the result of the hard work and dedication of a number of council officers and volunteers.
We have a wealth of amazing wildlife and a diversity of wildflowers and sown plants. There are lots of exciting things happening in the Country Park and I'm pleased to report the return of barn owls that have returned to breed for the first time in living memory.
This is work in progress and there is much work still to do. Large scale land management to reverse years of decline takes years. The management and hard work of staff has been recognised by the Civic Trust, which has awarded the park the national accolade of a Green Flag for exemplary management for three consecutive years now.
The team brought together to manage the land and steer a course for its future are the Borough Ecologist, the Parks and Open Spaces Manager, our Nature Reserve Officer, and our Country Park and Estates Rangers, together with the Friends of Hastings Country Park and all the dedicated volunteers who spend their time helping make this site so special.
Posted: 07/10/08
Q: In answer to question 619You say that there is a "dedicated beach cleaner who walks solely from the harbour arm all the way to Bulverhythe each day, cleaning as he goes." Does this person just walk the prom once a day? And does this person work at weekends? I am often on the prom and I have never seen anyone carrying out disinfection - or collecting rubbish.
A: During the Summer months, between April and September, we have numerous beach cleaners working from 6am until 10pm every day, to meet the increased tourist activity and to ensure our beaches are kept clean. Outside the tourist season the service is slightly less intense but should still meet our very high standards for beach cleanliness.
Posted: 07/10/08
Q: I refer to you response to question 577 concerning the collection of rubbish at Warrior Square.
The same proactive attitude does not appear to have been adopted for dealing with the problem at Seaside Passage in St Leonards which appears to be a haven for fly-tipping. Refuse sacks are regularly dumped in the middle of the road!
Currently there are numerous rubbish sacks and other debris in the alley at Seaside Passage, a sack in the middle of the road and another (and two large boxes) at the foot of the Passage. (This is not unusual).
Most of the offending items have been present for over two weeks. No effort appears to have been made to clear the area.
Will the Council adopt the same approach at Warrior Square and increase collections and open the bags to identify the culprit and hopefully the residents of Seaside Road who abide by the rules can live without the eye-sore and environmental hazard.
A: Thanks for bringing this to our attention. It is a shame that a few mindless people, who insist on dumping their rubbish wherever they feel like, have such an impact on the cleanliness of our streets. I have brought this to the attention of our Waste and Recycling team and we will take the necessary action to clear this area and look at addressing this issue to avoid a repeat of the problems.
Posted: 07/10/08
Q: Church road st leonards
when did you walk down it last,especially op st pauls place there are bins provided and i know rubbishmen do there best but this small area is allways littered for the gulls to feast on can you look into what else can be done .It is a shame a few thoughtless people can make a area so unnattractive and unhygenic.
A: We are aware of the problem and are looking at alternatives to the current arrangements. Our preferred option is communal bins as these have significantly improved the level of cleanliness in other areas including Brighton.
We will be writing to residents in November to seek their views regarding our proposals and bin locations before we make any decisions.
In the meantime our officers continue to work with our contactor and enforcement officers to tackle the issue.
Posted: 29/09/08
Q: hello i live in hastings and have four children. i have made my two daughters age 3 and 5 a pedal boat and my other daughter ,son an 8foot folding row bout i have been told by the council that i cant use them in alxandra park or any lakes in hastings . it is a great shame that this view is taken.is there any way that i can take this further as i believe it to be a park for the people of hastings
A: I'm afraid that the Alexandra Park lake is not suitable for using home made boats on for a number of reasons. The main issue here is with supervision. We simply do not have the staff to supervise people launching boats into the lake, which, if they did sink or capsize, could mean that people's lives are put in danger. If such an accident did occur we would be held liable and that is not a responsibility we wish to shoulder. There are more suitable places for boating, such as somewhere like Bewl Water, which has regular safety patrols during the sailing season. It is a much better option.
Posted: 26/09/08
Q: What progress has been made with regards to the parking review? Can we have a clear indication when and in what format this review is to take?
I feel the acceptance of the county councils parking taxes which heavily out weigh running cost are illegal and should be challenged by our local representatives as not being in the best interest of the people of Hastings, do you agree?
A: A number of meetings between business representatives, Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex County Council have resulted in the following changes to the parking review, agreed by Cabinet on 8 September:
Item 1 above has already been implemented and we are in the process of drafting the orders for the other items, which hopefully will be implemented as soon as practicable.
Posted: 26/09/08
Q: We try to recycle everything but are confused as to why our green bins allow us to recyle certain "numbers" of plastic and not things like tetra paks which are cardboard? Also I'd love to see doorstep glass collection rather than me having to drive to a bottle bank. Any news?
A: The range of materials that can be recycled is restricted by the facilities that are available locally to recycle these particular types of plastic. At present we cannot accept these materials but we are continuing to work with our Waste Disposal Authority (East Sussex County Council) to increase the range of materials that can be accepted.
We have looked to see whether glass can be incorporated into our co-mingled kerbside collection but this is not currently possible as the machinery at the recycling facility cannot handle this material. Unfortunately the costs of operating a separate glass collection are currently prohibitive but again we are looking at ways to extend and promote the current glass banks.
Posted: 26/09/08
Q: I have been informed by my neighbour that Priory Road has been designated as twin bin down one side and communial bins down the other. On your website you inform us that there will be consultation on this, however the message my neighbour had was that this was going to happen in October. Is there going to be consultation, if so when? If not, why not? We are totally against the communial bin scheme and do not see the need for it in our road, we rarely have a problem with torn bags. If you want to do something for this area sort out the lack of waste bins on the West Hill, increase the number of collections and waste picking and leave our refuge collection to weekly as it is at present. (which works)
A: In Priory Road we are considering both Twin Bins and communal bins as some properties cannot accommodate Twin Bins whilst others can.
For properties where Twin Bins have been considered, our Field Officers have been door-stepping to consult residents. There has been a high level of support for the proposals so these properties are to be included in the next phase of the Twin Bin scheme.
For those properties that cannot go onto the Twin Bin scheme we are looking at alternatives and communal bins are our preferred option. However, this is only our 'preferred'' option and we need your views before any progress can be made. We are planning to send individual letters to every household in areas where we are considering the use of communal bins to give residents the chance to express their views on both the principle and suggested locations for bins.
Once we have finished this exercise we will be putting a detailed proposal, based on the needs and views of residents, to the Cabinet (the key decision-making part of the Council) for approval.
Whilst I appreciate that you may have not had any issues with torn bags, and that you feel that the current arrangements work, there are major issues in the weekly collection areas with refuse sacks being attacked by wildlife resulting in rubbish being strewn along the streets. The current bag scheme is not therefore clean and efficient and in your immediate area there are regular instances of sacks put out on the pavement being torn apart and waste strewn around the area. The communal bin scheme would undoubtedly help reduce this problem and result in cleaner streets and ultimately reduce the cost of street cleaning.
With regard to the litter bins on the West Hill I have asked our Waste Management officers to have a look to see whether these are sufficient for the area.
Posted: 26/09/08
Q: what skills are needed to be a doorman
A: To be a qualified doorman or woman you do have to pass a course with an exam at the end. These courses are provided by Hastings College. The applicant then needs to apply to the SIA (Security Industry Authority) to become licensed. If he or she passes the police checks etc, he or she gets a three year licence. We no longer have involvement with the licensing of doormen and doorwomen but still retain enforcement powers.
Posted: 26/09/08
Q: Peter, I am very angry and concerned regarding your policy of improvements around St Leonards coast-line. On the one hand millions have been spent improving the area including the Azure complex. The idea is to attract visitors and locals alike to the beach and its facilities making the area popular with families, students etc. However, I was disgusted by the condition of the beach particularly the three beaches at the bottom of London Road, which were littered with cans, broken bottles, plastc cups and litter, parts of the promenade in that area stink of urine. There was no sign of any authority checking this out or doing anything about it. I have two questions a)who is responsible for keeping that area clean and b) do you really expect children to play on beaches covered in broken glass, and do you expect visitors to return when they discover such filthy conditions. I thought you were trying to promote the Azure and surrounding area ??
A: Part of our contractor's remit is to clean the beach and Bottle Alley etc and we have a dedicated beach cleaner who walks solely from the harbour arm all the way to Bulverhythe each day, cleaning as he goes. Our cleaners sweep the top and lower proms including Bottle Alley early every morning and spray disinfectants.
As we based our contract on strict guidelines contained within the 'Environmental Protection Act 1990', we have monitoring in place to bring areas back up to correct standards within specified times. We provide adequate amounts of litter bins and even toilet facilities for everybodys use. However certain individuals think its acceptable to drop litter, urinate and leave smashed glass on a beach. This is a real shame and the reason we have implemented measures to cleanse areas regularly.
Posted: 26/09/08
Q: which parking zones cover Pelham Cresant
A: Historically, Pelham Crescent was not included in the Traffic Regulation Orders as a 'qualifying address'. I believe this is simply because there is private parking available for residents.
A few permits have been authorised over the years but, with this parking anomaly, we tend to judge parking requests on a case by case basis and generally tend to issue permits for Zone D, as this is the nearest zone.
Posted: 26/09/08
Q: Whilst I am aware that the Council are actively looking at waste disposal options for the Warrior Square area, the current trend of a small minority of residents is to leave black rubbish bags outside properties on the day of their choice. The result is rubbish strewn over the pavements and on today's menu in Warrior Square (east side) it's bags of soiled nappies!! What makes the situation worse is that Council refuse trucks regularly drive past this dreadful mess during the day without making any attempt to clear it up.
Please can the Council educate or prosecute the culprits so that this health risk and anti-social behaviour by the minority can be stopped?
I would suggest this is not the way we wish to portray Hastings and St Leonard's to visitors, especially during the Seafood and Wine Festival weekend.
A: We are aware that black bags are in an issue in areas where storage facilities do not exist and indeed have special arrangements in place for Warrior Square. In addition to the normal weekly collection of rubbish and recycling that takes place on a Wednesday, any bags presented on the kerbside will be collected from Monday to Friday.
Where rubbish is being put out on the wrong days we do try to find evidence of the culprit within the bags to address the issue or write to residents in the area. However this has a limited effect.
Clearly we want to move away from these arrangements as it does not address the issue of split bags and their contents so we have been looking at alternatives. Our preferred option is communal bins and we will be writing to residents in November to seek their view regarding the scheme and proposed locations of the bins.
In the meantime we are continuing to work with our contractor to get any mess cleared as soon as possible.
Posted: 26/09/08
Q: Can you explain the new Dog Warden system? I have today had a very bad experience with a lost dog that was in a poor condition (due to lack of food or shelter and a very cold night). My neighbour called the dog warden and we worked together to get a lead onto the dog and secure her to ensure she would not be hit by a car.
Unfortunately we were told that the warden would not be available until 11am, around 5 hours after the dog had been found and a considerable length of time since I imagine she had been lost.
Two years ago I faced a similar situation and the warden arrived within half an hour despite the early hour - why has this service deteriorated so much, and how does this response to the situation comply with the Council's animal welfare policy?
A: In fact the Council's stray dog control service now operates 24/7 365 days a year, whereas prior to April this year it only operated during the hours of operation of the Council's old Warden Service.
I am sorry that the Council's stray dog contractor didn't respond to your request as quickly as you wanted. Please can you let me have the basic details of the case so I can investigate:
Your name, address and telephone number.
Your neighbours name and address.
The date and time that your neighbour rang the strays contractor. Exactly what they said and how long they took to turn up and take the dog away.
Any other comments you might wish to make in relation to what happened. I shall then pass the details through to the Head of Environmental Health and ask him to investigate the case and get back to you.
Posted: 24/09/08
Q: I moved to this town as a working professional,and have allways rented accomodation.I have been in my current property since jan 08,and only just had windows repaired (inside only)outside still rotting.I contacted your housing dept and was told it would be 3 months before any visit could be made.
My letting agents are not members of any protection or arbitury scheme so i had to fight alone or move which is expensive and on research many rented properties are in decay.
Obviously you want people and need people to work live in hastings but what are you as a council doing to provide good quality housing and checking landlords and letting agents.
A: The Council takes the improvement of housing conditions very seriously, particularly as we have higher than average levels of rented properties within the town.
The Council has a dedicated Housing Renewal team in place to help ensure that landlords address the very issues to which you refer. The team offers advice, financial assistance and where necessary take enforcement action in line with the Council's adopted Housing Renewal Enforcement Policy.
There is a high demand for these services and in 2007/8 the Housing Renewal Service dealt with 625 requests for service and 403 financial assistance/grant enquires.
The Enforcement Team responsible for dealing with housing conditions, in areas other than the St Leonards housing renewal area, has in recent months been short staffed due to vacancies in the team. This has meant that requests for service have had to be prioritised in order of dealing with the worst cases first. This has meant that in some cases people making requests for service have had to wait up to three months before an officer could visit to assess the conditions. We are currently recruiting new staff.
I do apologise if the services we offer fell short of your expectations in this instance, but do hope you can understand the reasons for this
Posted: 24/09/08
Q: I am looking to buy a private beach hut in the East Haven area of West St Leonard's on the Cinque Ports way . This will require a significant financial outlay from myself to initially purchase the hut from the current owner in addition to the annual ground rent charge which would be due to the council. I am therefore trying to risk assess the purchase. Are these seafront hut locations safe from any proposed development and regeneration of the area in the near or distant future or is there a likelihood that my investment could be threatened.
A: Redevelopment proposals are under consideration, which may affect the beach huts in East Haven at the lower end of Cinque Ports Way. It is not possible to say at the present time if and when development might take place.
Posted: 18/09/08
Q: Please could you tell me why it is taking so long to replace missing benches in the Torfield Park and West Hill area of Hastings? I am referring to the bench that was removed in the Lower Torfield Park area south of Croft Road and to the missing bench in the twitten that runs down from the West Hill to Croft Road. Both of these areas are on steep slopes and resting places for walkers, vistors and shoppers are extremely important.
I first contacted the Council to express concern about this in Dec 2007. I was told that there were no funds left for that financial year, but that the intention was to replace/repair benches in the next financial year, i.e. this one. We are now reaching the end of the summer and the benches are still missing. This is particularly frustrating when I had taken it in good faith that the Council did not have money to pay for a single replacement bench last year, only to read in the local paper that the Council underspent. So why is it taking so long for the benches to be replaced? Isn't this considered a priority? Regeneration isn't just about big projects; it's also about basic quality of life amenities like places to sit and enjoy the view. Why aren't the departments that deal with replacing benches being given sufficient funds to carry out basic repairs like this?
A: The bench on the footpath leading down from the West Hill to Croft Road has now been replaced and we do plan to replace the other one, south of Croft Road, before the end of the financial year. This bench was originally removed because of the severe damage it sustained at the hands of vandals. This work has taken longer than we would have liked but I can assure you that we intend to carry out an assessment of all the benches in this area and repair or replace them as necessary.
Posted: 17/09/08
Q: You may have seen the flood of comments in Times Onine at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article4608276.ece
from all over the world with regard to this "incident" (everyone else is calling it a murder).
What steps are being taken to reassure the parents of language students that their children will be safe here - and to ensure that this is the truth?
I have observed repeated incidents of bullying of young visitors by groups of thugs here.
A: This tragic incident is very much a one-off. Unfortunately, the press coverage we attracted was very high profile and at times grossly misleading and exaggerated. We already work very closely with language schools in Hastings, meeting monthly with representatives from schools, police and the council.
The student economy is vital to Hastings and we will do everything in our power to ensure that it remains. We have some 35,000 students every year and the vast majority leave having had a great time.
Posted: 16/09/08
Q: BBC tv news, Friday 12th 06.24.
An item about piers shows Hastings as being in Somerset.
Has it moved from East Sussex?
A: Hastings remains a part of East Sussex. Although Somerset may have much to recommend it, I much prefer East Sussex.
Posted: 12/09/08
Q: This is not a question but I wanted to say I have read the offensive article about Hastings in the Mail online and have sent a comment. It might be a good idea if others could do the same. Why they have to trash us like this I do not know. It's almost a national sport They should be aware we will not put up with it. It has made me very angry.
A: Thank you for your comments and for writing to the Daily Mail. Their article could not have been more inaccurate if it had tried, using as it did a ten-year old photograph and describing a Hastings that I did not recognise. I hope that many more people will have written to express their disgust.
Posted: 10/09/08
Q: Does the council have any interest, will, belieave in seeing the pier as a visitor attraction as proposed by the HPWRT?
Will the council agree to private development that does not act as a visitor attraction i.e. private housing?
Has the council bought and sold the pier to a private party?
A: The Council will consider any planning applications it receives as part of the formal Planning process.
The Council has not bought or sold the Pier. Indeed the Council has still to receive formal confirmation that the Pier has been sold.
The Pier is currently owned by a private company and the Council would not become directly involved in any sale to another company - these are normal commercial transactions between third parties.
Posted: 10/09/08
Q: Why do empty coaches need to be parked in a prime sea front location denying hundreds of people the use of Sea Road to escape from the stresses and strains of life?
The sea front is already at a stand still at most times of the day with the volume of traffic, how is sending numerous coaches the entire length of the sea front in both directions going to help?
Has the Leader visited this location, on more than one occasion and met the cross section of people that have been using this part of West St Leonards for decades?
Why does the council think that the people who wish to access the beach, cycle lane, promenade, putting green etc. in Sea road will only want to use them in the evening? This seems absolutely bizarre in this modern day and age with shift patterns and a large elderly population etc.
Where are "the lots of on street parking" you mention in your reply? It is fairly obvious by this remark that you do not in fact frequent this part of town! It is not uncommon on a summer's day to queue for a parking space in Sea road! All other on street parking is occupied by resident's double yellow lines or miles from the beach! Apart from a few spaces by the old bathing pool site where the road is very narrow and always full.
How much additional parking is going to be created to compensate for the loss of all these parking spaces and will these be pay and display?
How are Windsurfers of which I am one, going to be able to park adjacent to the beach to enable them to carry their equipment? The two beaches to the west of Sea road are two of the only beaches without rocks and are designated beaches for windsurfing hence the sign at the top of the steps! I have been windsurfing here with my friends for 20 years! This also applies to other water sports enthusiast such as canoeist etc.
Sustrans have won a lottery grant for the continuation of the cycle path from the bathing pool to Galley hill. Where are people going to be able to park to access this and the existing path?
Where are the Camper vans who park up in the daytime (to tall for car parks) and the disabled meant to go?
We now at last have toilets in Grosvenor gardens after a there year wait, thank you, it is a shame that there will now be no people to use them!
A: We clearly need to relocate the coaches if we are to improve the Stade area.
Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex County Council officers have sent some time looking at alternative sites for coaches, marking each according to a series of criteria, to give a 'balanced scorecard'. Sea Road, and Falaise Road, scored more highly than any of the other potential sites identified.
I am aware of the use of Sea Road, which is why we intend restricting coach parking to daytime hours only, allowing car parking there of an evening.
Officers are also looking at the various options for more car parking in the West St Leonards area, and we hope to identify as much potential 'new' parking as we are likely to lose for coach parking.
Detailed plans will be brought forward for consultation, which we intend to hold in November.
Posted: 10/09/08
Q: With regard to the death of Mohammed Al Majed, are there any plans for some sort of gesture of the deep regret which I am sure virtually all Hastings townspeople feel? eg, collection of signatures for a book of condolence, an inter-faith service or non-religious vigil? If you are not able to answer this at present could you refer me to someone I could contact to discuss this with and perhaps help to get somethng started?
A: As you may be aware we organised a two-minute silence in the town centre. Many residents, shoppers, community leaders, politicians, police officers and others joined Mohammed al-Majed's family. Mohammed's father was presented with a book of condolence that had been left outside the fast food shop, near where his son died. We were pleased that we were able to demonstrate that Hastings and St Leonards was united against violence and racism in any form.
Posted: 08/09/08
Q: What steps are being taken to reassure the parents of language students that their children will be safe here - and to ensure that this is the truth?
I have observed repeated incidents of bullying of young visitors by groups of thugs here.
A: This tragic incident is very much a one-off. Unfortunately, the press coverage we attracted was very high profile and at times grossly misleading and exaggerated. We already work very closely with language schools in Hastings, meeting monthly with representatives from schools, police and the council.
The student economy is vital to Hastings and we will do everything in our power to ensure that it remains. We have some 35,000 students every year and the vast majority leave having had a great time.
Posted: 08/09/08
Q: When are you going to wake up to the reality that crime in Hastings is on the increase? There are many unreported crimes for fear of further violence/intimidation from the thugs that act with impunity in this town.
Stop whitewashing the facts and maybe Hastings police , M.P. and council will start to deal with the very real and growing problem here. How many murders/attacks. daylight robbieries and intimidation do we have to have before you admit the truth?
A: We, as a council, have never sought to whitewash the facts or avoid the truth about crime in our town. The truth is there has been a drop in levels of crime in Hastings (some 27%), but we also know that there are still issues we desperately need to address. Recent press coverage over the death of Mohammed al-Majed was hugely exaggerated and in many cases, just plain wrong. This sad case was a one-off and is not normal for this town. We know there are people whose attitudes to foreign visitors are racist and intolerant, but as I've said time and time again: racism and violence will not be tolerated in Hastings and St Leonards; not by us, not by the police. We are working hard to bring the community together and I think the two-minute silence in Mohammed's memory was testimony to how many people felt about this tragic case. Violent crime in this country does appear to be on the increase, but we are fighting back.
Posted: 08/09/08
Q: re 576 I too had my parking ticket blow off and had to pay a fine due to your very very unsympathetic parking operations team . Why don't you install "sticky" backed tickets like almost every other council, especially as it is very windy in Hastings?
A: Hastings Borough Council is committed to saving energy costs and protecting the environment and one of the measures adopted was the installation of solar powered pay and display machines.
Unfortunately, it is not possible for this type of machine to dispense tickets with adhesive backing, without causing frequent machine failure. This is why we use thermal paper for the tickets and encourage motorists simply to check that their ticket is displayed on the dashboard before leaving their vehicle.
Posted: 08/09/08
Q: Who is the Chief Executive of Hastings Boorough Council?
A: Roy Mawford.
Posted: 08/09/08
Q: when you are born im from german
A: I was born in 1960 in Farnborough, Kent.
Posted: 08/09/08
Q: now that Stylus Sports who operate the bingo from Hastings Pier, have entered a "Company Voluntary Arrangement" which means that they are broke!
How does the council intend to get back the 50K that it gave them and more importantly, what will happen to the Pier?
Should they not have worked with the Pier Owners in the first place?
A: I am aware that the Pier Bingo has stopped trading and, indeed, that the Pier has now closed completely. I am obviously disappointed, not least for Stylus Sports, who invested a considerable amount of their own money in making 'their' area of the Pier safe.
The Council invested £50,000 to help safeguard a number of jobs on the Pier and, although we are obviously disappointed that the Pier has now closed again, our contribution helped it remain open for two summers longer than it otherwise would have.
And, of course, the repair work carried out means that if another owner does appear, the area occupied by Stylus Sports will require very little work doing to it.
Posted: 08/09/08
Q: Could you please advise me on your plans for equestrian development in Hastings and the Country Park. This is a very popular local leisure activity potentially bringing huge economic benefits to the town and surrounding countryside. I would also like to understand how this will fit into your 'access for all' policy for the Country Park
A: The Council has no plans for equestrian development at Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve. The development of equestrian trails are not compatible with our management objectives. The Council has entered a legal agreement with Government to manage the land to maximise its nature conservation objectives. Equestrian riding and grazing by horses are not allowed through this agreement.
An existing equestrian trail runs parallel to Fairlight Road to the north of the Park which is the responsibility of East Sussex County Council.
The Council has not identified horse riding or other equestrian activities as a priority for service provision in the Borough. However it is exploring extending equestrian facilities as part of the proposed Pebsham Countryside Park, which is deemed a more suitable location for these activities.
Posted: 29/08/08
Q: I read your comments about the tragic death of Mohammed Al Majed in Hastings last week. I personally have also extended my sympathy.
Your comment;
"Unfortunately, we seem to be have an epidemic of violence at a national level at present"
Is neither accurate or needed, or should I assume you would take every opportunity no matter what the circumstances to score political points?
A: I have to disagree with your comment. There is an epidemic of violence at national level at present and it would be naïve to pretend otherwise. There was no political point scoring made or intended in a statement of fact. I would not dream, nor would any of my colleagues of any political pursuasion, of making political capital out of a human tragedy.
Posted: 29/08/08
Q: I was parked yesterday in Sea Road when I noticed somebody doing a Survey on behalf of the council on how long people are parking there! I am given to understand from parking services that this is to do with the Coach parking being moved from the Stade. It is only recently that the Pay and Display in Sea Road was thrown out as part of the Central St Leonards controlled parking scheme which I vehemently campaigned against. Surely you are not considering taking all this free parking away from all the people who enjoy this part of West St Leonards? It is used by windsurfers, kitesurfers, canoeist, parents teaching their children to ride their bicycles or roller blades, dog walkers, walkers, cyclist, swimmers, fishermen, bowlers, drivers needing a break from driving, holiday makers, disabled people, bowlers, emergency vehicles on call, and families just wanting to use the beach etc.
A: Sea Road is indeed one of the options that we are exploring as a replacement facility for the coach park, along with Falaise Road.
We do still need to formally consult on our plans, but Sea Road was included in our earlier 'Masterplan' consultation in May. We are now intending that it only be used by coaches during the day, remaining available for cars of an evening.
Limited car parking will still be available in Sea Road, and we are hoping to create further car parking spaces on some of the old Bathing Pool site. There is also a lot of on-street parking in the immediate vicinity, of course.
Formal consultation on our plans will taker place later in the year, probably in November, which will give you an opportunity to formally register your views.
Posted: 27/08/08
Q: What is beong done to improve the rail transport links between Hastings and Ashford with the introduction of the new high speed trains to London in December 2009. We should be putting pressure on network rail to upgrade the line.
A: The current infrastructure between Hastings and Ashford does not allow for a significant increase in capacity (number of trains run) without very significant investment, which at the moment is unlikely to be forthcoming. It is single track for much of its length, between Ore and Rye, and between Rye and Appledore, and without the reinstatement of at least some of the double track, it is not possible to run a much more frequent train service.
However, new rolling stock has been introduced over the last few years which, together with the journey time improvements (Hastings to Ashford is now 42 minutes), has improved the quality of the journey.
Realistically, however, the direct route to Charing Cross via Tunbridge Wells will remain the main route to London from Hastings; even with the journey time improvements between Hastings and Ashford mentioned above, the Hastings to St Pancras via Ashford International journey is likely to take at least as long as the direct route, and, of course, it involves a change of trains at Ashford.
Posted: 27/08/08
Q: I was interested to note in the ‘Shaping Hastings’ document the Council's intention to increase the target for affordable housing on GREENFIELD sites from 30% to 40%. In the current economic climate, with most housebuilders massively scaling down their plans, wouldn't you agree that it makes no sense for local councils to earmark land for housing to meet a a now unrealistic housebuilding target? This can surely only lead to developers cherry picking the greenfield sites, cause further blight and speculation and deprive Hastings and St Leonards of the investment and regeneration they desperately need. I would be interested in your views on this.....
A: Hastings Core Strategy, the lead document within the Local Development Framework (LDF), is required to look ahead to shaping development over the next 20 years. It is therefore a long term plan and should not be based on short term expediency. The draft South East Plan, to which the Core Strategy must adhere, sets a target of 210 net new dwellings to be built every year in Hastings over the lifetime of the Core Strategy (20 years). Monitoring reveals that this target has been met and exceeded comfortably in most years since 1991/92. By directing the majority of housing development to sites within the boundary of the town's built-up area, the Core Strategy does prioritise the redevelopment of previously developed land (so called brownfield land) over greenfield land, recognising that the re-use of brownfield land is vital to the physical regeneration of the Town. The release of the proposed major greenfield site on the north-western side of the town will be held back until the later part of the plan period in order in order to support this objective. That said, some flexibility will be needed as to the precise mix of available brownfield and greenfield sites housing sites as we are required to maintain a five-year housing land supply at all times. Prevailing market conditions could affect the types of sites that will be developed in any five-year period. Finally, in terms of the provision of affordable housing, various studies have been undertaken to identify overall need and the potential impact of affordable housing requirement on site viability.
Posted: 21/08/08
Q: I hope to shortly be moving to Hastings. Over the years I have read about the development of Pelham Square and seen the Norman Foster plans. What is happening about this?
A: Norman Foster Associates won an architectural competition for a mixed use development at Pelham Place opposite Pelham Crescent and Pelham Arcade. The competition was organised by the Hastings and Bexhill Task Force (The Task Force is made up of South East England Development Agency, English Partnerships, East Sussex County Council, Hastings Borough Council, Rother District Council and the local Members of Parliament). Norman Foster Associates were invited to come up with a scheme but this has not been submitted to the planning board for consent. The proposal will not be progressed further for a few years until property market conditions allow and satisfactory progress is made on other Task Force projects in the town centre. Major developments are currently underway with the development of the Station Plaza site, which involves the construction of a new 16 plus college to be known as Sussex Coast College Hastings. There is also a Primary Care Trust health facility and residential development to be built on the same site. Close by another site, Lacuna Place on Havelock Road, is being developed by the Task Force for offices and some retail development.
Posted: 20/08/08
Q: Following on from the question someone asked about getting rid of the damb pigeons in this town. There are ALWAYS pigeons hanging around the tables outside Jempson's Bakers as an example, and it actually puts me off even wanting to eat in their cafe, because of the thought pigeons might have stood and eaten off the plates the food is served on. As at the end of the day the plates are only washed as all the others are, so don't go through a more rigorous regime because the pigeons are always stopping off there as well . As well as the tables are ONLY wiped over, and yet the pigeons stand on the tables and plates to get what they can. I live in a high-rise block of flats, and the pigeons and even seagulls are both a pain in the neck here as well. Get rid of the damn things will you once and for all!
A: In reality there is very little that the Council can do to control the population of pigeons and gulls in Hastings and for every one person who hates them, there is someone else who loves them. Several measures to control population have been explored but there are very sensitive legal issues to consider with some birds offered protection in law. As a result of this we offer limited advice on fitting bird-proofing to structures. This really is a specialised area of work though and we would recommend seeking out specialist contractors if you were considering bird proofing a building. The introduction of the twin bins has helped enormously with the nuisance caused by gulls splitting refuse sacks. With regard to pigeons in the vicinity of cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating areas, normal commercial washing up and table cleansing practices should be adequate to protect customers from the risk of infectious diseases which may be spread by the birds landing on the tables.
Posted: 20/08/08
Q: I was interested in your answer to question 585 regarding the Council's stance on supermarkets and support of local businesses. Your answer seemed to say that the Council wishes to have its cake and eat it - supporting local retailers whilst allowing large supermarkets to build nearby. The submitted plan for ASDA in Silverhill has shown just how ambiguous the Council is on this. The building of an ASDA here will destroy virtually all the local businesses - meanwhile the Council pays no attention at all to the requirements of local traders who have, over and over again asked for the parking situation in this area to be sorted out. When I have spoken to local people regarding the ASDA proposal the feeling is that this is a ‘done deal’ which would explain why the Council is reluctant to do anything to support local traders and why the local newspaper is so reluctant to publish the views of local people who do not support this development. Please explain how a supermarket that sells the same goods and services as those provided locally is in any way good for the area, and can in any way support local businesses and town centres generally. Thank you.
A: The proposals for Asda are the subject of a current planning application - no decisions have been made as yet. We are waiting for some additional information to be submitted to inform the application, which will be re-consulted on before the proposals are considered at Planning Committee. It is not the role of our planning department to get involved in issues of competition between different businesses, but as stated in answer 585, we seek to ensure that the vitality and viability of centres are maintained and enhanced. This approach is in line with national planning policy - Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for Town Centres."
Posted: 19/08/08
Q: Could you please advise what time we should be putting our rubbish out for collection on Monday mornings in the Tackleway/All Saints street area of the Old Town? This morning (Monday 11th August) I put my rubbish out at 7.00am which I understand is the current council requirement but by 8.45am the rubbish had not been collected and it had been torn open and strewn all over the pavement by the gulls which meant I had to clear it up and re bag it. This unfortunately happens quite regularly. I am tempted to put the rubbish out much later, say 9.00am but the collection time is currently unclear and I fear that I might miss the collection if I were to adopt this policy. Due to the alleyways and steps in this area, the wheeled bins would not be practical, neither would they be aesthetically appropriate as a permanent feature in this historic part of town so perhaps precision timing of deposit and collection within a one hour time frame could be the answer say between 6.00am and 7.00 am or 7.00am and 8.00am to allow people to deposit their rubbish before they get off to work, confident that it will be collected within the hour and therefore less prone to gull attack.
A: We are aware of issues with black bag collections and are currently looking at alternatives solutions such as communal bins. You will shortly be receiving a letter from us outlining our proposals with some tips how to prevent seagulls ripping open bags. We will be asking residents for their views and will be sending a consultation document that includes the proposed bin locations in early Autumn.
While your suggestion for providing residents with a timeframe for collections sounds very sensible it would be difficult to provide a service on this basis as collection times can vary due to vehicle breakdown and access issues. However, this is another option we can explore.
Posted: 15/08/08
Q: Did you happen to watch this evening's Panorama on the link between littering and crime? Doesn't anyone at the Council (enough Council employees work there) notice how filthy the shopping streets of central St Leonards - particularly London Road - STILL are, despite the fact they are, I'm told by local councillors, cleaned regularly each morning?
This has not improved in the eighteen years I have lived here. Why, especially with so-called regeneration, is nothing being done to enforce the law against littering? Why are there no penalties handed out? And why can't we have more bins and have them emptied more frequently?
In tonight's Panorama, Ray Mallon, Middlesbrough's police chief, who has done a great deal to reduce the problem in his town, correctly points to the link between littering and crime. Allowing rubbish to lie in the streets creates an environment of not caring, of lack of respect for the place, and gives permission for others to discard their litter. It also frequently leads to other types of antisocial behaviour.
We need another cleaning session please, in the afternoons. Perhaps the Leader would care to take a look at the busier part of London Road around four o'clock, and he'll see why.
Why should we have to put up with this level of blight? The population of the area is increasing, and things will only get worse if nothing is done soon.
A: I can assure a lot is being done to tackle litter problems and the causes of litter problems across the town.
In general, street cleansing teams clean busy areas like St Leonards and Hastings Town Centre throughout the day and have to maintain our streets to an agreed standard as it a performance based contract. Our Environmental Enforcement Team are dedicated to monitoring street cleanliness whilst tackling problems with littering and fly tipping and often issue Fixed Penalty Notices to people they catch 'in the act'.
We are aware that one of causes of litter problems in St Leonards is black bags being put out for collection and being ripped apart by wildlife. We have looking at alternatives and at this point our preferred option is communal bins, but we are keen to get residents' views and will be consulting with residents in the autumn.
In the meantime, I'll ask our Waste Services team to look at the London Road area to see if there's anything we can do to improve the situation in the short term.
Posted: 15/08/08
Q: This is not a question but local residents may be interested to know about the website www.fixmystreet.com which provides a one stop shop for the community to be involved and assist the Council with identifying local problems and giving the council a better opportunity to focus on areas of concern such as dogs mess, litter dropping and fly tipping. The Council may even want to publish this address in its regular publications and involve the whole area in the clean up of Hastings and St Leonards.
A: Thank you for your suggestion. While I agree it's a great idea for residents to take an active interest in their neighbourhood and report any problems that arise, in most cases I think it's best for problems to be reported direct to the relevant Council department.
After glancing at this website, it doesn't seem to be updated very regularly and it may well slow up the process of responding to real faults or problems.
My advice to residents will always be to report problems direct to us, via the fault reporting pages on
our website or over the telephone. That way, we can respond as quickly as possible without relying on a third party to pass on the information.
Posted: 15/08/08
Q: Question 586 Re: Refurbishment of the East hill lift - Brilliant news. Thank You.
A: Thank you for your kind comment. It is good news and I look forward to the reopening of the East Hill Lift with anticipation.
Posted: 15/08/08
Q: I appreciate that work has been done by HBC to repair the pump on the fountain roundabout and the rusty pipe work has at least received a coat of paint. Unfortunately the shoddy repairs to the impact wall surrounding the roundabout by ESCC still remain. Would it be possible for HBC to at least disguise their inadequate repair by infilling the missing bits of concrete with a cement and coarse aggregate mix, finishing of with a smooth sand and cement mix and painting the impact wall white?
A: The concrete segment wall is unfortunately very vulnerable to damage, particularly when there is inconsiderate parking at the entrance to Castle Street. We have recently arranged for three new replacement segments to be cast and installed by a local contactor to make safe the dangerously damaged areas. However, our limited highway maintenance budget does not extend to cosmetic repairs.
Posted: 08/08/08
Q: Due presumably to the strength of the Euro against the Pound there seem to be a lot of foreign cyclists passing through the town - all of whom appear to struggle up the heavily-trafficked Old London Road rather than the traffic-free National Cycle Route up Barley Lane (the upper part of which was recently very well resurfaced by the Council). Does this infinitely more attractive and almost bike-free route need more active promotion?
A: We are pleased that we can accommodate the interests of so many visitors. We do publicise our cycling facilities and information on them can be found on our visitors' website: http://www.visit1066country.com/experiences/walking/cycling.aspx . Details of cycle routes are also available in the Hastings Information Centre, which we encourage all visitors to call into.
Posted: 08/08/08
Q: Has there been any progress in repairing the East Hill Lift. It seems to be taking an awful long time to get the specialist components manufactured. While we're waiting, could the council not take advantage of the summer weather and the temporary closure to give the cable cars a good paint. The one sitting at the top of the East hill looks extremely neglected and a bit tatty. Sitting in such a primary position and viewed by thousands of visitors, that's surely the least we could do.
A: We are carrying out a major refurbishment of the East Hill 1 Lift, or Cliff Railway to give it its more accurate description. An exciting capital programme will see the replacement of the existing fibreglass carriages with wooden ones that closely match the original design. These will have space for wheelchairs, pushchairs, and bikes. The control and safety systems will also be replaced, the concrete trackbed repaired and top and bottom stations repaired and repainted. A second phase of the refurbishment will also consider the provision of a small cafe at the top station to provide refreshments, a seating area and somewhere to enjoy the spectacular views. The whole scheme is at an early stage and requires detailed design as well as various planning permissions. It is hoped that all of the works in the first phase will be complete by early Summer 2009. An exhibition of the plans for the Lift was held in the Fishermen's Museum in Rock-A-Nore road over the weekend of Saturday/Sunday 9th/10th August.
Posted: 08/08/08
Q: Councillor, can you tell me if the council have views on what the long term strategy is or should be regarding the conflict between, super or hyper markets and small business in Hastings & St leonards.I thought at one time national policy was to encourage supermarkets to be sited away from built up areas for people who wanted to, to drive and do their weekly or monthly shopping and for smaller businesses to thrive within the town areas. It seems now that supermarkets are being encouraged to flood the town area, to the detriment of small shops and day to day shoppers. Is there a plan or is it being left to market force.
A: Our adopted planning policy for shopping development is contained in the Hastings Local Plan (2004). The Local Plan aims to give priority to actions which: support Hastings town centre; encourage a wide variety of land uses and activities in the town centre; seek continuing retail investment in the town centre; resist retail proposals which could have a detrimental effect on the vitality and viability of the town and centre and other retail areas; support these centres and promote improvements to the environment, traffic management, safety and access in the main centres. In our area, the main centres are defined as: Hastings town centre, St Leonards, Old Town, Silverhill, Ore, Bohemia, West St Leonards, Battle Road, Mount Pleasant and Mount Road. So the policies in the Local Plan aim to assist the established centres which provide facilities and specialist services across Hastings & St Leonards. However, we do recognise that there is a need for new retail development and this is considered on a case by case basis. We look at the expansion of existing retails areas and how people might get to out of centre sites. It is important to emphasise that any proposed development should complement existing shopping provision and should not harm the vitality and viability of existing centres.
Posted: 08/08/08
Q: Well done for Pelham Crescent being painted all the same colour etc but what about the steps from King's Rd to London Rd. There's a lovely piece of art work and ONE newly painted wall to show it off but it's kind of ruined the effect when the rest has not been painted! I don't understand....why half-hearted? Would you have done that in the old town?
A: Thank you for your recent e-mail and support for the initiatives the Council is implementing. Restoration of the properties at Pelham Crescent is a major piece of investment by the Council and its partners. It has the specific purpose of restoring the frontage to these historic buildings. The Arts Project in St Leonards is not funded to the same extent. To paint all the private properties between London Road and Kings Road steps would have been very expensive for the Council and diminished our ability to deliver other arts project in the area. We have several other plans to deliver pieces of art work in the area over the next year. It is also our hope that by relaying all the paving on the Kings Road steps, and installing the Art Project, owners of the properties in the area will respond positively. We see this project as a away of attracting inward investment in the area.
Posted: 08/08/08
Q: hi, can you tell me what, if any, systems you have in place in case the dustmen go on strike, i hear they are in the process of such a ballot over pay and conditions
A: We work closely with Veolia and there are contingency plans within the contract to cover emergency situations, such as strike action.
Posted: 08/08/08
Q: When was the last time that an allotment inspection was carried out, there seems to be a very high proportion of un-maintained plots in the town and an high proportion of people waiting on an allotment list for a plot to become free, there are people willing to work the plots given half the chance! When will the next inspection be done so that people on the waiting list can get digging?
A: Allotments are inspected routinely, two or three times a year as resources allow. Site Secretaries also provide us feedback on plots not being maintained. We send out large numbers of notices to improve and quite a few notices to quit, so we can advertise them to be let to new owners. While there are long waiting lists, they are not for all sites. New tenancy agreement rules now require percentages of plots to be cultivated within relatively short spaces of time, as we are acutely aware of the increased demand, approximately 94% of all available plots are now let. For more information about allotments visit: www.hastings.gov.uk/allotments
Posted: 08/08/08
Q: Do any by-laws exist regarding bonfires during daylight hours? My neighbours are repeatedly starting bonfires at 9.30 a.m. when my babies' clothes are on the washing line.
A: There are no by-laws in relation to bonfires, but if you felt that the amount of bonfires was excessive or the materials being burnt might be harmful, you can call our Environmental Health team who will advise you accordingly. In some cases an Abatement Notice can be served.
Posted: 08/08/08
Q: I am currently interested in purchasing an electric car. I am very impressed by there minimal running costs. As I live in a 2nd floor flat, I would need to find a way of charging it. Are there any charging stations in Hastings and if not, are there any plans for one.
A: As far as I'm aware there have been no applications for a charging station in Hastings. I fully support 'greener' alternatives for getting around and in fact our courier uses a van which takes Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). Using LPG means our courier's car emits 13% less carbon dioxide, 75% less nitrogen, 35% less carbohydrons and 35% less carbon monoxide, compared with petrol cars. Perhaps this might be a good alternative.
Posted: 08/08/08
Q: I reported this problem to the Information Office in the Town Hall several weeks ago. No action has been taken. The eastern footpath at the top of Harrow Lane backing onto the recreation - next to Baldslow Hall has a problem with a collapsed fence & bushes & tree branches obstructing the footpath. Today at 5.15pm I saw a blind lady with guide dog having problems - the dog went under the branches but not the lady. Can you get someone to deal please (I think it is in your Ward)
A: Thanks for bringing this to our attention. The fence has now been moved and should not cause an obstruction any longer. The vegetation is on private property and under the Highways Act we have to give the landowners the chance to deal with the problem before we can take action. The matter has been handed over to our Highways team, who will no doubt contact the owners in due course.
Posted: 08/08/08
Q: I'd like to report that a lot of the shelters on the lower prom, particularly around the bottom of London Road, are being used as toilets. The stench is absolutely disgusting. I have been told by a council worker that these shelters ARE sprayed with disinfectant. But in my experience (I go along there most days during my lunch hour and would like to sit there to eat my lunch)the urine smell is always there and very overpowering - it makes actually sitting in them revolting. The area is also frequented by people who, although I have not personally been accosted, give a very intimidating presence. I've been told that most of them actually are not homeless but just choose to congregate there - so I realise that unless they commit a crime there is nothing we local residents/holiday makers can do - except avoid the area totally.
A: The streets and highways are cleaned on a daily basis and our contractor, Quadron, takes care of our parks and gardens. We do work closely with our colleagues in the police and would obviously advise that if you ever feel threatened by anyone using these facilities, to let the police know. There are issues which go hand in hand with this to do with street drinking and the town is subject to drinking by-laws which prohibit drinking on the street. These laws are enforceable by the police. In the meantime your question has been passed on to our street cleansing team
Posted: 08/08/08
Q: Please can you tell me why vagrants are openly consuming large amounts of alcohol and urinating in public areas specifically, bottle alley and the lower promonade to the west of Warrior Square, areas where the drinking of alcohol is banned? The stench is overpowering and visitors to the area will be as disgusted as the local residents. In order to use the promenade it is often necessary to paddle through the rivers of urine and discarded beer cans. As I have dogs I have to disinfect both my footwear and my dogs' paws. Is this really the way you want the area to be judged?
A: The by-laws state that most of Hastings & St Leonards is subject to an on-street drinking ban. Unfortunately there are always those individuals who will flout these laws and make other people's lives difficult and uncomfortable. These laws are enforceable by the police. What often happens is that those classified as street drinkers tend to move on when confronted by the police but often drift back to the problem 'hot spots'. We would always advise you to call the police if you feel threatened or witness a crime. In terms of street cleansing, roads and streets are cleaned on a daily basis by rota and our parks and gardens maintained by our contractor, Quadron. I admit it is quite disgusting to have to watch where you step while walking your dog and we will be working with police and our cleaning contractors to tackle these issues.
Posted: 08/08/08
Q: Do you think it is fair and reasonable to issue a penalty notice to a visitor who has paid the correct parking fee and has parked legally, but whose parking ticket has been blown off the dashboard by a strong wind? This has happened to me, my letter of mitigation has not been dealt with sympathetically, and it does not leave me with a good impression of your lovely town.
A: I'm sorry to hear that you have left Hastings with a negative impression. Each parking appeal is very much judged on its own merits and there is always the opportunity to appeal tickets that drivers feel are wrongly given. We strive to be as fair as possible when issuing penalty charge notices. Appeals and challenges are considered carefully by a team of experienced adjudicators who, if the challenge is rejected, will explain their reasons in full.
Posted: 08/08/08
Q: Are you a Freemason?
A: No
Posted: 08/08/08
Q: When the twin-bin scheme was introduced, there was a proposal to include brown bins for garden waste at a small charge, but I understand that this was postponed because of trouble with suppliers. I now notice a number of brown bins cropping up in my area, and wonder how I go about getting one, and what the arrangements are for payment. Can you advise?
A: We launched our garden waste scheme as planned in March and it is proving to be a real success with over 1,800 residents signing up to it. I believe our Rother colleagues had to postpone their garden waste recycling proposals due to problems with suppliers.
Our scheme costs £35 per annum and you get a brown bin with fortnightly collections. Application forms can be obtained from Hastings Information Centre or by contacting the Waste and Recycling team on 0845 274 1077.
Posted: 07/08/08
Q: Why is there a 15 minute lapse in cover on a Friday afternoon? I've just telephoned for Environmental protection - noise at 16.15 to be told that the office closes at this time. I telephoned the switchboard to be told the out of hours starts at 4.30 on a Friday! Therefore a 15 minute hole in the service. What are your views??
A: The Environmental Health Admin team has four administrators covering the Licensing, Environmental Protection, Commercial, and Environmental Enforcement Sections. The team answers the phones between 8.45am and 4.45pm, Monday to Thursday and between 8.45am and 4.15pm on a Friday. It also covers lunchtimes in shifts so that there is a service for the entire day. Any calls received up to 4.45pm (Monday to Thursday) will be answered or held in a queue waiting for the next available administrator. Any calls received after 4.45pm will receive an out of hours message and, if ringing the Environmental Protection line, are given the out of hours number to ring from 5pm (or 4.30pm on a Friday). The reason it has been set up this way is to allow administrators to answer all calls waiting in the queues and to locate an officer if needed. It would not be good customer practice to allow members of the public to be held in a queue and then to be cut off at 5pm. The team provides the best customer service it can and constantly reviews and monitors the way it deals with customers. We have not received any complaints from the public so far and strive to improve the service where we see holes.
Posted: 28/07/08
Q: Many thanks for your swift response to question 519, Re: the positioning of the Jerwood gallery. I don't think my suggestions and concerns have really been addressed in your answer but that being said , Imp not completely opposed to your preferred option 'C' It dose have a few good points. I do think however that you might be overlooking the flexibility of the performance/event space. The space provided in option 'C' is contained in a square formed between the gallery, Winch road, the new WC's and the new café thereby limiting the size of an audience or event to those parameters. Furthermore the new café 'spill out in option 'C' actually compromises some of that performance/event space. Option 'A' on the other hand has the potential to accommodate very large audiences and large scale productions for those one off occasions(e.g. a concert on New years eve) in which a temporary road closure of Rock a Nore would allow a crowd or audience to overspill right back to Winkle island and East hill house. Even East Hill house itself has a perfect first floor viewing gallery in front of the building which would fit in perfectly with the performance space provided by option 'A'.
A: There has been very considerable interest in the 'Masterplan' for the Stade.
The size of the open space is extremely important, and Option C does give us most open space, and also allows the Jerwood Gallery to make the most of their setting on the Stade, nestling amongst the net huts.
Option C was the preferred option of both Hastings Borough Council and the Jerwood foundation and, of course, the majority of residents who returned a questionnaire, and we are now developing detailed plans based on that option.
Posted: 28/07/08
Q: I was considering staying in Hastings in the month of August. I did a google search and came across your site, yet looking at the picture on your website of the road strewn with litter it has put me off my visit. Which fool added that to the site? Hastings Council should be promoting the town not destroying it's image, good luck.
A: The front page of the Council's internet site is where we provide the most up to date information for Hastings & Leonards residents. We use it to launch our campaigns and update it regularly. This image is part of our Beat the Birds campaign, an issue very specific to a seaside town such as Hastings with its high proportion of seagulls. I'm sure you'd agree that streets strewn with rubbish because of gull attacks on bin bags would act as a major deterrent to visitors, so this campaign is vital to help keep Hastings clean and tidy. Our visitor site www.visit1066country.com provides a comprehensive guide to Hastings and 1066 country including events, accommodation and visitor attractions. Our council website is very much more geared towards our residents and the services we provide to them.
Posted: 25/07/08
Q: What is going to happen to Ooty and Rose Cottage etc at the top of Gillsmans Hill. 30 years under compulsory purchase. I am sure if anyone else owned them they wouldn't be allowed to be left like this. How much are we the tax payers paying for the rusty scaffold around Ooty. what is it for what an eyesore. Knock them down once and for all or sell them. You had no qualms about Fernside being demolished, building on ancient woodland and Westerliegh looks to be going the same way. Oh well history means nothing anymore. Decimus Burton would turn in his grave if he were to see the once up and coming St Leonards being turned into flat city. I feel a custodian of my Victorian Property.
A: In previous years funds were not allocated for repairs to properties held for the scheme. Rose Cottage has had a considerable sum of money spent on bringing the outside of the building up to an acceptable state of repair. I understand this work is now looking a bit shabby but unfortunately the resources are not currently available for further works as its state is deemed satisfactory from a health and safety point of view. 46 The Green 'Ooty' is a huge concern for all. Bringing the building up to a satisfactory state of repair would be extremely expensive and not considered a viable use of tax payers' money as its condition would worsen again over time. If the property was repaired and the scheme went ahead (as designed), it would eventually be demolished and therefore make the money spent on repairs even more wasteful. Demolition, subject to planning consent, is seen as the best course of action for this property. Unfortunately the cost to do this far exceeds the maintenance budget that Corporate Resources Department of the County Council, who are responsible for the building's maintenance, possess and therefore is not possible in the foreseeable future. This situation is very serious and the County Council want to resolve it as soon as possible; therefore it has been decided to look into the disposal of part of this site. The scheme plans have been studied and colleagues in the Transport Strategy Team have determined what area of this land can be declared surplus to County Council requirements and subsequently sold off. A report is being presented to Lead Member for Transport and Environment. If the proposal is accepted there is scope for the land to be sold, the property demolished and, subject to planning permission, a new property being built within the site by the purchaser. There is confidence that the land could be sold and several enquiries have been received about the properties availability for sale. I understand the concerns raised about the condition of these buildings and can assure you that East Sussex County Council has been working as hard as possible to deal with this issue in a timely manner. Unfortunately given the financial implications in making the wrong decision it has been essential to follow the correct channels and therefore has taken some time to reach this stage and for that I apologise. The scaffolding is in place around the building to support the walls, but is owned by the County Council which means its use is at no cost to the tax payer.
Posted: 25/07/08
Q: I have noticed many Red Rubber bands left lying around in the streets and parks of Hastings. I believe that these are dropped by postal workers whilst doing their postal rounds. This appear to be a problem nationally. Not only is this unsightly but the discarded bands are a threat to wild life. Has the council contacted the Post Office to try and resolve this problem? Maybe the council could consider charging the Post Office for the additional cleaning work involved? As littering is an offence, maybe the council could consider fining the Post Office for littering?
A: We have had discussions with the Post Office about this issue and we are told that their staff don't intentionally drop bands but that they do occasionally spring off. I suggest that if you would like more information or would like to take the matter further that you talk to the Post Office's customer care staff via their website: www.postoffice.co.uk.
Posted: 24/07/08
Q: Recently, I was in the Old Town and saw an argument between one of the not so friendly traffic wardens and a lady who owns an antique shop in the High Street. She had a notice on her van, which was parked on the opposite side of the road and the traffic warden was telling her to move. However, she couldn`t because she was loading up. The people of Hastings know that the draconian traffic laws in the Old Town (and also at the bottom of Old London Road) are ruining this area and I thought it was pathetic that a local business should be treated like this. What is to be about this?
A: We are looking at all aspects of parking across the town at the moment, including the Old Town. In the meantime the parking regulations are there to make people's lives easier and to make sure vehicles such as ambulances and fire engines have access. Our parking enforcement officers do have a job to do, though of course they should not be rude.
Posted: 24/07/08
Q: In recent months, the pavement layout between the Royal Victoria Hotel and the west end of Marine Court has been changed. In particular, a loading bay has been constructed opposite the new "Azur" premises. Further along the same collonade side (towards the Royal Victoria Hotel, the pavement has been widened. As a result of these changes, a lot of vehicles are parking in the loading bay. This means that lorries wanting to off-load to ocal traders, are parking on the pavement and as a result some of the newly laid paving stones are being damaged. There is also a tendency for other vehicles to park long-term on the pavement itself.
This practice is dangerous (there is a pedestrian crossing nearby), and damaging to the fabric of the pavement.
Council traffic wardens appear to ignore this selfish (and illegal) parking.
Could I suggest that bollards are placed around the widened pavement to put a stop to this abuse ? And could the traffic wardens be more pro-active in enforcing parking regulations ?
A: There are problems that have been identified by our Highways team and we are currently looking at the best ways of dealing with them. We believe that installing bollards may be the best way of addressing this. In the meantime, we would advise that the police do have the power to remove obstructions and can be reached on the non-emergency number: 0845 60 70 999
Posted: 23/07/08
Q: Planning permission for the Marina Pavilion was given after recommendation by the Planning Officer. In that report it states:
'It (the building) is centred on the semi-circular area on the Upper Promenade, which forms the roof to the Marina Pavilion below. It is proposed to apply decking to this area, which would remain available for public use, although it may also accommodate some tables and chairs associated with the restaurant.'
The building is now more or less complete and is occupied by Azur. Not only have the public benches which were formerly on that semi-circular not been replaced, but the whole of that area area has been filled with Azur's tables and chairs. Further, unattractive metal barriers with spikes have been placed at each end of the semi-circular area and part of the walkway on the seaside of the building, barring memeber sof the pubilc from that area. That semi-circular projection formed a most important part of the general public's enjoyment of the promenade, and the views from it. For it to be highjacked in this fashion by a commercial organization at the expense of the local community is completely unacceptable. I have referred this matter to the Planning department but have not received a reply. Please let me know if action will be taken to return this part of the promenade to us, the local community.
A: We are aware that there are some issues around possible planning breaches and planning team is looking into the specific issues. If it's found that there have been breaches then the owners will have to rectify the problems as a matter of urgency.
Posted: 17/07/08
Q: I recently wrote to you mapping out my concerns about Mount Pleasant Road and its heavy traffic and the dangers that could befall someone who tries to cross it. I presume you have been very busy because you did not reply.
What is to be done about this awful road? It is dangerous, dirty and noisy and some traffic calming measures have to take place.
A: East Sussex County Council have recently exhibited proposals for traffic calming in Elphinstone Road, which includes improvements at the junction with Mount Pleasant road.
In addition redevelopment proposals for the Ore Station area will include a new signalled junction at Hughenden Road, which, together with the County scheme, improves pedestrian crossing facilities across what is a very busy road.
In addition, Mount Pleasant Road has also been included in the County Council's priority list for traffic calming requests and based on the recorded crash data is scheduled for detailed assessment this year.
Posted: 17/07/08
Q: As you were obliged to carry out a statutory consultation before putting the current parking provision into effect (which has slightly increased Old Town residents parking but not enough to eliminate the Zone F waiting list) are you going to carry out a further statutory consultation before executing the change that you are now apparently contemplating, namely to take the additonal residents' parking spaces away again? Your recent discussion with those representing the traders, which led you to now contemplating a U turn, excluded the residents or their representatives.
A: Changes to the resident parking and pay & display restrictions took place following consultation with residents and instruction from East Sussex County Council as a highway authority. Hastings Borough Council manage the on street parking scheme on their behalf. Since April, we have received feedback from both residents and visitors and all views have been taken into account. Bearing this in mind, a further meeting is being arranged with East Sussex County Council to consider these views and of course if any changes proposed then this will follow the required statutory consultations.
Posted: 16/07/08
Q: Please can you explain why the lights in Warrior Square Gardens are not working properly? At night the gardens are very dark and viewed as unsafe to walk through alone. Also over the last few days and under cover of darkness, someone has vandalised the young planted trees on the east side of the gardens.
A: Unfortunately, the uplighters in the gardens have been badly damaged and have had to be disconnected until they can be repaired. One of the spotlights has been stolen and there remains an electric fault on the other lights, which our contractors are working to rectify. In terms of the trees, it appears that the young Elms have been re-staked but continue to be vandalised on a regular basis.
Posted: 16/07/08
Q: In recent months, the pavement layout between the Royal Victoria Hotel and the west end of Marine Court has been changed. In particular, a loading bay has been constructed opposite the new "Azur" premises. Further along the same collonade side (towards the Royal Victoria Hotel, the pavement has been widened. As a result of these changes, a lot of vehicles are parking in the loading bay. This means that lorries wanting to off-load to ocal traders, are parking on the pavement and as a result some of the newly laid paving stones are being damaged. There is also a tendency for other vehicles to park long-term on the pavement itself. This practice is dangerous (there is a pedestrian crossing nearby), and damaging to the fabric of the pavement. Council traffic wardens appear to ignore this selfish (and illegal) parking. Could I suggest that bollards are placed around the widened pavement to put a stop to this abuse ? And could the traffic wardens be more pro-active in enforcing parking regulations?
A: There are problems that have been identified by our Highways team and we are currently looking at the best ways of dealing with them. We believe that installing bollards may be the best way of addressing this. In the meantime, we would advise that the police do have the power to remove obstructions and can be reached on the non-emergency number: 0845 60 70 999.
Posted: 16/07/08
Q: I note that Pelham Crescent is being redecorated. The Crescent is Grade2 listed. Can you please confirm that all the buildings in the crescent are to be redecorated and that all the buildings will be painted in the same colour. As a Grade 2 listed terrace it would be appalling if the redecoration is only partial and multiple colours are used.
A: Yes, I am pleased to confirm that all will be painted with the same paint and the same colour. Balconies will also be repaired.
Our officers have met with owners to explain the project and the grant offer.
Subsequently a pack was issued to all owners giving details of required works and budget estimates. The owners have been invited to make applications for the grant which will be up to 75% of the cost of cleaning and painting the render.
The arcade facade is also included.
The current work is being undertaken by the owners to the required specification and there is a good indication that the others will follow.
We do not intend to carry out works on behalf of the owners but if any owners do not take up the grant and carry out works voluntarily the Council will consider using its legal powers to ensure that the work is carried out, so restoring Pelham Crescent to its true glory.
Posted: 16/07/08
Q: There is a footpath behind St Helens Church on the Ridge that cuts off the corner. I was walking along it last Sunday pushing my son in his pram. It wasn't easy, the path is narrow, extremely poorly maintained and strewn with litter. I also noticed only a couple of street lamps. Can these issues be addressed? It's such a nice area and is in part ruined by this.
A: Our Highways manager advises that the footpath is an adopted highway and is also designated as a public right of way (DPROW 224).
As such it has a walked inspection every six months and, where defects are identified, remedial work is programmed subject to the nature of the defect, the availability of resources and the degree of priority against other works required.
There has been some deterioration of the edge of the path and some evidence of tree root damage and I can confirm that remedial works have now been programmed.
Street lighting falls under the direct control of East Sussex County Council. They have confirmed that, whilst improvements to the lighting as requested may be desirable, at present there are no funds for such schemes. It is unfortunate that budget constraints are getting greater and thus there are no monies available for new or additional lighting. The County Council has decided that the programme of works to be carried out throughout the year will concentrate on the replacement of potentially life expired equipment.
Posted: 14/07/08
Q: I note that Pelham Crescent is being redecorated. The Crescent is Grade2 listed. Can you please confirm that all the buildings in the crescent are to be redecorated and that all the buildings will be painted in the same colour. As a Grade 2 listed terrace it would be appalling if the redecoration is only partial and multiple colours are used.
A: The front all of the buildings will be painted with the same paint and the same colour to meet the requirement of the Listed Building Consent. This consent applies for the whole crescent and not individual buildings, though building owners will be carrying out the works to their own properties in a timescale agreed with the council. If there are individual properties which are not painted in a reasonable time the council will use its powers under the Town and Country Planning Act to complete the painting and recover cost.
Posted: 11/07/08
Q: With regard to the proposed Jerwood development, are there any drawings available for public viewing that show the proposed coach turning facility in the Bourne/Harold road area?
A: Not yet! Our engineers have started work on the scheme, but detailed drawings, etc., still need to be drawn up. We are committed to publicly consulting on all aspects of the scheme, and will publish something as soon as we can.
Posted: 11/07/08
Q: I would like you to explain to me why would a council give the go head to bulited a block of 32 flats, which will add to the already congested bexhill road. We appose on grounds of a heavliy already congested road. Also due to the amount of accidents contributed this stretch of road
A: Without any specific details, it's difficult to tell which application you are referring to, but I think you are referring to a current application for 32 flats at 190 Bexhill Road. This application has not yet been decided. Therefore, you are still able to comment on the application. Unfortunately, we do not accept anonymous objections, so you'll need to visit this page www.hastings.gov.uk/planning/CaseDetail.aspx?id=95177 and submit your comments again
Posted: 11/07/08
Q: With the high value of metals,is the Council able to sell the tin cans we recycle? I think there is money in waste paper also. If you are able to sell these items, then our Council Tax could be reduced.
A: It is correct that recycling, such as tins and paper, is a resource and the materials are sold to processors via our recycling arrangements with East Sussex County Council. Unfortunately, our costs for collecting and sorting those materials are higher than any income generated from the sale of materials. The cost to Council Tax payers, however, is relatively small, at around £50 per household per year.
Posted: 11/07/08
Q: With regard to question 533 I was under the impression HBC was a member of the Quality Bus Partnership (some signs for which can still be seen on bus stops) and as a result had some say in the provision of services for local residents. Is this no longer the case?
A: We are still a member of the Quality Bus Partnership and while we can, to a degree, give our opinions on when and where buses should run, it is ultimately down to the bus operator where they wish to run routes and how much they will charge in consultation with ESCC
Posted: 11/07/08
Q: Hello, I really do like the idea of greenbin recycling but find myself unsure of what exactly I can recycle in it. Is there any website that specifies the variouse plastics etc that can be included? Also where does one find out about other recycling such as batteries or electrical equipment? Thankyou.
A: I'm glad to hear you're keen to recycle. All the information for the Hastings scheme can be found at: www.hastings.gov.uk/recycle. If you need more information, I'm sure the Waste and Recycling team will be able to help you further.
Posted: 11/07/08
Q: hi i am a student at robertsbridge community college studing geogarphy i was wondering if you can pleases send me any information about they beachers hastings,bexhill,camber and pete. i want to find out about beach cleanness and population over the lat 7 or so years.
A: We have been awarded the European Seaside Award and Quality Coast Award for the past seven years which recognises high standards of cleanliness on our beaches. We don't hold specific figures about cleanliness but you might like to contact the Marine Conservation Society, which holds survey data for our beach gathered during volunteer clean-ups. You'd need to contact Rother District Council for information on Bexhill, Camber and Pett, as they're not within our area.
Posted: 09/07/08
Q: Is it possible for you to ensure that officers of the Council check if Agendas for meetings placed on the Hastings Website can actually be seen by the public accessing the site from the web. The agenda for the 7th July 2008 Cabinet is still not visible on the Hastings.gov website even though todays date is 3rd July 2008 12 noon. Officers say it is visible on their Intranet but its not visible to me. Documents may be visible to officers of HBC using their Intranet connection but not always to members of the public from the web for whatever technical reason. A check from the web would prevent delayed publication of Meeting Agendas. Delayed publication of Agendas has occurred in the past with the same excuse being given. Surely better working practices are needed in the Council Offices.
A: Agendas and reports for all public Council and Committee meetings are published to the Council's website (www.hastings.gov.uk/meetings) at least eight clear days before to each meeting. The agenda for the 7 July Cabinet meeting should've been available on 30 June. Although the agenda was successfully published there was a technical problem preventing you from seeing some of the reports. Our Democratic Services team are looking into this problem and are working on further improvements to our publishing procedure
Posted: 09/07/08
Q: Just one further thought that I wanted to pass by you regarding the positioning of the Jerwood. A neighbour of mine who is a London architect with a second home in Hastings shares my view that option 'A' would be the best solution for this project again expressing the view that this provides the maximum flexibility in performance space and most importantly has a lesser impact on the visual amenity of the net huts. One additional point he made that I hadn't considered was that if option 'A' were to be selected, it would work quite well if the frontage of the gallery faced east overlooking the newly formed piazza/square and that the rear elevation (the non public façade) dealing with deliveries, tradesmen etc would be backing on to the access road and the arcade
A: Thank you for your comments on the proposals for a new gallery on the Stade. Although, the consultation period is now over, I will pass your comments on to the team responsible for the Stade project. You may be interested to know that during the consultation process in May, 61% of respondents preferred option C, 15% preferred option B and 20% preferred option A.
Posted: 08/07/08
Q: Dear Sir. The majority of patients at the Warrior Square surgery have been trying to get the antiquated system of queueing up to make an appointment for ( the same day Only ) changed to a simple phone call, Or go in the surgery any time (in opening hours) to make an appointment for any day and time to suit them. People start to Que at 8 o/c the doors open at 8.30 surgery starts at 9 o/c Some elderly people who cannot get there early are told to come back or phone at 8.30 the next day, to make an appointment for the same day. I and many others have tried to phone but the staff are to busy with the people in the Que to answer the phone. Winter isn't far away and it is not a good idea for elderly people to go out twice ! once to make the appointment and again to keep it especially in the rain or cold weather. So can you please get this antiquated system changed ASAP.
A: I am sorry but Hastings Borough Council cannot influence the service provided by GPs in the town. You may wish to direct your query to Hastings & Rother Primary Care Trust http://www.hastingsandrotherpct.nhs.uk. The telephone number is 01424 735600.
Posted: 08/07/08
Q: Why are there so many estate agents boards along the seafront. It looks like cheap advertising and lets down the whole town. Some properties have several boards and sends out the wrong message about Hastings. Why not put then in the windows
A: Property owners have a legal right to display external boards for sale or letting but each property is restricted to one stand alone board or two boards back to back. The Council cannot require that such advertising is restricted to window displays. It is accepted that a significant concentration of boards in one location can be detrimental to the area in terms of its visual appearance. We are currently considering tighter control over the impact a concentration of boards makes to an area.
Posted: 08/07/08
Q: Please explain both the advantages and disadvantages to residen