Plans for a stunning development in Hastings Old Town go on show this week. A new interpretation centre, fish restaurant, and tourist information office are being proposed for the area, on the site of the existing coach park. (Set down and pick up facilities are being retained for coaches, but they will be parked up on a new purpose built coach park at Summerfields). The designs have been drawn up by a team of experts, including traffic engineers, led by Kathryn Findlay, of renowned architects Ushido Findley. Kathryn is a past associate professor of architecture at Tokyo University, and has designed a number of eye-catching buildings around the world.
The exhibition opens at 10am on Friday (12th July) and remains open until 8pm that evening. The plans are then on display from 10am until 5pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (13th/14th/15th July). Members of the design team, and staff from Hastings Council, will be on hand throughout the period the exhibition is open, to explain the proposals, and listen to our concerns. A public meeting will then take place at 7pm on Tuesday 16th July, at St. Mary in the Castle, Pelham Place, gives everyone another chance to express their views. (Please note change of date for the public meeting).
Councillor Mike Bigg is Cabinet Member responsible for Regeneration & Tourism, and he said:
"Tourism is vitally important to Hastings, and this development is very important to the Old Town. We need to continue to invest in the area, to ensure that the Stade continues to attract residents and visitors alike.
"We think that the plans being developed are wonderful, and will bring real improvements to the area. But it’s not just what we think - this council is committed to consultation, and we want to hear the views of everyone.
"Nothing is definite yet, the plans being shown are our designers initial thoughts and ideas. The whole point of the exhibition, and the public meeting, is to hear what the community thinks. So, please do take the time to come to the exhibition and meeting."
An ‘E-Government’ strategy has been adopted by Hastings Borough Council, to help it meet the Government’s target for it to provide all services electronically by 2005.
The Council has already made good progress towards its ‘E-Government’ goal with around 25% of all services already available electronically (e.g. by telephone, Internet, or other electronic methods). It hopes that the figure will rise to 40% this financial year.
Councillor Peter Chowney, Cabinet Member responsible for Organisation Development, is excited at the prospect of e-government:
"The explosion of telecommunications and internet technology is dramatically changing expectations about how councils communicate. We want to make sure that we are leading in this area. We have emphasised the importance of e-government by including it is one of the seven key issues in our Local Performance Plan. And one of the key aspects of the Five Point Plan to regenerate the area is a commitment to develop Hastings & St. Leonards as an ‘E-city’.
"We have already tried to find out what the people of the town want. We will carry out more consultation, to make sure that we are concentrating on the most important areas.
"Our work in e-government, and the investment taking place as part of the five point plan, really does put Hastings on the electronic map. The future isn’t just electric, it’s electronic."
At its meeting on Monday, the Council’s Cabinet agreed a Housing Strategy for the next five years, and recommended that it be accepted by the Full Council. The Housing Strategy has been developed after discussion with many interested groups, research into the condition of housing across the town, and the housing needs of different sections of the community.
Councillor John Humphries, Cabinet Member responsible for Housing, welcomed the Housing Strategy.
"The Housing Strategy forms part of our bid for Government money to invest in improving local homes.
"In particular we want to see a new Housing Renewal Area in Central St. Leonards, to rebuild and renovate much of our older housing.
"The strategy is there to make sure that the money we invest improves the physical environment but most importantly helps bring about improvements to health, community safety, access to employment and better educational attainment.
"This strategy puts housing at the centre of our drive to improve quality of life and bring about regeneration for all."
A street market with a difference is being planned outside the Town Hall this Saturday, to show that Hastings Borough Council really does listen.
A series of stalls will highlight many different areas of the Council’s work, and councillors, and council staff, will be on hand to answer questions. The ‘market’ will be open for 11am until 3pm.
Councillor Jeremy Birch, Leader of the Council, said:
"We first tried out this kind of ‘street market’ in October last year, and it was hugely successful. We were really pleased with the number of people who came up to ask questions, or just visit the various stalls.
"We are always saying that we are a listening council, and now we are proving it again. There is so much going on at the moment, so much activity in our town, so much to be excited about, and proud of, we want to show off what we have done, explain what we are doing, and hear the views of the community on what they still want us to do.
"Last October was excellent, I’m hoping that Saturday will be even better."
Over 2000 children, play workers and parents will descend on Pelham Beach on Friday (12th July) for the annual 'Let's Go To The Beach' play day.
Children aged from 8 upwards, will be taken out of the classroom and will be able to have fun, learning through play.
The day is organised by Hastings County District Under Fives Association (who successfully bid for and received an Awards for All grant for this event), Hastings Borough Council's Play development worker and the Hastings Play Forum.
The event is open to all of the town's primary schools, nurseries, play groups, toddler groups and childminders.
The event will run from 10am until 6pm at Pelham Beach. Under 8s will take part in activities from 10am - 3pm and from 3pm to 6pm for the over 8s.
Over 30 representatives of local businesses and other organisations met on Monday (8th July) to learn lessons from successful local (East Sussex) businesses which have achieved high environmental management standards.
The representatives met for a business breakfast seminar organised by the Hastings Sustainable Business Partnership (HSBP) which aims to assist local businesses to save money, improve efficiency and increase competitiveness while reducing their environmental impacts. The aim of the morning was to share ideas on sustainable business practice and environmental issues and highlight the business benefits that can be achieved by improving environmental performance.
Delegates heard of the benefits of the free environmental reviews, training and assistance being offered to local businesses by the HSBP. Companies giving presentations to delegates included The Beacon Press of Uckfield, which won the SEEDA (South East England Development Agency) Sustainable Business Award 2001, and St. Leonards-based company, General Dynamics United UK, which achieved an ISO accreditation for its environmental management standards. The Seminar was chaired by Paul Evans, Managing Director of Marshall Tufflex, St Leonards.
Those at the Seminar heard how The Beacon Press has saved almost £20,000 a year by dramatically reducing their waste and £24,000 a year by recycling solvents. Both companies have also saved money by installing low energy lighting and sensors which switch lights off when no movement is detected for a certain length of time.
Councillor Mike Bigg, Chair of the HSBP, said:
"It is important for our local businesses to be sustainable, and consider their environmental and social impacts, not only to safeguard our environment and resources for the future, and to improve our quality of life, but also for the proven business benefits which can be achieved.
"HSBP is a unique local intitiative and those who attended on Monday were able to share ideas and find out more about best practice - I hope that many more businesses will get involved in the scheme."
To find out more about what the HSBP is offering local businesses, contact Sarah Watson, HSBP Co-ordinator, tel: 01424 781486, e-mail: swatson@hastings.gov.uk
The crackdown on troublemakers has well and truly started with the Council working with agencies such as the police and 1066 Housing to exchange information in order to build strong cases against troublemakers.
Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) are designed to deal with those who persistently cause harassment, alarm and distress to others through their behaviour and conduct. ASBOs act very much like an injunction and can be imposed on anyone over the age of 10 - if the individual continues to behave in an unacceptable manner, they could face a sentence of up to five years imprisonment.
Councillor Jay Kramer, Cabinet Member responsible for Community Safety, said:
"ASBOs provide the opportunity to take action against persistent offenders. Working closely with the Police, the Council organises a monthly panel to assess cases where there have been complaints of anti-social behaviour.
"There is also a freephone number for members of the public to report incidents: 0800 783 6084."
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This page last updated: 20/03/2003