Hastings Borough Council has intervened between warring neighbours to settle rows over hedges.
Since recently taking on powers to mediate in this kind of dispute, the council's Grostbuster and Aboricultural teams have settled four disagreements.
Officers are able to step in when parties have exhausted all other means of settling their dispute. The neighbour with the complaint can ask the council to investigate the issue for a fee.
Officers visit the properties and decide whether the height of the hedge, laylandii, conifer or other evergreen shrub, is affecting the quality of life of the complainant.
Once the decision has been made an order can be issued to the hedge owner to reduce the hedge or shrub to a reasonable size.
Two of the cases already decided were taken to appeal, but last week the appeals body announced it backed the council's decision.
Councillor Peter Finch, lead member for Community Well-Being, said:
"In an ideal world these kind of disagreements would be settled quickly and quietly between neighbours. The council will only step in as a last resort and when our officers are sure that other options have been explored. Sadly, even once a decision has been reached it doesn't resolve any ill feeling between the parties involved, but at the very least we offer a fair, impartial judgement."
If you would like further information on this service or guidance on hedges, visit the www.hastings.gov.uk/planning where you'll find a link to Information and Advice.
Alternatively contact the council's Development Control team on 0845 274 1090.
Plans to improve the East Hill Lift, in Hastings Old Town, have just been announced.
The Lift, the steepest funicular railway in the country, opened in 1902, and connects the Stade, Hastings fishing quarter, and the East Hill, now part of Hastings Country Park. It has been out of use since an accident in June 2007.
It had originally been hoped to open the Lift in time for the summer 2008 season, but this has not proved to be possible. Extensive examinations and tests involving the Health & Safety Executive, expert advisors, the suppliers of the Lift's control unit, and their insurance advisors have only just been completed. Repair work can only be started now as potential evidence had to be left untouched until the investigations were complete.
Two external assessments have confirmed that the 1970s glass fibre bodies of the railway carriages must be replaced, and the chassis will also require detailed examination. The specification, design, manufacture and installation of the new carriages is likely to take up to twelve months.
Councillor Peter Finch, Lead Member with responsibility for Resort Services, is upbeat about the work:
"Although we are obviously disappointed that the Lift will not now be open for the Summer 2008 season, the works being planned are a huge vote of confidence in the future of this Lift, which until its closure was one of our most popular visitor attractions."
"The 1970s coaches were looking very tired and, indeed, were not in keeping with the Victorian heritage of the Lift. I am hoping that we can have replacement coaches which more closely resemble the original Victorian ones, similar to those still in use on the west Hill Lift. Many residents have fond memories of the old wooden coaches on the East Hill Lift too."
"The new coaches will of course be fully accessible. We also hope to take advantage of the closure to carry out other improvement work. For example, we are hoping to provide accessible toilets at the top station and refreshment facilities too. The views from the top of the East Hill are just stunning, and I can think of no better place to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee."
The way that Hastings Borough Council enforces parking regulations is about to change, as part of a national shake-up. The Civil Parking Enforcement Regulations will come into effect on 31 March 2008 and, as a result, motorists are set to benefit from clearer and more consistent guidelines for parking across the country.
Under the new regulations, there will be two levels of penalty charge, depending on the severity of the contravention. An example of a serious contravention would be parking in a bus stop clearway or on zig zag lines outside schools and would carry a penalty of £70. A less serious contravention such as overstaying in a pay and display area would carry the lower penalty of £50. As is presently the case, both penalties will be discounted by 50 percent if they are paid within 14 days.
The regulations also require that employees involved in parking enforcement must be properly trained to a standard, usually NVQ level 2 or 3, (which is the currently the case with parking staff from Hastings). Councils must be more open and transparent about their parking policies and make sure that they are available to the public. The new legislation will also give Independent adjudicators increased powers.
Hastings Borough Council has produced a leaflet which summarises the new regulations and gives details about the different charges and what you can do to avoid the risk of getting a penalty charge notice. Copies of the leaflet are available at Hastings Information Centre and at Century House. More information on the new regulations and details of the parking enforcement policies will be on the website by 30th March.
For more information or a copy of the leaflet contact your Parking Services at Hastings Borough Council: visit www.hastings.gov.uk/parking or call us on 0845 274 1070.
State of the art council offices have received a warm mayoral welcome. Hastings Borough Council's Housing team moved into the former Christchurch building in London Road last year. The final fittings and fixtures have now been finished off and Hastings mayor, Councillor Maureen Charlesworth, cut the ribbon on Wednesday (19).
She was joined by staff and members who took part in a guided tour of the grade II listed building, now called Renaissance House.
Cllr Charlesworth said: "Many of you who visited the old Housing Advice Centre at Portland Place will recall that the facilities were far from ideal. I'm proud to say that in Renaissance House we now have a building that still maintains much of its original character, but allows us to deliver high quality public services within a modern office environment.
""Officers here are able to provide the full range of advice on housing options, including access to housing, housing renewal grants and loans, as well as contact with a wide range of community-based organisations. Over time, we hope that other council departments and service providers will also make use of the facilities.""
Work to transform Renaissance House started in 2006 and for the most part was completed in 2007, with the finishing touches carried out this year. Hastings Borough Council staff were asked to come up with a new name for the building and eventually Renaissance House was settled on.
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This page last updated: 19/03/2008