The first ever Hastings lifeboat will be remembered this Saturday (5th) when a new exhibition opens at the Old Town Hall Museum. The exhibition charts the history of the sea-faring rescuers in Hastings using museum archives such as minute books, plans and maps. It also includes prints and drawings showing the early boathouse and the development of the boats over the years. The RNLI is celebrating 150 years in Hastings this year and this display is part of the anniversary celebrations. The exhibition opens this Saturday at the High Street museum and continues until 29 June.
Also, this Saturday the main museum on Bohemia Road welcomes families for another 'Discover...' day of artistic fun. This month children will use images from the Old Town Hall lifeboat exhibition to create their own 3D pop-up pictures using simple paper mechanics. This is a drop-in session between 1.30pm and 3.30pm and is suitable for all ages with a suggested £1 donation for materials.
For more information, visit our museums website at www.hmag.org.uk.
Hastings Borough Council, Rother District Council and East Sussex County Council have appointed Capita Symonds Consulting to carry out a strategic review of key community sport and leisure facilities provided in Hastings and Bexhill.
The strategy is being supported by Sport England, which has helped co-ordinate the local authority collaboration with Freedom Leisure, the leisure management operator for all three councils.
The brief for the work ensures current challenges in delivering sport and leisure opportunities for the community are assessed. Future supply and demand will be investigated thoroughly to develop a clear set of future priorities. This will inform the development of new sports facilities in Hastings, Bexhill and surrounding areas up to 2020. In particular it will assist consideration of proposals for a new leisure centre to replace Summerfields, proposals for a 50-metre swimming pool for the area and the relocation of Hastings United FC to a new stadium.
By completing the leisure facilities strategy all parties will be in a strong position to grasp future investment opportunities as and when they arise.
Capita Symonds' Project Manager Tom Pinnington said: "We are looking forward to building on our previous work in this area. Cross boundary leisure strategies are innovative, and are an indication of the desire for joint working and complementary provision in Hastings and Bexhill. Ultimately, this type of collaboration will benefit the communities of both towns and improve the sustainability of their sport and leisure facilities."
Martin Etchells, Head of Leisure Services at Hastings Borough Council, was enthusiastic about the study. He said: "It makes perfect sense for us to work with Rother and the County Council and our facilities operator, Freedom Leisure, on this study. This approach could allow us to develop far better facilities, serving the whole area, rather than each authority developing its own strategy piecemeal. I look forward to seeing the results of the work. This will be an important step in creating excellent leisure facilities for the people of Hastings and Rother; facilities which they need and deserve."
Jeff Hart, Managing Director of Freedom Leisure said: "As the operator of public leisure facilities in Hastings and Rother we are delighted to help support this important cross boundary leisure strategy that could have a major impact on shaping leisure facilities for future generations in the Hastings and Bexhill area."
The leaders of all three political parties on Hastings Borough Council have asked for urgent talks with the Royal Mail in a bid to keep the Old Town branch open.
In a letter to the Royal Mail Chief Executive, Adam Crozier, the three political group leaders (Cllr Peter Pragnell, Cllr Jeremy Birch and Cllr Richard Stevens) have asked the Royal Mail to provide details of the true financial position of the branch.
Figures released in Parliament indicate the branch makes a nominal loss of £956 per annum.
The letter asks the Royal Mail to provide further details so that an accurate assessment may be made by the local authority of what assistance, if any, it would be appropriate for the council to provide so the branch may remain open.
In addition, the councillors have asked the Royal Mail to either reprieve the branch or promise to keep it open while negotiations take place.
A promise to explore this option was given by the three leaders at a public meeting of Hastings Old Town Residents Association meeting on Friday (March 28).
Cllr Pragnell said: "Closure of this branch is wrong. We want to see more evidence as to why this decision has been made and what precisely is required to keep it open".
Cllr Birch said the council should step in to secure the branch, "We have made a clear promise on this", he said.
Cllr Stevens said this was an issue on which all the parties should work together, "A subsidy to the post office, providing proper procedures have been followed, is public money well spent".
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This page last updated: 02/04/2008