Press Releases week beginning 9 March 2020

Beach work to start

Following winter storms and recent severe weather Hastings Borough Council are carrying out beach shingle recycling work.

Colin Fitzgerald, lead councillor for environmental services said,
This is to move shingle that has built up near the harbour arm and promenade. It is being moved back onto other sections of the beach, particularly in front of Robertson Terrace, and being levelled to make it less steep.

"This work will protect potentially vulnerable areas from flooding, remove surplus shingle from where it's not needed and help reduce the impact of wave action on the shoreline. The work is expected to last up to three weeks."

Our town, our bid: help shape vision for Hastings' £25m funding bid

Work has started to develop a vision for the town's £25m town fund bid.

At a public meeting on Wednesday 4 March, the Hastings town deal board - which includes representatives from health, education, business, community and voluntary sectors - met to begin considering a vision for the Hastings town fund bid.

After considering and discussing the key areas of investment needed in Hastings the board began drafting the outline of a vision for the bid.

Graham Peters, co-Chair and Vice Chairman of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, said, "It was a really positive session, there was so much passion for Hastings. It was brilliant to hear so many good ideas about what makes Hastings such a great place and what it needs to be even better."

Although the board will take a leading role in creating a vision that will drive the bid, they want it to be a vision for the town by the town shaped by the people who live, work and do business in Hastings.

Carole Dixon, co-Chair and Chair of the Hastings Community Network and Chief Executive of the Education Futures Trust, added, "It is really important to us that the vision for the town is something that everyone associated with Hastings can connect to and help shape. This is our town and our bid. We want to hear from the people of Hastings about their vision for Hastings."

Over the coming weeks, the board will continue to work on developing the vision for the town in consultation with, and incorporating feedback from, the people of Hastings.

As part of this work, there will be lots of opportunity for residents, businesses and people who work and visit Hastings to contribute and engage. For now, anyone with an interest in the town can submit their ideas, comments and suggestions via https://mytown.communities.gov.uk/town/hastings/ or on the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MyTownCampaign/ (scroll down for Hastings).

Setting the vision is the first step towards drafting the town's investment plan. The plan will form the basis of the town deal which will be agreed with the government. If successful, funding will be sought from the government during 2021/22.

Greener energy solutions for Hastings

Hastings Borough Council and Energise Sussex Coast have signed a landmark agreement to work in partnership to tackle the impact of climate change in the town.

They will work together to help achieve Hastings' ambition to become climate neutral by 2030 by carrying out low carbon energy initiatives.

The partnership wants to open up opportunities that promote the adoption of green technologies and renewable energy schemes.

Projects will include installing rooftop solar panels across the town, where possible. Another project will support the development of innovative green finance solutions to support low carbon energy use.

Julia Hilton, Director of Energise Sussex Coast said,
"Energise Sussex Coast aims to empower local people to be part of cooperative solutions to the climate crisis including community ownership of local clean power.

"We are looking forward to collaborating with Hastings Borough Council on innovative methods to achieve that. We are delighted to be signing this memorandum of collaboration." 

Councillor Maya Evans, lead Cabinet member for Climate Change, Sustainability and Biodiversity said,

"I am delighted to sign this Memorandum of Cooperation with our local energy cooperative Energise Sussex Coast. They have been developing some very exciting projects in town. I look forward to working with them to help us to reach our 2030 target. We all need to work together to tackle climate change and by learning from each other and sharing best practice we will be able to provide more renewable energy in the town, which will benefit everyone".