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Observer column 10 May 2024
At last week's local elections, Hastings residents gave the local Green Party eight new councillors, bringing the total to twelve.
I would like to thank the officer team for a smooth well-run election and count, and for their handling of the major incident resulting from the failure of yet another piece of Southern Water infrastructure which left most of Hastings without water over one of the busiest weekends of the year. The 41st Jack in the Green festival was celebrated regardless - ironically under a downpour on Monday - and thousands joined in.
Southern Water will be offering local businesses more than the company's standard level of compensation for the massive disruption, in particular those who rely on the May Day weekend for a huge portion of their income. The Southern Water team should be thanked for their hard work on the ground to resolve this emergency but the company has a lot to answer for. Why were there no town centre water stations for those without cars who are unable to reach the water supply stations? Why were there so many vulnerable people who were not on the priority service list or simply didn't receive water? Why was there no plan B and C to ensure Hastings still had water? As usual our town rose to the challenge magnificently and volunteers including councillors sprang into action to deliver bottled water where it was most needed.
The critical issue is that a break in a single pipe was able to cut water from most of the town. Given that there was a planning application in 2008 to replace this very pipe, why was it not replaced at the time? I will be meeting with the chief executive of Southern Water to discover what work they will be undertaking to ensure this does not happen again and to request assurances that all other crucial sections of the water supply network are being checked for their integrity. The final report on the October 2023 town centre flooding is also being published this week, and it brings up yet more questions. The role of the access cover on South Terrace as a contributory factor to the first town centre flood in January 2023 was raised in a draft report in April 2023. Why did it take six months and another town centre flood for Southern Water to seal that manhole?
A catchment flood study will be complete in July. Following that study, work must start on action to properly protect Hastings from yet more floods.
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Council Leader's column
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