Press Releases week beginning 04 September 2017

Mayor of Manchester thanks the people of Hastings

Hastings book of condolence sent following the terror attack at Manchester Arena was gratefully received by the people of Manchester. Councillor Eddy Newman, Lord Mayor of Manchester said, "It truly helped to know that the people of Manchester were in your thoughts during these difficult days and we appreciate your friendship and concern. These acts of terror seek to divide us by undermining our core values, which include respect and tolerance. The people of Manchester have responded with courage, incredible togetherness and resolve. There is no doubt in my mind that Manchester will recover from this terrible tragedy and emerge a more resilient and cohesive city.

The Mayor of Hastings, Councillor Judy Rogers commented that, "we stand with the people of Manchester, and share core values. I am delighted that our book provided Manchester with some comfort ".

Seafood & Wine returns for 12th year

The hugely popular Seafood & Wine Festival is back, showcasing the excellent quality and variety of fish sustainably landed here in Hastings.
Organised by Hastings Borough Council, the event will be held at the Stade Open Space in the heart of Hastings Old Town, over the weekend of 16 and 17 September.

Enjoy delicious fish dishes from local restaurants and wines from local vineyards, along with a range of the best produce the area has to offer. Fantastic locally made beers, ciders, meat and vegetarian dishes will also be available, and the fishermen will be demonstrating their skills and their catch.

The entertainment marquee on the beach will once again be home to a superb musical line up featuring bands. On Saturday the line-up comprises The Dead Rabbits, Jamie Williams Roots Collective, The Will Johns Band, Karis Thompson and the Lost Weekend and The Two Tones. And on Sunday The Strings, Justin and the Argonauts, Stax of Motown and The Big Kahuna.

Local jazz legend Liane Carroll will be returning with her band for the Liane Carroll Jazz Breakfast on Sunday morning, half an hour later this year at 10.30am. Tickets cost £15 for adults and £10 for children are available from the Tourist Information Centre at Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, Hastings and the ticket includes coffee and a Danish pastry and an entry wristband to the festival for the whole weekend.

The Billingsgate Seafood Training School will be at Classroom on the Coast all day on Saturday. Billingsgate, famous for its London fish market and seafood training school, will be holding cooking demos at 11.30am and 1.30pm, showing you how to make seafood laksa, pot de la mer, steamed fish parcels and pan-fried plaice with autumn mushrooms and wild garlic capers. You'll get to taste it all at the end, with fresh bread and a delicious wine taster from local vineyard Carr Taylor. Tickets cost £12 each or £22 for two, call 0207 517 3548 to book. There will also be an informal free session at 3.30pm, where you can learn to prepare and cook the day's catch. 

On Sunday, local chefs and producers come to the fore with The Thai House's Chef Sawek cooking up one of his most popular dishes at 12 noon. At 2pm Biddenden Vineyards, Kent's oldest commercial vineyard, will be giving a talk and tasting. And at 3.30pm local foraging tutor Sarah Watson of Wild Feast will cook the catch of the day with wild greens and foraged flavourings. Entrance to all three is included with your wristband.

Cllr Kim Forward the council's deputy leader and lead member marketing and tourism said:

"The Seafood and Wine Festival has been an annual event in the town's packed calendar for well over ten years now. It's grown to become a well-respected, popular event attracting thousands of residents and visitors.
 
"There will be around 40 stalls serving delicious local produce and the famous musical entertainment and cooking demonstrations. This year there is also an exciting sculpture, a cluster of magical glass buoys suspended above head height, which contain the voices and stories of Hastings fishermen. And in the Stade Hall there is an exhibition of photographs by Chris Parker, focusing on the seafood and fishing industry in and around Hastings.

"There's loads for children in the Children's Tent, from storytelling performances on Saturday to craft activities and face painting. And there'll be unicycling, juggling, magic, balloon animals and much more."

Entry to the festival is by admission wristband. These can be bought in advance from the Tourist Information Centre for only £2, or on the gate for £3 - a real bargain for a whole weekend's entertainment. Under 18s go free.

Full festival details and ticket information can be found at www.visit1066country.com/fishfestivals or telephone the Tourist Information Centre on 01424 451111.

Landlord fined £4081 for failing to maintain property

Hastings Borough Council successfully prosecuted James De Courcy of Rye Lodge Hilders Cliff Rye East Sussex for failing to maintain his tenanted property at 10 Cornwallis Terrace. Mr De Courcy was found guilty of 8 out of 10 breaches brought, which included failure to maintain the fire alarm system, failure to maintain emergency lighting, and multiple failures to keep the common parts in good order, in respect of his property.

"These prosecutions are an excellent result and we hope that they act as a warning to those landlords and property managers who compromise the wellbeing and safety of their tenants" said Cllr Andy Batsford, Hastings Borough Council's lead member for housing. He added "we know that good landlords will agree that everyone has a right to a decent safe home and we have a duty to protect tenants from landlords that fall well short of the standards we expect so we will continue to seek out unlicensed properties and prosecute owners who breach legislation requirements.

The decision was taken to prosecute due to the serious nature of the breaches, not least that there was no working fire alarm system in place when a serious fire occurred in the property, and that therefore no warning was given to the occupiers. This combined with the poor condition of the common areas and repeated failure to address issues indicated serious failings in the management of the property.

The Court agreed that Mr De Courcy had failed in his duty to manage the property in respect of 8 out of the 10 breaches brought, and he was fined a total of £2000, plus costs of £2081.

Hastings Landlord fined £22,000

Hastings Borough Council have successfully prosecuted Mr Tom Glendon Wallace of Boscobel Road St Leonards for failing to effectively maintain two properties. The trial was originally planned to take place over two days, but Mr Wallace changed his plea to guilty for all 38 charges, relating to the two properties in Carisbrooke Road and Charles Road. Both properties are classed as houses of multiple occupation.

Cllr Andy Batsford said, "Hastings Borough Council takes its responsibility to protect vulnerable tenants very seriously, and in light of the tragic fire at Grenfell I would like to thank the fire service and our officers who ensure those Landlords who come up short to the standards the council and responsible landlords expect are prosecuted .
They cannot be allowed to put tenants' health and safety at risk. I hope that this result will increase the great partnership work between the council and landlords in pushing up standards and flushing out those who put lives at risk to save a few pounds."

The guilty verdicts related to multiple breaches of the "Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Additional Provisions) (England) Regulations 2007" known as the "Management Regulations". The bench looked at totality of the offences and gave an overall fine of £19,000 plus prosecution costs of £3564.96 and Victim Surcharge £170, giving a total of £22,734.96 for him to pay.  

LA VERITA present CURRICULUM VITAE

Saturday 9th September 7.30 pm the Stade

Coastal Currents brings you La Verita, a contemporary dance company that explores and expands current dance language and performance. Incorporating current issues with extremes in dance movement, Curriculum Vitae traces the mesmerising and exhilarating journey of a group of people who have to leave, or choose to leave, their own country for whatever reason.

Councillor Kim Forward, Deputy Leader of the council and regeneration and culture portfolio holder said, "I welcome this performance which explores contemporary issues that we grapple with as a community. It is also a fantastic addition to the Stade Saturdays free performances throughout the summer and also part of the Coastal Currents festival that opened last week."

In 2015 LA VERITA was awarded first prize in the international 'Lendemains qui dansent' competition and have performed as far afield as South Korea, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, Greece and Cyprus.