Merlin Betts
This week it feels like reminders of the obvious. Roadworks go on well past their timeframe. The pier might get slightly less noisy – maybe. Ill-conceived housing schemes push onward under Labour’s national encouragement. Southern Water embarrasses itself, and Helena Dollimore quotes facts and figures according to her latest sealed instructions from Labour central office.
Also some pleasant notices from local clubs; and the arts scene continues to flourish in one way or another.
News in brief involves a Hex journalist summarising the news displayed in another local media outlet for that week or fortnight. The summaries will likely include personal comments and additional research not present in the original article. If you don’t like that, well, you were warned.
Main News Attack
Queensway Gateway delayed (again!). They don’t think it’ll be done until the summer, and expect disruptions over Easter and May, although apparently the temporary traffic lights will be removed from the A21 until May 5, and then again from May 22 to 27. More disruption on the Ridge from May 19. Lots of chat about this on Nextdoor if you want regular updates.
Changes at the Pier. Following complaints from residents of White Rock Gardens, pier owner Sheikh Abid Gulzar is applying for new premises licenses that should reduce noise pollution from the pier. These include shorter outdoor opening (and drinking) hours and a drop in the number of large events held. The council also requires that event organisers and license holders have better plans in place for events, and agree details with HBC’s Safety Advisory Group. The planning department reminds us that an outstanding objection needs to be resolved before pier operators can run their suggested hours.
Save Sandrock Bends. An ancient woodland and wildlife corridor to Sussex Weald is being considered for housing. Campaigners say that the terrain and water infrastructure cannot cope with the removal of plants and building of houses, with their associated sewage needs. Building could increase the risk of flooding downhill. They say the land is also extremely valuable both environmentally and recreationally. In 2023, the threat seemed to come from ESCC, but now developers claim to have been approved by HBC. If successful, the development is likely to consist primarily of private housing. Public meeting, St Helen’s Church, 24 April.
Protest against welfare cuts. Activists organised by Hastings & District Trades Union Council pursued a rare sighting of our MP, Helena Dollimore, at a coffee morning in All Saints Hall. They presented her with a petition to join Labour rebels against the cuts. Welfare benefits will drop by £4.8bil. This includes the Universal Credit health element being dropped by 50% and being frozen for new claimants. Personal Independence Payments (already notoriously difficult to acquire) will also be harder to claim. Helena Dollimore replied that some improvements to admin and a £14 increase to the standard weekly Universal Credit payment will somehow compensate for this.
Road safety petition. At least 75 people signed a Green Party petition asking for the speed camera on Priory Road to be replaced. It was damaged in a car accident in early 2024 and removed shortly after. Cllrs Haffenden, Gaimster and Hilton joined residents in appealing to Sussex Police and Sussex Safer Roads Partnership. The road in Tressel ward has been the sight of various accidents and collisions. Sussex Police claimed to be aware of the situation, but apparently failed to promise any action.
Town centre roadworks complete. Outside the Carlisle. Almost a month after they were due. Improvements are supposed to include road resurfacing, drainage works and better street lighting.
Southern Water (SW) press release. SW quakes in fear at the approach of the Environment Agency’s testing season. The water company promises to spend £1bil a year for the next five years on “environmental improvement”. Bills are being increased to ensure the flow of profits to shareholders continues during this time. Company spokesperson Simon Fluendy says “regular maintenance is part and parcel of running a wastewater network”. It’s good that Southern Water apparently now understand the purpose of their company, but Fluendy also implies that SW are relying heavily on “the Environment Agency, councils, landowners, NGOs and other stakeholders” in order to run this maintenance and still turnover a profit. SW’s Rivers and Seas Watch service – that reports storm overflows – is apparently being updated. Surfers Against Sewage generally use data from the service to inform a much more accurate map of inappropriate sewage spills and discharges, often disguised as legitimate storm overflows.
Oak to commemorate Rother District Council. 50th anniversary oak tree may now memorialise the loss of Rother District Council after 50 years of service, if Labour and Tory plans for local government reorganisation go ahead. Additionally, 1,000 trees were planted by volunteers in Mason Field, Rye, using money from a fund to mark the Coronation of King Charles III, who will later this year kowtow to Emperor Donald Trump. In what may be one of its final acts, Rother District Council acquired funds to help maintain and even improve the De La Warr Pavilion over the next ten years.
Helena Dollimore on Southern Water. H reminds us that in January Southern Water agreed to pay up compensation for abandoning its duties and letting a pipe burst, cutting off water for around 30,000 people during the May bank holiday weekend. SW had applied for planning permission to fix the pipe years before, but never conducted the work. H notes that SW have miscalculated the compensation due to many people [myself included, they tried to give me £50 instead of £400]. She says if you’ve been underpaid, you should contact her, though many constituents complain that she doesn’t reply to communications and doesn’t maintain an office, or hold a regular surgery. H finally suggests that Labour’s new Water Bill will reform the water industry. This is debatable.
UK Careers Fair in Hastings. Looking for a job? Give this a go. 30 April, 10.00-14.00 at the White Rock Theatre. 18+, some events ticketed, but tickets are free – apply online.
House building in Battle. 200 homes to go ahead via Greymoor Construction in ‘Tapestry’ development. Infrastructure for the scheme began to be built in 2022, and has largely been funded by Homes England. 70 will be for private sale. 130 mixed affordable rent and shared ownership via Places for People. Affordable and shared ownership schemes still represent an expensive and profit-driven approach to housing, but are less nakedly unhelpful than private rents and sales pushing up market rates. Homes will have heat pumps installed and electric vehicle charging points. Due to complete in 2027. Rother District Council Housing Company hopes to deliver 1,000 homes by 2037. Bearing in mind that our housing problems are substantially the result of homes being too expensive, not the lack of available homes, schemes like this are of uncertain utility in resolving the housing crisis.
Helena Dollimore again – now on flood defence. Hastings and Rye to benefit from £6 mil going to 11 new flood defence schemes. (£2.65bil being spent nationally). Helena reminds us that she sits on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee. She also tells constituents, who were busy being flooded in the town centre before she’d even heard of Southern Water, that “flooding poses a significant threat to coastal communities”. The risk isn’t helped by dodgy construction schemes, a water company that seems to want to encourage floods, and rising sea levels. It would make sense for this column to link to the other one on Southern Water, but it doesn’t. Helena’s also invented a new title for herself “Member of Parliament for Hastings and Rye and the villages”. I suppose the villages did deserve a mention somewhere. If you think I’m not taking the news of flood defence spending very seriously, bear in mind that flood defences come under essential maintenance. If this money wasn’t being spent – that would be news.
HBC Corporate Plan now live. Covering 2025-2030, the plan has five main focal points.
1. financial stability while delivering high quality services in co-operation with local people.
2. ensuring good quality housing and tackling homelessness.
3. tackling poverty and inequality.
4. take action on the climate and nature crisis.
5. encourage and support pride of place in Hastings.
What this actually means is anyone’s guess. Stay tuned for commentary, or look at the detail yourself on HBC’s website. The plan comes while Labour and the Tory ESCC’s efforts to demolish our local councils continues unhindered. The process of centralisation, which in newspeak style Labour have called “devolution”, will take powers away from HBC, ESCC and other localised councils, and put most decisions about our money and resources in the hands of a five person council for Sussex (East, West and Brighton all under one roof). HBC are going ahead with the corporate plan to make a bit of a statement, but also because we might be able to get a new town council (as opposed to our current borough council) once the ‘devolution’ is underway. The new town council may or may not be able to carry some plans and resources over from the borough council.
New plans for bathing pool site. Proposed developers West Marina St Leonards Ltd will be holding a consultation event on Tuesday 29 April from 15.00 to 19.00 at Electro Studios on Seaside Road. Schemes will be presented on Friday May 2 from 09.30 to 18.00 at Priory Meadow Shopping Centre. Ideas for development seem to include homes, tourist attractions, cafes, art studios and a slipway. Local residents complain of overdevelopment.
Motoring news. Driving test waiting times hit an all-time high of an average of 20 weeks to book a practical. Stats suggest fewer young people have driving licenses, and fewer young people have money to spend on cars and fuel. The DVLA is trying to recruit 450 new driving examiners to bring wait times down. But with cost of living going up, available jobs and industries going down, universities on the brink of collapse, aren’t cars becoming a bit of a luxury? Whatever happened to buses and trains? Oh yeah, we’ve burned half and given the rest to incompetent capitalists.
Clubs and businesses
Charity Cycle Challenge. Sunday 27 April, Rotary Club of Senlac St Leonards is hosting a cycle challenge. Three courses, 25, 40 and 75 miles. Entry fees £15 for the shorter courses, £20 for the 75. Certificate on completion, courses marshalled, money raised goes to a local charity. Email rotarycycleride@aol.com.
Grand Pera. A new primarily Turkish cuisine restaurant has taken over at 8-9 Harold Place. Their chef seems eminently qualified. Prices are roughly what you might expect from a more formal sit-down meal.
Lakedown Brewing Co. wins award. The brewery began in September 2023 and is run by Who frontman Roger Daltrey’s family, on his 600 acre farm. Its Sound Juicy Pale Ale won a silver at the World Alcohol Free Awards. The international awards were started in July 2022 in West Sussex by a journalist and a drinks consultant.
British Gypsum. With few industries still remaining in Britain, it’s nice to know which ones carry on against the odds. British Gypsum operates around Robertsbridge and extracts huge amounts of mineral for processing, although production has been scaling back in recent years.
Dog Training Club celebrates 70th anniversary. Hastings and St Leonards Dog Training Club, which also supports charities including the Cinnamon Trust, celebrates its recent achievements. Awards have been handed out, dogs have raced past rows of sausages into the arms of their owners, and a party was held at the Royal Victoria. The club offers beginner and foundation courses for new dog owners, and endeavours to keep prices affordable. Many of its members can boast substantial achievements in the doggy training world. Website.
Hastings and District Anglo-French Club. Meets every second and fourth Tuesday of the month, between September and May, 2.30pm at the Holy Redeemer Church Hall, St Leonards. Currently a £3 charge per visitor. Disabled access and free parking. Website. The article described how one of the members recounted some lovely family history – it was an entertaining read – but I couldn’t find a way of summarising it here.
Arts news
World Earth Day at Alexandra Park Greenhouse. Sat 26 April, from 10.30am. Exhibition of work by members of the YoYo Club, a family creative group run by Art in the Park on the old bowling green. Also plant sales and showcasing of the greenhouse’s current successes and future plans.
East Sussex Arts Club. Next meeting May 10, 2pm, St John’s Church Hall, Brittany Road, St Leonards. Membership not required. The club runs competitions, hosts visiting artists, and enables members to showcase and otherwise better develop their work.
Hastings Prom returns. Back after five years, “the Reunion Prom” will be held at Hastings Beer and Music Festival, at the Oval on July 3, including choirs and a 30-piece band. Tickets via hbmf.co.uk/box-office.
Hastings Comedy Festival approaches 10th Anniversary. June 9 to 15. Over 90 performances will occupy well-loved venues across town. It’s an independent local festival, great fun. More info hastingscomedyfestival.com. To volunteer, email hastingscomedyfestival@yahoo.com.
Phil Hewitt wrote four articles about theatre shows and developments in Brighton (3) and Eastbourne (1), which don’t seem relevant to the Hastings, Bexhill and Rye Observer. We have a lot of theatre in these three towns and “the villages” (thanks Helena). Editor, maybe get someone to review those?
Sport
HY Athletics Club runners have been doing marathons and all sorts. Website.
Hastings Runners likewise. New members over 12 of all abilities welcome. Website.
Warriors Muay Thai, Hastings, performed excellently at War on the Shore. They live at Trojan Gym.
Tackleway Tennis Club doing rather well. Website.
Hastings United play football.
Apologies for my sports summaries. I’m trying to get this news in brief done before the weekend’s over, and lists of match results and personal achievements are hard to cut short, so it makes more sense to just not include them. If you want detailed sports news, we currently don’t have the means to offer it. If you want to write Sport for us, email info@hastings-examiner.uk or comment below.
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