Leader's Column

This week Paul has written about the upcoming Cabinet meeting on Monday evening.

This week's headlines

Latest news

Hastings Bonfire - 14 October 2023

Hastings Bonfire is taking place on Saturday 14 October this year. The event includes a torchlight procession, bonfire on the beach and a firework display. The event is organised by Hastings Borough Bonfire Society.

• 5.30pm - children's procession from The Stade to the bonfire site at Pelham Place;
• 7.15pm - main torchlight procession starts from Robertson Street along the seafront and around the Old Town to the bonfire site;
• approximately 9pm - bonfire lighting followed by firework display.

Further details can be found in the Bonfire Society programme available from shops around the Old Town.

The Bonfire Society would like to make residents and visitors aware that Pelham Place car park will be partially closed on Friday 13 October and fully closed on Saturday 14 October so if you usually park there you will need to make alternative arrangements. The car park will reopen from late morning on Sunday 15 October.

From 5.30pm on Saturday 14 October there will be road closures both along the procession route and in the surrounding area until approximately 11pm.

Southern Water drop-in session

At the Full Council meeting on 19 July, Cllr Paul Barnett, leader of the council, read out a letter he was sending to Southern Water seeking a far more co-operative and open approach to the issues Southern Water are dealing with in Hastings.

We have agreed with Southern Water to share important and relevant information with residents through this newsletter on a regular basis, to help make sure that you are kept up-to-date with work they are doing and other updates. We are reliant on Southern Water sharing relevant data with us and will continue to press them for timely updates.

The latest update is below:

Southern Water are holding an Open Day on Thursday 12 October for any customers to drop-in and ask questions or find out more. 

You can drop-in between 11am and 7pm at Stade Hall. Staff from SW will be available to talk about how money is being spent in Hastings, financial support if you're struggling to pay your bills, misconnections work and the work that's being done to prevent flooding and further sewage bursts in the area.

Hastings historic walkway cleared of graffiti

Bottle Alley, a historic walkway in Hastings, has been cleared of graffiti and restored to its former glory thanks to a joint effort and funding from Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, Hastings Borough Council and the local Community Safety Partnership.

PCC Bourne was successful in securing £1.5 million from the Government’s Safer Streets 4 Fund that awarded £50 million to communities across England and Wales. In Sussex, the funding has been distributed across the county, focusing on projects which put a stop to anti-social behaviour and tackle violence against women and girls.

*press release shared on behalf of the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner

COVID winter booster announced

The annual flu and COVID vaccine programme has now begun.

The NHS has said that residents of older adult care homes and those most at risk will receive their COVID vaccine first.

Carers, pregnant women, and health and social care staff will all be among the groups to be offered a COVID jab this winter, as well as adults aged 65 and over.

The national booking system is now open for people to book their vaccines. You can also book through your healthcare provider when you are contacted.

The NHS Sussex Health and Care website has more information about who is eligible and how to book.

Bottle Alley lights

The lights in Bottle Alley will be changed to mark Black History Month throughout October. For Hastings Bonfire weekend (13 to 16 October) they will be set to our special flickering bonfire setting.

Updates

• Senior Estates Surveyor
• IT Systems Project Manager (Finance/HR ERP Departmental Systems)

Have your say on polling districts and stations

Residents are being asked for their opinions on polling stations and districts across Hastings as part of a regular review.

The consultation will start on Monday 2 October, and anyone with comments should email electoralservices@hastings.gov.uk or write to Electoral Services, Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3UY on Sunday 22 October.

More information on the consultation, including details of current polling stations and districts will be available online from Monday 2 October.

Age Friendly Activity and Social Session at Broomgrove Community Centre

Active Hastings’ Age Friendly Activity and Social Session is making its way to the Broomgrove Community Centre every Tuesday from Tuesday 3 October, 11am to 12.30pm.

Why not pop along, and try various activities such as New-Age Kurling, Boccia, Archery, Badminton, Chair-Based Exercise and more! Sessions are free, with unlimited free tea and coffee, with thanks to the Levelling Up fund.

No need to book, just turn up on the day. For more information please email activehastings@hastings.gov.uk or call 01424 451051.

The annual canvass continues

The annual canvass is still underway.

Next week some residents can expect to receive an SMS reminder from GOV.UK if we haven’t received a response for the household. Please follow the instructions and respond as soon as possible to prevent further contact.

To view the latest planning applications in your area log into your My Hastings account, and select My Area.

Planning applications for the whole borough can be viewed online.

Community Corner

Mayor's writing competition for young people

Calling all young people! The Mayor of Hastings is holding a writing competition for children ages 5-11. Cllr Margi O'Callaghan wants to know what you would do for Hastings if you were Mayor for the day. Get writing this weekend and send your thoughts by 9am on Monday 2 October.

Please write your answer on no more than one side of A4 and email it to mayorsoffice@hastings.gov.uk, or post it to Mayor's Office, Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, Hastings, TN34 3UY.

The winning writer will be invited to join the Mayor, with their parent/guardian, at Hastings Week events on the weekend of 14 and 15 October to be Junior Mayor for the day.

Have your say on health and leisure facilities in Hastings by tomorrow (Saturday 30 September)

Tomorrow (Saturday 30 September) is your final chance to have your say about potential new leisure facilities in the town.

Continuum (a leading national Leisure Development consultant) are carrying out the surveys of residents and users of Summerfields Leisure Centre.

There are three surveys - one for regular users of Summerfields Leisure Centre, one for residents about leisure facilities and one for residents about Hastings Museum & Art Gallery. Please visit the link below and complete the relevant survey before tomorrow, Saturday 30 September.

Upcoming train strikes

Due to strike action there will be no trains running on Southern or Southeastern services tomorrow (Saturday 30 September) and Wednesday 4 October.

For more information visit the strike pages on the Southern website or Southeastern website.

Mobility service meeting

The Hubs Mobility Advice Service are holding a drop in session at Central Hall on Tuesday 3 October, from 11.30am.

The service is a free service for people that can no longer drive or are unable to learn. They support older people and people with disabilities in Kent and East Sussex with continued independence, through using alternative public and community transport services. The team are also keen to provide mobility information and local community activities that can help us overcome loneliness and isolation together.

There will be coffee and biscuits available and details of the new Hastings Bus Users Group too for anyone who has issues with local bus services and would like to join the group and give their views.

Domestic Abuse Awareness Month

October is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. Domestic abuse can happen to anyone regardless of profession, gender, or sexual orientation.

Those living with domestic abuse often need someone to help them out of the situation. Check in on your friends, family, and colleagues as one conversation could make a huge difference.

There is lots of advice and support on our website.

Mr Hastings and St Leonards learning event

Hastings Voluntary Action (HVA) are organising a men's health event on Thursday 12 October at Muriel Matters House.

There will be two workshops for anyone interested to get involved with - 1.30-3.30pm and 5.30-7.30pm 

Come along and hear from men about what they have achieved so far and their hopes for the future; learn from insight gained locally throughout the first year of this project; consider what impacts on local men's experience and what good looks like; and contribute to planning next steps for the project and the system that surrounds men in Hastings and St Leonards.

Book your place on the HVA events page or contact Teresa Flower on teresa@hastingsvoluntaryaction.org.uk

For more information about the project visit the HVA webpage.

Have your say on the future of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The High Weald AONB Partnership is now collecting feedback on the draft High Weald AONB Management Plan 2024-2029.

Your comments will help us conserve and enhance this precious landscape for years to come.

The consultation runs until Sunday 5 November through the High Weald AONB website.

Share your views on stopping smoking

East Sussex County Council's Public Health team want to find out how they can make it easier for people in Broomgrove to stop smoking.

If you would like to share your views, please come along to the Talking About Smoking event at Broomgrove Community Centre, 85 Chiltern Drive, Hastings, TN34 3PY, on Wednesday 11 October, between 10am and 2pm.

There will be short workshops, discussions and creative activities to help you have your say. You’ll get a £25 Love to Shop voucher for taking part, and tea, coffee, and lunch will be provided.  

If you would like to attend or have any questions, please email Charlie.lucas@eastsussex.gov.uk.

Feedback

Thank you for your comments on the newsletter, please keep letting us know what you think about it. You can make them on our online feedback form. We are always happy to respond to your comments, but we can only do this if you leave us your email address on the form.

You can report general council issues online through My Hastings.

You can report East Sussex County Council issues through the ESCC website.

Meetings

Next council meetings:

• Cabinet - Monday 2 October, 6pm