This week's headlines

Latest news

Cold weather alert

The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended the yellow cold weather warning to 12noon on Thursday 18 January.

There is advice on staying warm and well in cold weather on the Met Office website. This also includes advice on driving and travelling in winter weather.

Severe Weather Emergency Protocol activated

Due to the forecast cold weather, the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) will be activated in Hastings over the weekend.

Tonight (Friday 12 January) there will be provision provided by Seaview Project at St Leonards Baptist Church Hall, Chapel Park Rd, St Leonards, TN37 6HR from 7.15pm. 

Tomorrow (Saturday 13 January) and Sunday 14 January, provision will be at the Warming up the Homeless Hastings Homeless Support Centre at 23 Priory Street on these dates. The centre will be open from 4pm.

The centre can accommodate pets and also has shower and laundry facilities and hot meals. Warming up the Homeless have a SWEP phone number for any queries – 07367 060708.

Many thanks to Warming up the Homeless and Seaview for their services and support over this SWEP period.

People do not need to approach the council in order to access this SWEP provision.

We are continuing to offer support to rough sleepers this winter including support to find a longer-term home. If you are concerned about someone who is rough sleeping, let us know using the link below.

Hastings Town Deal Open Day

Come along to the Hastings Town Deal Open Day on Saturday 27 January. Residents, businesses and visitors will be able to get updates on the £24.3m government funded Town Deal regeneration programme currently taking place in Hastings.

The programme consists of several projects run by the community, businesses, Hastings Borough Council, East Sussex County Council and the College. The aim is to rejuvenate and transform the town centre and make Hastings a healthy, vibrant, and quirky seaside town that people love to visit, live in and work in.

Some of these projects have already been successfully completed and are up and running. Updates on these will be available on the day.

There will be a central hub in the Priory Meadow Shopping Centre on Saturday 27 January, between 10am and 4pm. The day will include information about the many projects, with members of the Town Deal team and project leads available to talk to you and answer any questions.

There will also be opportunities to sign up to attend guided tours for some of the projects.

Apply for postal or proxy vote

There are local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections in Hastings on Thursday 2 May. Do you want to vote by post or ask someone you trust to vote on your behalf? You now need to prove your identity when applying. Apply for a postal vote or apply for a proxy vote.

Holocaust Memorial Day service

Hastings will host its annual Holocaust Memorial Day service at 11am on Saturday 27 January.

The one-hour event will be held at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings, on Hastings seafront opposite the Pier. The service is organised by David Tasker - a local resident, with the support of Hastings Borough Council.

The theme for 2024's service will be 'Fragility of Freedom'. It will include contributions from pupils of Hastings Academy. The service will also feature the story of a 90-year-old Holocaust survivor Emma, who was born in the Netherlands in 1933. Miraculously both her parents and all three siblings survived.

The service is open to everyone, and admission is free.

Call for sites for permanent Gypsy and Traveller pitches

Landowners in Hastings are being asked if they have land that could provide permanent pitches for the local Gypsy and Traveller community. Please send your submissions by Wednesday 24 January.

Under national planning guidance, all councils are have to assess future housing needs in their area. This involves assessing the types of housing needed for different groups in the community including the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers.  

A study has shown that Hastings needs to identify land for up to ten permanent pitches (a pitch is the space required to accommodate one household and will vary according to the size of the household in a similar way to housing for the settled community. Typically a family pitch will provide space for a mobile home and touring caravan, space for parking, and an amenity block) in the period to 2039.

Any landowner who has suitable land can provide details of their site through our online consultation. The need could be met on one or more sites. 

You can read more information, including some frequently asked questions, on our website.

The council also wants to hear from members of the Gypsy and Traveller community about our site selection criteria, to help ensure any potential sites are properly assessed with the needs of the community in mind.  Please visit the link below.

Updates

Rubbish and recycling collections

Waste and recycling collections will return to normal from Monday 15 January.

Don't forget that you can check when your collection day is throughout the year, at a time convenient to you, with our waste collection day look up or through your My Hastings account.

If you are looking to dispose of your real Christmas tree, you can either take it to the tip on Bexhill Road, or, if you have a garden waste bin, you can cut it up into smaller pieces and put it in there for the next collection. Please remove all the decorations before you dispose of it. Please do not leave trees at Harmers Lane, off Upper Park Road, as this service is not being offered this year.

You may be wearing more layers to keep warm with the temperatures low. To help save money and reduce your carbon footprint, you can wash your clothes on a lower temperature. Many powders and liquids work effectively at 30 (degree symbol) or 40 (degree symbol) so you don't have to go too hot.

Up to 60% of laundry's carbon footprint comes from heating water - that's more than packaging, production, and shipping. Even washing it on a slightly cooler setting can save a lot of energy. Choose a quick wash cycle to maximise your energy saving.

• Housing Options Officer
• Housing Officer Temporary Accommodation
• Seasonal Lifeguards (through the RNLI)

East Hill Lift closure

Unfortunately due to a small landslip the East Hill Lift will be closed until further notice.

Elections staff needed

We are looking for staff to help us at the various scheduled elections on Thursday 2 May 2024. Find out more about the different roles available and apply online.

Remember My Hastings to save yourself time

If you find our phone lines are busy, remember that you can access most council services through My Hastings, at a time convenient to you, without waiting in a queue. If you haven't got a My Hastings account, it will only take a few minutes to set up and it will save you time.

Bottle Alley lights update

We are aware of a problem with the lights in Bottle Alley at the Pier end. The contractors have been contacted and we are working to get them fixed as soon as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience this causes.

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.

Local Land Charges changes coming

We are pleased to be one of the first councils working with HM Land Registry to move our local land charges service to their digital register. The team is working to make the changes needed, and we're expecting the switchover to happen in the next couple of months. We will provide a further update with details on what you will need to do going forwards when we have an exact date.

This will make buying a property or piece of land in Hastings quicker, cheaper, and simpler for everyone, as the local land charges register will allow information to be searched online instantly.

Local land charges include restrictions or prohibitions on the use of property or land, such as planning permissions or listed building status. An easy search of the national register will show if a property has a charge and help you make an informed decision about your purchase.

We will provide a further update when our local land charges have moved over to the digital register. 

Community Corner

Women: Wellbeing and Workout

The Active Hastings’ Women: Wellbeing and Workout course is a free, face-to-face eight week course for women aged 18 – 30.

The next course starts on Wednesday 17 January, 7pm to 8.30pm.  So, if you live in Hastings and St Leonards and want to learn long-term coping strategies to help manage your mental wellbeing (including anxiety, low mood, stress or poor self-esteem), with a combination of talking and physical activities book your free place today. Booking is essential.

The friendly, non-judgemental sessions kick off with a 45 minute talking group led by Natalie Greenall from Believe in You, followed by a 45 minute exercise class with a Personal Trainer. Limited to one course per person.

Active Hastings Wildcats girls' football training

Are you looking for a fun way for girls 5-11 to get involved with football? Then look no further! Weetabix Wildcats is the place to be. Wildcats is a non-competitive football training session for girls who want to give it a go for the very first time, or want to play with other girls their own age. Most importantly, Weetabix Wildcats is all about having loads of fun and meeting new amazing friends. The sessions are run by the award-winning Active Hastings team.

Changes to government childcare funding schemes

The government's childcare support schemes are changing from April 2024. You can register now for more information and to find out more about how it might affect you.

Volunteering opportunities at The Bale House

If you're keen to do some volunteering this year, there are opportunities at The Bale House in Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve.

If you have a few hours to spare a week and want to get involved, training will be given and tasks will include chatting to visitors, advising on walking routes, putting purchases through the tills, opening and closing the library cupboard and writing comments or suggestions in the visitors' book.

There are also outdoor volunteering opportunities on Fridays and Saturdays. You can find out more about these and book through The Bale House Eventbrite pages.

Email bale.house@groundwork.org.uk or contact the centre manager on sue.learoydsmith@groundwork.org.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:

• Wednesday 17 January, 6pm - Extraordinary Full Council