Action needed to save nationally important gothic revival chapel

Two societies have put their weight behind calls to save a deserted chapel in St Leonards.

The Victorian Society and the Pugin Society want Hastings Borough Council to take action to prevent further damage to St Michael’s chapel in the former convent of the Holy Child Jesus.

The 1868 former Convent of the Holy Child in St Leonards East Sussex is a major work by the Victorian architect Edward Welby Pugin, and also contains work by his two architect brothers Peter-Paul and Cuthbert. It is especially notable for the intactness of its fittings in what English Heritage described as “an intact High Victorian Gothic interior of outstanding quality”. Historic England is currently considering adding the chapel to their Heritage at Risk Register. 

http://www.victoriansociety.org.uk/news/action-needed-to-save-nationally-important-gothic-revival-chapel-in-sussex/

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/fresh-calls-to-save-st-leonards-chapel-1-7092598#ixzz3szfUzTsr

A £300k bid to ‘re-model’ and ‘revitalise’ the promenade at White Rock has been backed by councillors.

Members of Hastings Borough Council’s planning committee gave the proposals unanimous approval at their meeting yesterday (Wednesday, November 25).

Cllr Judy Rogers said: “This is really good to see. With the opening of the skatepark next year, it will liven up the seafront. I have been working very closely with the White Rock business group to bring a whole new lease of life to this area.

“Together with the opening of our wonderful pier in March next year, this will make the whole area lovely and part of the Hastings scene.”

The council first unveiled the proposals, which affect the promenade from Hastings Pier to the Robertson Street junction at White Rock, in June.

They include planting eight mature palm trees along White Rock and revamping the existing water feature.

There will also be a projecting viewing platform, as well as the promenade being re-paved.

At the junction of the promenade and pedestrian crossing from Robertson Street there will be a kiosk and terrace.

A pergola is also included in the proposals, which will be located west of the Grade-II listed Boer War memorial.

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/hastings-promenade-plans-are-given-green-light-1-7086442#ixzz3sbooH5mi

Rocklands Private Caravan Park, in Rocklands Lane, will be stating its case at a hearing in January.

The owners of a caravan park are appealing against a council decision ordering them to tear down a controversial holiday home.

Historic England has also written to the council recommending Rocklands’ fresh retrospective application for solar panels be turned down.

It said an offence appeared to have been committed under the Ancient Monuments And Archeological Areas Act when some of the panels were installed. The site is next to and partly overlaps the Iron Age cliff castle on the East Hill.

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/public-concern-remains-high-on-rocklands-1-7086630#ixzz3sbn7Bcsi

Robertson Street and White Rock

Council bosses’ plans to re-model and revitalise the promenade at White Rock will come under discussion on Wednesday (November 25).

The authority first unveiled the proposals in June, which include planting mature palm trees along White Rock and revamping the existing water feature with a water cascade and a stage for licensed buskers.

The council said the proposals are designed to make the promenade from the pier to the junction with Robertson Street and White Rock more attractive for visitors, as well as complementing the reopening of Hastings Pier next March and the revamp of the disused White Rock Baths into a BMX and skateboarding park.

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/hastings-promenade-plans-on-agenda-1-7071836#ixzz3rr8xcnvw

Developers have submitted proposals for up to 208 dwellings, to be built on land to the south of Holmhurst St Mary, off The Ridge.

The site where the homes would be built is more than 13 hectares in size. Part of the land was formerly part of the Holmhurst St Mary estate.

The land has open fields with densely wooded areas, elements of a former formal garden, old outbuildings and classrooms, old tennis courts, a graveyard and a statue of Queen Anne which is Grade II* listed.

Objectors’ concerns include possible traffic generation and congestion, road safety, insufficient parking, impacts of the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road (BHLR) on The Ridge, impacts on heritage including the gardens and statue, impact on the environment and harm to ancient woodland.

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/plans-for-200-new-homes-in-st-leonards-1-7072501#ixzz3rr6KPTao

Hastings Cemetery Update

Updated:

• Devey, George - Architect & unacknowledged Father of the Arts & Crafts Movement - evidence of his connection with William Morris

• Woodruffe, Charles Sheldon Pearce - Captain, Royal Navy, Hastings Coastguard

Save Ecclesbourne Glen’s AGM - Sunday, 15th November from 3pm to 5pm at the White Rock Hotel

Don’t forget that Save Ecclesbourne Glen’s AGM takes place this Sunday, 15th November from 3pm to 5pm at the White Rock Hotel.

There will be a public meeting first with news, updates and an opportunity to ask questions, followed by the AGM itself. The SEG committee have been working extremely hard behind the scenes and all the issues are still very acute, so public support is still vital and very much appreciated.

The public hearing concerning Rocklands will take place on 20th January, 2016 and we will send you details of that in due course.

Please note the following retrospective application from Rocklands Caravan Park re solar panels which have been installed without planning consent:
http://publicaccess.hastings.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=_HSTBC_DCAPR_102723

Boost for Hastings Prince Albert statue campaign

Campaigners have scored a victory in their bid to have an historic statue placed in a prominent position in the town centre.

A project to have the statue of Prince Albert erected outside the town hall in Queen’s Square, Priory Meadow, has been given approval by the Planning Inspectorate.
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“Now that the community group has the planning inspectorate’s approval for having the statue relocated to alongside the town hall, it is hoped the council, which owns the land where the statue is to be erected, will be happy to let the project to go ahead without any further complications.

“As soon as the council confirms this to the community group, fundraising for the project will start.

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/boost-for-hastings-prince-albert-statue-campaign-1-7053406#ixzz3qon3Gey4

Pier Talk 13th November - Amendment

This talk will not be presented by John Hodges as previously advertised, but by volunteers from the Hastings Pier Charity

Just to remind you:

History House, 13th November, 7PM
Admission £2 – free to Friends of the Country Park.

http://hastingspeerlesspier.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=motion

Literary Connections Exhibition Back Up in the History House

There is also a list of writers buried in the Cemetery on The Ridge at
http://friendsofhastingscemetery.org.uk/writers.html

Many of these are writers of non-fiction, autobiography, travel, biography, poetry etc.

Rider Haggard – A talk - 7th November

Dr Elizabeth Allen

History House, 21 Courthouse Street

Tickets available - £3  - refreshments available