Rocklands controversial holiday home will be allowed to stay, a planning inspector has ruled.

Campaigners from Save Ecclesbourne Glen (SEG) were hoping the building within Rocklands Private Caravan Park, dubbed the ‘bunker’ by objectors, would be torn down.

Chris Hurrell, spokesman for SEG, said: “Despite the massive unpopularity of the bunker with the public, the inspector has allowed the building to remain subject to a few cosmetic changes.

“The height of the roof will be reduced by 400mm and the balconies will be reduced in depth by 1,000mm. The rest of the building will be allowed to remain as is. “This is a very disappointing result.”

SEG said the building has destroyed the natural beauty of the surrounding area.

• Rocklands appealed against Hastings Borough Council’s enforcement notice to destroy the building overlooking Ecclesbourne Glen more than a year ago.

• In March last year it submitted a planning application asking for the retention of the holiday let, which was refused.

• In June 2014 the council unanimously threw out Rocklands’ retrospective planning application to make alterations to the controversial building. The original building itself was granted planning permission in 2012.

“Ecclesbourne Glen issues are not just about the bunker. Our objective was to protect the beautiful vistas across the country park and many issues remain unresolved.

“We are still very concerned about the landslip that has shut access from the East Hill and is a visual scar on the glen. We are pressing the council to carry out further investigations.”

http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/mobile/news/local/campaigners-anger-over-decision-on-hastings-holiday-let-1-7443089#ixzz4D9U98rM0

She's Come Home!

Hastings Borough Council effectively lost their case against Rocklands’ appeal - the inspector’s decision was published this week.

No more news, currently.  Will be updated when there is more information.

Dee-Day White and Tush Hamilton are on the verge of bringing (another) lost lifeboat back to Hastings again.

Following their restoration of the Priscilla MacBean lifeboat, which was discovered as a rotting hulk in Eastbourne and is now on permanent show in the Old Town.

Now they are set to bring home a former Hastings lifeboat which earned the legend ‘The Ghost of Dunkirk’

The Cyril and Lilian Bishop lifeboat, which saved 34 lives in Hastings during the 1930’s, spent four days and four nights rescuing British and French soldiers from the beaches during the evacuation of Dunkirk in World War 2.

“She is best known and earned her nickname ‘The Ghost of Dunkirk when in late May 1940 the Dunkirk evacuation needed shallow draught vessels to make their way to Dover and the RNLI was asked to send as many lifeboats as possible and coxswain George Moon quickly called a crew together consisting of Will Martin, Bodger Barton, Jumbo White, Bill Hilder and finally Freddie Button.

“On arrival at Dover George Moon tells us that all the lifeboats were commandeered by the Royal Navy and he and the rest of the crew travelled back to Hastings by train.

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/legendary-lifeboat-is-coming-home-1-7420706#ixzz4B0QWuIeP

The statue of Prince Albert will be installed by the town hall

In February 2015, a bid put forward by campaigners was refused planning consent by Hastings Borough Council, going against officers’ recommendations.

Members said the statue’s condition was so poor it would not be suitable for display alongside the town hall, which is a Grade-II listed building.

Campaigners submitted an appeal to have the decision overturned, which was successful.

A new heritage group, the Albert Statue Group, was formed early this year to raise funds for the project.

Hastings Lions Club came forward with a generous donation for buying and installing the new Portland stone pedestal on which the statue is to be erected.

There have also been donations from members of the public who are keen to see the long-neglected statue back in the public domain.

Roger Wilcock, of A. C. Towner Ltd has been advising on the project, and he is doing some of the preparatory work free of charge, with consent from his employer Edward Towner, as this is a community project without financial support from the council.

The life-size statue of Prince Albert, sculpted in Portland stone by Edwin Stirling at his Liverpool studio, was saved for the town by Edith Skelton, who bought it from the demolition firm for £50.

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/work-to-start-on-installation-of-hastings-statue-1-7416965#ixzz4AuIcC7Yf

More support needed to keep local treasure afloat

Open 364 days a year and free to enter, the Fishermen’s Museum at Rock-a-Nore is possibly one of the area’s most underrated and fascinating attractions.

It is a treasure trove of exhibits which show the history of the local fishing fleet and our relationship with the sea, having a full sized fishing lugger as its centre piece.

But the volunteer run museum, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this month, is in desperate need of financial support if it is to continue opening as it currently does.

“If everyone who came in donated just £1 we would be in a healthy position”

The museum is housed in the former Fishermen’s Church, built on the Stade in 1852, which fell out of use after the Second World War.

Hastings Fishermen’s Museum opened on May 17 1956.

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/more-support-needed-to-keep-local-treasure-afloat-1-7397804#ixzz49fyYGw9W

Latest Stories from The Cemetery

New Stories:

• Balcombe, Charles Edward local; died WW1, 1917
• Davis, W E; died (Cooden Camp) WW1 1916
• Gale, Frank - local; died WW1 1917
• Helsdown, James Arthur  - fishermen, drowned off Fairlight (PioneerRX255)
• Muggridge, Harry Daniel - Skipper on the Pioneer RX255, drowned off Fairlight
• Russell, George Edward - died WW1 1918. (Served under alias, Longley)
• Samways, Alexander, local; died WW1 1916
• Williams, James Frederick - fishermen, drowned off Fairlight (PioneerRX255)

Recent Stories

• Bennett, Samuel James - well known in local Nonconformist circles

• Considine, Jane - died in Hastings / O'Clery, Countess Katharine - married and lived in Hastings

• Ransom, William -  founder and first editor of the Hastings and St Leonards News; lifelong friend of Barbara Bodichon.

FoHC Publications available from the History House - Donation

Friends of Hastings Cemetery - Update

NEWS

• The Cemetery Project has been completed
• The work so far forms a database of names in the older part of the cemetery, sections A - G.  This is available as a CD
• We have produced two books available from Hastings History House related to some of the stories we have researched
• The next Cemetery Walk will be on 5th June, 2016.  Meet at the Car Park

Friends of Hastings Cemetery

New Stories:

• Adams, Charles - local fisherman who died of pneumonia while on leave from H.M.S."Island Prince" WW1
• Adams, James & parents Edward & Alice -fishing family; James served in the RAF, WW1

Updated Stories:

• Jenkins, Peter & Family - local builder
• Thorburn, Charles - hastings resident, died WW1
• Whistler, Anna
• Willis Family

Recent Stories

• Lansdell Family: landowners, solicitor, surveyor
• Turner, Thomas - landlord of the Havelock Hotel

Opening Wednesday 27th April 2016. Hastings Pier Charity is proud to present a new, unique pier for the 21st Century.

VINTAGE FUNFAIR

Presented by: Funtime Rides

Wednesday April 27th - Thursday July 28th

from 10:00am

Come and experience all the fun of the fair on Hastings Pier! Funtime Rides' Vintage Funfair will offer lots of fun and games for adults and children alike. The centrepiece to this event is the beautiful Traditional Carousel.

Sea Shanty Evening with the RX Shantymen

Date/Time
Date(s) - 21/05/2016
6 PM

Location
Hastings Fishermen's Museum

- See more at: http://www.ohps.org.uk/events/sea-shanty-evening-with-the-rx-shantymen/#sthash.HnFc1Nbl.dpuf

The Hastings Fishermen's Museum celebrates 60 years as a museum on 17th May and we would love for you to come and help us celebrate with an evening of shanties, beer and fish rolls! 

Food will be available from 6pm and the singing will start at 7pm. Tickets are available from the museum for £8 which includes entry, one

drink (local beer, wine or squash) and a Tush & Pat Fisherman's Roll.

- See more at: http://www.ohps.org.uk/events/sea-shanty-evening-with-the-rx-shantymen/#sthash.HnFc1Nbl.dpuf

Sea Shanty Evening with the RX Shantymen

Date/Time
Date(s) - 21/05/2016
6 PM

Location
Hastings Fishermen's Museum

- See more at: http://www.ohps.org.uk/events/sea-shanty-evening-with-the-rx-shantymen/#sthash.HnFc1Nbl.dpuf

The Hastings Fishermen's Museum celebrates 60 years as a museum on 17th May and we would love for you to come and help us celebrate with an evening of shanties, beer and fish rolls! 

Food will be available from 6pm and the singing will start at 7pm. Tickets are available from the museum for £8 which includes entry, one

drink (local beer, wine or squash) and a Tush & Pat Fisherman's Roll.

- See more at: http://www.ohps.org.uk/events/sea-shanty-evening-with-the-rx-shantymen/#sthash.HnFc1Nbl.dpuf

Public memorial for Robert Tressell

A St Leonards-based master stone carver and a seafront retailer have brought together their passion for Robert Tressell to launch a project to create a permanent  to the author in the town.

The Tribute to Tressell project was conceived after an event in 2014 to mark the centenary of the first version of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists being published.

…………………………………………….

With the block of deep bed Portland stone that will become the bust now delivered and marked up, the project is launching its crowdfunding campaign to complete the commission and then look to tour the piece to other places with a connection with Tressell, such as Liverpool and Dublin, where he was born in 1870,– before finding a permanent public home for it in St Leonards

More information about the project, links to their videos and to the funding campaign can be found at www.tribute2tressell.org.uk from where you can also follow it on Facebook and Twitter.

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/st-leonards-project-for-memorial-to-robert-tressell-1-7334447#ixzz46HeJSz4W