Marianne North: a trailblazing artist

 As we are still not sure when we reopen here is an item that may be of interest.

https://artuk.org/discover/stories/marianne-north-a-trailblazing-artist?ct=t(WEEKLY_NEWSLETTER_2021_01_12)&mc_cid=05a25ab123&mc_eid=5572dec1ba

Forward Planning - HBC

 Consultation starts today and you will be able to view and make comments on the new Draft Hastings Local Plan (Regulation 18) until 24 March 2021.   This is your chance to get involved and tell us what you think. 

How to comment

You can find more information, view the draft Plan and comment online via  www.hastings.gov.uk/localplan 

More Information

The new Draft Plan sets out a strategy to guide and shape development over the next 20 years up to 2039 and includes a development strategy along with Strategic Policies for managing development and identifying the types of uses planned for different parts of the town.

It also includes Focus Area policies for different parts of the Borough where higher levels of development are anticipated and Development Policies covering design and measures required to mitigate potential impacts.

In the light of Covid-19 and in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 the consultation materials will not be displayed at Council offices or libraries in the interests of public safety. 

 

For those who would like to get involved but are unable to access the internet there is a dedicated voicemail.  If you or someone you know needs help viewing or commenting on the Local Plan, please leave a message on 01424 451102 and we will get back to you.

All comments must be received by 24 March 2021. 

From Hastings Online Times - Hastings’ Town Deal investment plan

 

Town Deal investment plan shielded from the public

Hastings’ Town Deal investment plan – which could net the town £25m – has to be submitted by the end of January.  In the face of scant communication with the public, however, concerns have emerged about how the process has been managed, if the guidelines have been adhered to and whether the deal will prove, as intended, beneficial to the whole borough.

https://hastingsonlinetimes.co.uk/hot-topics/local-economy/town-deal-investment-plan-shielded-from-the-public

Make your voice heard - HBC Local Plan

The new Local Plan will cover the period up to 2039 and will set out a vision for the borough and a plan for the development of the town.

We would like to get your early feedback on priority areas for the new plan and have developed a short questionnaire so you can submit your views.

If you wish to complete the questionnaire please do so by 10^th September 2020.  

 

We have also launched a new webpage and there will be more opportunities to comment on our draft plan in the Autumn. 

Dee-Day's Book! Profits to Lillian & Cyril Bishop Trust

Copies may be ordered from Hastings History House21 Courthouse StreetHastings, TN34 3AU
01424 424744or email

£10.00

Old Town Carnival Week - mostly Virtual

For more information see:

https://www.ohps.org.uk/event/hastings-old-town-carnival-week/?instance_id=465

https://www.oldtowncarnivalweek.co.uk/events/list

Following OCTW OHPS hopes to open the History House, Thurddays to Saturdays, 11 - 4.

Covid 19 restrictions are in place.

History House Opening for OCTW

From 1st August to 9th August the doors will be open from 11am to 4pm everyday as it will be Old Town Carnival Week. There will be an exhibition from the Hastings Local History group ‘Artists in Hastings’ and Bygone of Hastings Carnivals.

Heart of Hastings awarded funds to develop Trinity Triangle

Heart of Hastings has been awarded two million pounds of government funding to revitalise the Trinity Triangle area over the next four years.

The project will be delivered through Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone programme and will transform underused historic buildings into houses, workspaces and shops that are genuinely affordable for residents and businesses. 

Cultural projects and other activities will mean the streets are attractive for locals and everyone who uses and visits them.

The funding is much needed as a response to the ongoing challenges faced by town centres, and now ever more welcome as a result of the sudden crisis of Covid19.

Heart of Hastings will be working in partnership with local organisations and of course, with the people of Hastings, to make this a reality.  

Heart of Hastings are committed to community-led regeneration. They will be informed by your voices, and the voices of the residents and users of the Trinity Triangle area.

Carnival

OHPS is working on an exhibition about Carnival history.  Currently we have a dearth of photos for the 1960's to 1990's, but other photos are also welcome.

If you can help please email photos to this address, before 21st July.  Many thanks.

Alexandra Park Victorian Greenhouse

The greenhouse is now open on Wednesdays and Saturdays

from 11am to 1pm.

New plants arriving all the time.

A Gentle Reminder

 If everyone spent £10 a week locally that they might otherwise have spent online with a national supplier we would lock about £20million into the Hastings economy each year.

Country Park News!

After 16 months of hard work we have won the battle to keep the Country Park free of industrial scale solar arrays. Cllr. Colin Fitzgerald, Chair of The Country Park Management Forum and Deputy Leader of Hastings Borough Council, phoned me on Tuesday to tell me the Council’s decision. Here is the link to the Council’s press release:

https://www.hastings.gov.uk/press_media/news/pr-20200511/

The decision was apparently based upon both a financial reappraisal and the response received from Natural England to the request for advice.

Good Intentions!

Closure of our libraries: a statement from East Sussex County Council

This means thatf Saturday 21 March) was the final day when customers were be able to visit our libraries and borrow books or other physical items.

All current and new library loans will be extended until at least 30 June so no one has to worry about overdue library books or other items. We have scrapped fines for any items that were due to be returned after 9 March 2020.

Our online library of course will operate as normal and we have increased the number of items available online. Our eLibrary includes not just books but also audiobooks, magazines and reference material.

In case you aren't aware.

You probably know that the History House and Fishermen's Museum are closed until further notice.   Email requests will be responded to.
And here is some helpful information from the Library.

Coronavirus - what we’re doing to help

We want to help East Sussex residents as much as we can over this difficult time, taking into account the health and wellbeing of customers and staff.

We know how greatly library services and our staff are valued by local communities and wanted to let you know about some additional measures we’re taking to support residents and staff:

• We’ve extended all current and new library loans until at least 30 June so you don’t have to worry about overdue library books or other items such as DVDs.
• Until further notice we’re scrapping fines for any items that were due to be returned after 9 March 2020.
• We’re suspending reservation fees until further notice.
• To help people stock up on their reading matter, we’re increasing the number of books both adults and children can borrow to 30.
• We’re buying even more eBooks. Our online offer is amazing and we provide a great range of eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines, as well as access to our online reference library – it’s all available in our eLibrary
• Regrettably, as a precautionary measure we’ve decided to cancel all events in libraries such as rhymetimes, storytimes and code clubs for the foreseeable future. This is because our events involve a larger number of people being in closer contact for a longer period of time than other activities in our libraries.
• In the coming days we’ll be increasing the space between our public computers. This will mean that there will be fewer computers available for you to use, but it enables us to maintain a safer distance between customers and keep you all safer

Please help us to keep you and our staff safe by maintaining a sensible distance from other customers and staff when visiting libraries and by keeping interactions to a minimum.   Please remember to regularly wash your hands or use a hand sanitiser.

We’re continuing to ensure that surfaces, door handles, keyboards and other equipment are regularly wiped down.

As a further precautionary measure we would like to ask all of our customers to only use our libraries during the first hour of opening each day if they are:

• aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)

• under 70 with a disability, or an underlying health condition (i.e. anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds), as detailed in the government’s guidance

Do not visit the library if you have any of the symptoms, however mild, of coronavirus or if you live with someone who does.  You should stay at home in line with NHS guidance.

We will continue to keep the situation under review, taking into account the latest information and we will keep you updated of any further changes to your libraries.

If you have any queries or need any further information, please contact us at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/libraries/form-library-enquiries/.