Hastings Borough Council’s community safety team and waste services have made some changes at a burglary and environmental crime hot spot in Ore.

Colin Fitzgerald, lead councillor for the environment said: “There is a long alley behind properties in Grove Road and Winchelsea Road. This alley has been much complained about by residents who felt unsafe, and there were other problems which were regularly reported to local councillors. Waste services have spent over £10,000 to repeatedly clear up the alley.

“The alley is privately owned so it is not a direct council responsibility but is a wider community safety one. Now, two new gates have been installed to help reduce the risk of burglary and to deter fly-tippers. Keys have been given to all properties adjacent to the alley.”

The Community payback team cleared the alley of rubbish with several skip loads of fly-tipped rubbish being removed from the site. Ore councillor Andrew Battley was also directly involved in the organisation and management of the initiative.

This new approach is being trialled, and if successful, will be used elsewhere in the town.

HBC has also completed the mandatory improvement works it was required to carry out at Shornden Reservoir in Alexandra Park.

Colin Fitzgerald, lead councillor for the environment said this week: “The bare soil at the site has been grass seeded to help stabilise the dam bank. To allow this to become established, the area will be fenced off, possibly until spring 2019.”

The contractors are still in the area, continuing work at Harmers Reservoir. This work is in its final phase and should be completed late next week.