Since he started writing for Hastings In Focus back in 2019 Tom McCann has never been afraid to court controversy. As a young man trying to make his way in the world and facing an ever more ‘hostile’ local housing market he wonders if Hastings Borough Councillors have their priorities the right way round? With […]
Just what is going on at the old bathing pool site in West St Leonards? It’s two and a half years since Hastings Borough Council said it was on the verge of signing a deal with a developer who was all set to build houses there and it’s getting on for six months since a […]
Over the last couple of weeks we’ve been looking at the state of planning in Hastings Borough. In this third and final special report we look at two current controversial proposals for West St Leonards where public opinion is wildly at odds with the views of the council. Plans for 192 houses on the Bulverhythe […]
In the most challenging of circumstances the number of rough sleepers in Hastings has been slashed with fewer than ten people sleeping rough around the town on any single night. There are an additional 40 or so former rough sleepers in emergency accommodation as plans are developed for how to move them on in to […]
There is a fear the plans to build 192 new homes at Bulverhythe is already a ‘done deal’. On Wednesday Bexhill Road became a sea of yellow and red signs and posters opposing Hasting Borough Council’s (HBC) plans to build houses on the recreation ground – plans that were only submitted for approval three weeks […]
“There is a councillor on the board of directors, always has been right from the start.” Councillor Andy Batsford was categorical at Wednesday night’s meeting of the full borough council that there was an elected member on the board of the Hastings Housing Company. When it later transpired that according to Companies House there are […]
Restoration of York Buildings in Wellington Place was never about making money it was about regeneration of the town and bringing a long abandoned building back in to use. That’s what Councillor Peter Chowney told his colleagues on Hastings Borough Council’s (HBC) cabinet last night as they unanimously voted through a plan to increase the […]
Residents in St Helens ward will be able to take their issues directly to their councillors in a unique ‘virtual surgery’ being staged towards the end of the month. As Covid-19 restrictions continue to hamper face-to-face meeting St Helens’ councillors Antonia Berelson and Andy Batsford are launching the first Hastings virtual ward surgery to ensure […]
I woke up around 3.30am last Saturday feeling the cold wind and light rain on my head – I was momentarily confused and wondering what the hell was going on writes Andy Batsford. Then I remembered I was sleeping in a cardboard box on Hastings seafront – as you do in September! I was taking […]
