Details  of any other event will be posted as, when and if they arise.

Thanks, as always to GSLC for putting a lot of work into this before being stopped by …(edited by the lawyers).

From The Gensing and Central St Leonards Community Forum:

The Gensing and Central St Leonards Community Forum have been approached by the organisers of Hasting Week and have agreed to run the event detailed below.

HASTINGS WEEK STREET PARTY

WEDNESDAY 13^TH OCTOBER 12PM TO 8PM

KINGS ROAD

This event is called a street party but will be a market with entertainment.  This traditionally takes place on the High Street however the organisers have decided that this year the event should take place in St Leonards and the forum has been asked to run the event.

It’s not on the same scale as the St Leonards Festival market:

• Market using tables not market stalls

• Opportunity for traders to have a table outside their shop.

• We will bring in some market traders but not external food traders.

• Entertainment of some description but no stage

• Childrens fancy dress competition

• Best dressed window competition

There will be a charge for this to cover cost of license and overheads cost yet to be decided.  The price will be less than charged at the St Leonards Festival.

Further details still to be decided any suggestions would be most welcome.

This sounds great, and could be a good boost for Kings Road and St Leonards generally. Please help with ideas, participation and custom. More details as and when. Enquiries to The Gensing and Central St Leonards Community Forum please.

The dispersal zone is back in operation for the Summer under which street drinkers can be moved on. This is happening but of course it can lead to displacement to other parts of the area. We did argue (unfortunately unsuccessfully) that St Leonards Gardens and Norman Road should be included in the dispersal area. We have had individual meetings with senior police officers and with Action for Change – the voluntary sector body that works with those with serious alcohol problems.

Parking

The council’s Traffic Management Committee has turned down a petition of
31 names calling for parking restrictions in Kings Road to be raised from a one hour limit to two hours. Although this was agreed recently for Norman Road it was not clear that for Kings Road that this was the view of the majority of traders or the view of the St Leonards Business Association.

We have asked that signage at the station end of Kings Road indicating the way to Crystal Square car park be reviewed to see if it is adequate.
Since the reduction in prices in Crystal Square there has been a 31% increase in useage.

Congregational Church

This church at the bottom of Pevensey Road has been sold. It clearly needs some substantial refurbishment work and if the sale brings that on then it is to be welcomed. A Nigel Lewis of the has purchased the building and says he will be leasing most of the building to the Ark of Hope religious group who have previously been worshipping in Central St Leonards. They have been using the Congregational Church over the last couple of weeks.

Silchester Road

The refurbishment of Silchester Road included the planting of two trees at the Kenilworth Road end. One of them has been replaced twice as the trees have died. It appears that leaking water mains / sewer in the vicinity are causing the pit in which the tree is planted is filling with water. It has been agreed that this needs to be resolved before another tree is planted.

Highways

St Margaret’s Road is to be closed for three weeks from Falaise Road to Magdalen Road for repaving of the pavement on the south side, working on the kerbing and constructing a new manhole.

Grand Parade will be resurfaced from London Road to Warrior Square starting on 14th September.

Marina will be resurfaced from Sussex Road to Burton Road starting on 17th September.

County Council

The County Council wants to take full control of on-street parking in Hastings which we both oppose. Up to now it has been devolved to Hastings Borough Council with any surplus shared between the two councils but has to be spent in Hastings on highways or transport. Full control being taken by the County Council will mean all decisions about parking costs and times and the consideration of appeals against parking tickets will be taken by people outside of Hastings. It will also mean parking attendants in Hastings would be employed by National Car Parks.
At its meeting on 5th July the County Council cabinet agreed to do more work to on the financial impacts of this and the impacts on Hastings people and then report back later to take a final decision.

St Leonard’s festival

Don’t forget the St Leonards festival on 17th September.  Stewards are required – phone 01424 438291 if you can help.

“HBC are running 3 Christmas markets in St Leonards which the Forum is supporting.
The markets will run on Saturdays  12^th and 19^th December between 10am and 4pm.

Please Note: The December 5th market has been cancelled.

Yes you guessed it…….I am looking for volunteers to steward the 3 events!!
If you are available on any of the dates or dare I push it and say all 3, between 10am and 4pm and would like to help could you please let me know the days and times you are available.

So, if you would like to help, or have other enquiries, please contact:

Beverly Winchester
Community Engagement Worker
Gensing and Central St Leonards Community Forum
Community Information Centre
16 Silchester Road
St Leonards on Sea
TN38 0JB
Tel: 01424 438291

Meeting TBA …….

The Rumour fairy, (there is one in every town, and they are often full of…), is talking about a well known chain moving in. If you know more you can always email us….

The voices of officialdom, a bit muted for some, seem to indicate that things will be just fine. And, in the spirit of cooperation, of thinking the glass half full, we are all hoping for the best.

Here is a photo of the Kings Road on Friday afternoon, 3/7/09, showing that all is well.

The relaxed business owner of The Organic Home working in the south of France Kings Road
Details of the festival are on the St Leonards Festival website, www.stleonardsfestival.co.uk. If you haven’t booked a stand please, please hurry as time is short.
It’s going to be a good one!

The new parking regulations, mostly affecting the Norman Road area whilst Kings Road is worked on, is getting a mixed response. The traders at the Warrior Square end like the 1 hour limit as it means there is always parking available for customers. Up the hill, the traders, especially the antique traders feel 1 hour is too short a time for browsing properly.

Please let us know your feelings on this, both now and as the scheme settles in, so that we can submit detailed responses to the 6 monthly review.

Feelings still run high about Kings Road. The work seems ahead of schedule but the actual handover date, (from contractor to local authority), seems confused. SBA is in talks with the council on aspects of this, again, if you feel you need a voice, let us know.

Hopefully all members got the email about Parking Wardens being in St Leonards this week, and hopefully you all avoided getting a ticket.

One…ahem, cough..active SBA member, who did know about the wardens, did get a ticket..

RATES, Small Business Rate Relief.

If your Ratable Value is below £15,000 a year, and if you have an unoccupied premises you may qualify for exemption. As a small business you may qualify for the Small Business Tare Relief scheme too.

Details from the council on:
01323 530000

or at:

Revenues & Benefits Service
Lower Ground Floor
Aquila House
Breeds Place
Hastings
TN34 3UY

(thanks Clive Gross)

Kings Road

Work continues apace. The phrase “cautious optimism” was heard when talking about the scheme, although takings are down.

“Day 3 of the works and my takings have taken a caning”

link

Comments from the front line welcome.

and can plan accordingly, and rest easy.

That 13 weeks,  BTW, ends on 26/6/2009.