Not a lot of this gets reported and there are people doing lots of paid and unpaid work for the St Leonards community:
July 2010

Street Cleansing & Collections Operations Manager, Emmett Dunford,  brought us up to date with new initiatives regarding cleaning and refuse collection.  There is to be a crackdown on people putting bags out early for collection, and dog fouling, this will include fines and education.  He urged anyone who has a regular problem with litter or rubbish/flytipping/graffiti to contact the council. (SBA will have a list of numbers soon which will go in the sidebar.)

• A new booklet it to be distributed to each household in the area outlining collection times etc.
• They are reviewing the way rubbish is collected and trialling new types of bins and collection methods.

Street Cleansing: We asked about the regularity of pavement cleaning for staining.  The contractors have a set standard and criteria to meet with regard to all rubbish and cleaning, this is mostly self regulated, but is regularly inspected by the council.
We pointed out that it has been years in some areas since a deep clean has happened.  He said he would look into this.  (note: contractors were cleaning the pavements with water and brushes this week)

Refuse Collection: It was proposed that the council could consider refuse collection in the early evening say 6pm or 7pm, when the roads are quieter and most people would be home to put out their rubbish without having to put it out early in the mornings before they leave for work when the seagulls are searching for food.

We asked about the possibility of recycling food waste (this could reduce the amount of mess caused by seagulls ripping open bags to search for food).  This is currently being looked into by County.

Other Matters:

Fingers signs/signage should be in place by September 2010, as will the trees that are to be planted in Kings Road to prevent people parking on the pavement.

The illustrated map of St Leonards is nearly ready to go to print.  Overlays for the map will be available to purchase by businesses etc.  e.g. holiday lets or a particular business can have their details printed on the map, and could be used for advertising, websites etc.

Terry Drinkwater has met with the council  to look at the possibilities for planting up the 2 hexagonal planters on the steps leading down to the promenade by Warrior Square.  We also raised the question on how much the ugly modern phone box that is sited next to these plants is used.

Terry Drinkwater is now looking at ways to improve the look of shops, entrance to the lower end of London Road near the sea front.

We asked if it would be possible for SBA business members to advertise (for a small annual fee) their business on the site with a photo and details.  Bill Orton was happy in principal for this to happen and said he would speak with Matthew the website co-ordinator.

Anti-social behaviour new initiatives to deal with anti social behaviour and street drinking are under review.

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.

Drunken people are deterring investors, say councillors
Police and council officials are taking a harder approach to tackling beggars and drinking on the street in Hastings.
In an attempt to protect residents and encourage visitors and businesses, they are pledging a tougher stance.
They will move on nuisance drinkers from the promenade and clamp down on off-licence staff who continue to serve habitual drinkers.
Council leader Jeremy Birch said: “Hastings really needs extra visitors and new businesses to invest here.”
Following a meeting between Mr Birch and Hastings police Chief Inspector Mark Ling, a dispersal area has been identified on the promenade.
‘Robust approach’
The police and Hastings borough council are also calling on businesses selling alcohol in the town to stop selling liquor to known street drinkers.
A council spokesman said: “Habitual Drink Orders will be considered which make it an offence to sell alcohol to a named habitual drinker.”
Ch Insp Ling added: “We will take a robust approach against persistent street drinkers who are responsible for intimidation, harassment and anti-social behaviour.
“We will also use powers available to us under the Licensing Act to ensure that access to alcohol is restricted and sold responsibly. We will continue to work with Hastings Borough Council and other support service to find new ways of working to tackle and reduce this problem.”
Councillor Birch said: “We get complaints from residents who feel intimidated by groups of drinkers and by aggressive begging. They also complain of offensive behaviour by individual drinkers.
“But we also have to look at these issues from the point of view of the prosperity of the town… The sight of large gatherings of street drinkers can deter the people we need to boost our economy and help us create jobs.
“But the message we are sending is that public drunkenness, anti-social behaviour and street begging will not be tolerated in our town. If anyone comes here thinking this behaviour is acceptable in Hastings we don’t want them.”

Norman Road. The parking period on the west side of Norman Road has reverted to 2hrs. This is a result of pressure from the SBA and traders on Norman Road. The council will listen and act, but we have to be proactive and do something. Please also note that this is another reason to stop ESCC taking control of local parking.

Cross Street. A letter was sent to Simon Hubbard following the January meeting.  A response was received in March stating that Mr Hubbard has been informed that ESCC Highways Department were intending to carry out a review of the impact of the regeneration in 6-9 months time i.e. Sept.- Dec.  This will include the impact of closing the junction at Cross Street.  The letter goes on to say that improvement to signage for the car park is in hand.  There were also other measures in hand to support regeneration, (note the letter predates the cuts to the borough’s grant from government.) Advice from Rasoul Shahilow is to keep pressing for alterations.  Members should continue to press for improvements either by letter or email to HBC and ESCC. Keep the pressure on people. Write and email HBC and ESCC.

Warrior Square. It was noted that there are problems with all day parking in Warrior Square.

Police Forum. A more visible police presence is required and there should be less tolerance with the street drinkers.  Bill advised that a new post was being created for a co-ordinator working to take action against anti-social behaviour.  The co-ordinator will need to communicate with local groups including the business community.

It was agreed that the association would want to support the co-ordinator to improve.

Contact numbers and a way of keeping track of all incidents will be on this site soon. Only if we keep a record, and let the Police know of all incidents will we effect any change.

Emma Lincoln has been meeting with Terry Drinkwater and reported that trees were being planted and that finger posts were due to be installed.   A meeting of the St Leonards Forum was to be held on 16-6 and should be attended by Jeremy Birch who was now Leader of HBC.

St Leonards Festival. The festival is to take place on 17^th July.  It was disappointing that the association had not been kept fully informed of progress and it was understood that funding had been an issue.  Carol who was the association’s representative on the committee had not been receiving communications.  It is hoped that the festival will continue to be successful.

St Leonards Leaflet. Carol produced a leaflet advertising local businesses and provided copies.  These leaflets are available in a wide area and Carol’s clients are helping to distribute them.  Leaflets are available from Carol at Solo in Silchester Road.  She is already planning an updated version for later in the year.

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.

“Please read the attachment which explains that East Sussex County Council is preparing to take control of on-street parking away from Hastings at its cabinet meeting next Monday.

If you feel concerned please write to Cllr Peter Jones, leader ESCC, County Hall, Lewes, BN7 1SF. cllr.peter.jones@eastsussex.gov.uk and also to Rupert Clubb, Director Transport & Environment, County Hall, Lewes, BN7 1SF. rupert.clubb@eastsussex.gov.uk.”

If parking had been controlled by the County Council it is unlikely they would have listened to the SBA about any of the parking issues we have raised, and it’s unlikely that any changes, (for the better) would have been made. It’s up to us: do we exert a bit of pressure and keep things local, or just let it go by?

Please email the above, this week, saying that Hastings parking should stay in the local control of HBC .

What do you want? What can we give you, and what can you give us? We would love to hear from you with ideas, criticisms, suggestions, and always, always, information which is the lifeblood of any site.

We want to involve as many as possible to give a good picture of St Leonards, and a view of how we can improve it. This means we want the good bits and the bad bits. The good bits we can tell people about, and the bad bits we can try and fix, together.

Ideas? Please email us at sba1066@gmail.com. Thanks

All change, with extra input, and more useful information about St Leonards business.

If you have any suggestions please let us know at contact@sba-online.co.uk

We rely on you for info and input, please take part.

In it is the news that Victor Homewood is stepping down as Vice Chairman. Victor has been an incredibly hardworking contributor, giving freely of his time, effort and ability. We’ll miss his enthusiasm.

Thanks from everyone Vic. Nice one. Top man.