News in Brief
Homes for Hastings
Hastings Council leader Glenn Haffenden has welcomed new affordable houses coming on stream with the first residents moving into new homes at Orbit’s Levett View development in Harrow Lane, St Leonards.
The council says that in June alone, 24 affordable rented homes were tenanted. A total of 140 homes will be delivered at Levett View, with 86 of these for affordable rent or social rent. These homes are capped at Local Housing Allowance rates – the amount likely to be paid in housing benefit. The remaining homes are available for purchase through Shared Ownership to help local people take their first step onto the property ladder. Cllr Haffenden said “The mix of affordable housing will help meet local housing needs and give more people the opportunity to access a safe, secure and affordable home. I welcome Orbit’s continued investment in the town and the positive impact this development will have for local residents.” However, according to the council’s own Housing Strategy report from January this year, Hastings faces “acute housing challenges, including relatively high levels of deprivation, low household incomes, and a shortage of truly affordable homes.”
George Street Action
The long delayed work to improve the derelict appearance of 39-41 George Street in The Old Town following an extensive fire in January 2023 has continued after discussions between council officers and the private developers and contractors. The council says this has included cutting back vegetation, stabilising the side fencing and covering the exposed side walls, which is due to be completed by next Tuesday. There has also been a “site-wide general tidy up”.
New gates and information boards have been ordered, and will be installed “when they have been delivered”. Council officers say they will continue to monitor progress closely and remain in direct contact with the contractor. The aim is to secure visible improvements as quickly as possible while the legal agreement linked to the wider redevelopment is completed. Local residents and traders have previously criticised ‘inordinate’ delays over action to improve the appearance of the highly visible site at the end of an important and busy pedestrian and tourist street. At the close of last year the council promised swift action which has taken more than half a year to materialise.
Custody Visits Praised
The Sussex Police Commission headed by Katy Bourne has been “recognised nationally for the outstanding quality of its work” for its independent custody visiting scheme (ICV). Under the Scheme, trained volunteers from local communities make regular, unannounced visits to police custody suites across Sussex to check on the welfare and dignity of detainees. Their findings are reported to Commissioner Katy Bourne who, the Commission says, uses this “independent scrutiny information to hold Sussex Police to account and help ensure that those detained are treated fairly and respectfully by custody officers and staff.”
A number of protesters arrested in the Hastings area have previously complained to HIP about long delays and unnecessary bureaucracy over their detention, as well as “heavy handed” actions by police in arresting them in the first place.
Progress on Castle Visitor Centre
Planning permission has been granted for a landmark new visitor centre at the West Hill Café site, which, according to the council, marks a significant milestone in the delivery of the Government-funded Hastings Town Deal project.
Approved by Hastings Borough Council’s Planning Committee on 8 July, the proposals will see the existing West Hill Café replaced with a modern visitor centre, café and restaurant. The development will improve the visitor experience while supporting the long-term conservation and sustainable future of one of Hastings’ most important historic landmarks. The new visitor centre will become a key part of the experience of visiting the West Hill, Hastings Castle and the West Hill Lift.
According to deputy council leader Julia Hilton: “It will help safeguard one of our most important heritage assets and put it back at the heart of our history as a town as well as attracting more visitors to enjoy everything Hastings has to offer.”
Knife Crime Reduction
The number of knife-enabled crimes committed in Sussex dropped by 15 per cent last year and almost £3million of funding was secured to tackle the issue, according to a report to Sussex’s Police and Crime Panel. Sussex Crime Commission Chief executive Mark Streater acknowledged that a lot of offences are underreported, but he said the Violent Reduction Partnership Board has dedicated analysts and looks at things like the National Crime Survey to get a clearer picture of the issue and that the partnership board worked closely with the NHS to capture incidents where possible victims or offenders have attended hospital with injuries. Concerns were raised by the Panel that knife-enabled crime statistics did not include online knife crime where weapons are brandished to intimidate and cause fear, and they remained concerned about the bigger picture of knife related crime.
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