Review of Alcohol Licensing
Hastings Borough Council has launched a public consultation on plans to remove the High Street in the Old Town and the area surrounding Cambridge Road in the New Town from its Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) for alcohol licensing. The changes, if approved, could pave the way for more licensed premises in those areas.
The CIA policy enables the council to regulate the concentration of licensed premises, including pubs, bars, and off-licences in specific areas. Under the policy, there is a presumption against approving new alcohol licences or variations to existing ones in designated zones, unless applicants can demonstrate their proposals will not exacerbate problems such as crime or antisocial behaviour.
After reviewing evidence from Sussex Police and East Sussex Public Health, the council is proposing to remove the High Street from the Old Town CIA zone and to reduce the size of the CIA zone in Hastings town centre, particularly around Cambridge Road. The proposed changes reflect a decrease in alcohol-related crime and hospital admissions in those areas.
The consultation will encourage residents and businesses to share their views on whether lifting these restrictions will benefit the town centre or exacerbate existing issues.
In the light of the public meeting at the Stables Theatre (see above) which highlighted a rise in crime and antisocial behaviour in the Old Town, the timing of this consultation is likely to generate considerable interest.
Comments should be emailed to: [email protected] by 15 September 2025.
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