Retail Reopening
Council Given Fund To Maintain Social Distancing Shops selling clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books and electronics; plus tailors, auction houses, photography studios and indoor markets will all be permitted to reopen on 15th June, subject to completing a prior ‘risk…
Covid Conundrum
Why hasn’t Hastings gone viral? As of last Wednesday 13th May, according to Public Health England (PHE), 45 people resident in the borough of Hastings had tested positive for coronavirus since the beginning of March. That’s per 100,000 population, the…
War Of Words As Channel Crossings Continue
Another cross-Channel boat containing 25 “displaced persons” was brought into shore at Pett Level on Saturday, as the easing of rough sea conditions over the past week gave a fresh opportunity for small dinghies to make the crossing from France.…
FOOTBALL: Hastings United Submit New Stadium Plans
The board of Hastings United has submitted formal plans to the borough council’s planning department for its proposed new stadium at Tilekiln. The 12-acre site off Queensway, the freehold of which belongs to the council, currently accommodates a trio of…
HIP Commentary: Fair Question, Raab-ish Response
Mr Raab’s description of the coronavirus as “significantly affecting the tourism industry” is platitudinous blather. It is obvious that for as long as the government maintains a strategy of forcibly applying social distancing regulation to all segments of society– young…
Bring Back Sport – But For Whom?
France is preparing to ease its lockdown from next week, re-opening some schools, public transport and public libraries. Social gatherings up to a maximum of 10 people will be allowed, and small shops can trade again. Social distancing in the…
Council Deficit “Unsustainable”
Cllr Chowney Warns Of “Massive Impact” on Services Hastings Borough Council (HBC) has calculated that its additional costs of dealing with the coronavirus outbreak coupled with losses of income receipts from the collapse of the local economy will result in a…
Making the Grade
On 18th March, the Secretary of State for Education announced that this summer’s GCSE, AS and A level exam series were summarily cancelled in order to combat the spread of Covid-19. Students due to sit the exams will instead be…
All In This Together
Last Friday the Government launched a mass ad campaign under the slogan “All In, All Together”. Every national and daily regional newspaper carried a wrap-around cover with the message: “Stay at home for the NHS, your family, your neighbours, your…
Climate Emergency: Ambitious Target, ‘Paused’ Programme
The last cabinet meeting of Hastings Borough Council (HBC) took place just a few hours before PM Boris Johnson pronounced the full lockdown on 23rd March. No precise explanation of how it was conducted has been released. But the minutes…