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…
Potholes, What Holes?
On 18th May East Sussex County Council issued a press release declaring that East Sussex Highways (ESH), the agency responsible for upkeep of the county’s roads “have been pulling out all the stops to keep the county’s roads in tip-top…
Snakes In The Country Park
By Richard Price Two grass snakes were recently killed in Hastings Country Park, the first on 7th April, the second on 19th May. The heads of the snakes had been stamped on. In the UK there are three native snake…
Decisions, decisions
On 18th March Hastings Borough Council, meeting in full session, agreed urgent new rules to allow its recently appointed (and wholly unelected) Managing Director, Jane Hartnell to make “emergency” and “urgent” decisions when councillors were unable to meet. • Emergencies…
Five Tests and “The Science”
The government has set out five tests that must continue to be met each time restrictions are eased. 1 Ensuring the NHS has adequate capacity;2 A ‘sustained and consistent’ fall in the daily death rate;3 Rate of infection (the R…
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.…
Last Orders
By Emma Harwood At this time of year pubs, venues, cafés and restaurants should all be enjoying the boost in trade brought by warmer weather and the Easter and May bank holiday weekends, while looking forward to a season of…
Lockdown Delinquents
Local residents around Linley Drive, Hastings, report that gangs of children aged between 9 and 17, the majority of whom are believed to be those of Optivo tenants in the area, have been congregating regularly at the playground at the…
Working Through The Lockdown
Six local residents tell their stories BuilderSimon Cooper As a long-standing building and landscape contractor in Hastings, my business has not suffered during the lockdown – indeed I have to admit that I’ve enjoyed some benefits as well as inconveniences.…