Parking, again
Hastings Council has lost control of parking, which has reverted to East Sussex County Council, probably as a revenue grabbing scheme.
We are writing to Councillor Birch of Hastings Council to seek information about whether previous assurances will be honoured, such as no change being made for the time being to the structure or pricing of the parking in St Leonards.
Look what happened in Lewes.
Kings Road
The roadworks are done, (pretty speedily) and some trees have been planted on the east side to deter parking on the pavements. The trees are cherry, with white flowers in spring and summer.
Kings Road: Roadworks
From the council/council contractors
Dear Resident / Trader
A maintenance inspection of the Kings Road Regeneration scheme has identified that remedial works need to be carried out in London Road, adjacent to its junction with Kings Road and in Kings Road itself.
The work includes relaying the granite setts on the ramps in London Road which have started to fall out and minor remedial works to kerbing in Kings Road. In addition 6 trees are to be installed on the eastern side of Kings Road between Laser Lane and No 28 Kings Road. Initially the pits to install the trees are to be constructed with the installation of the trees being carried out at a later date.
In order to carry out the repairs to the granite setts in London Road safely it will be necessary to use 2-way temporary traffic signals to control the movement of vehicles. The temporary lights will be manually controlled during peak hours to minimise traffic congestion. The work is programmed to be completed in 2 weeks, weather permitting. In addition to the temporary traffic signals the pedestrian crossing and the bus stop near the junction with Kings Road will be closed. An alternative bus stop exists on London Road close to its junction with Silchester Road.
The works in Kings Road require pedestrian barrier to guard the works in localised areas and the entrance to shops and deliveries will not be affected. Construction is expected to be completed in 3 weeks, weather permitting.
If you have any issues regarding access or require further information about the scheme, please contact David Bowgen on 07712032603 or email david.bowgen@mouchel.com.
(Thanks to Councillor Jeremy Birch for passing on this info to SBA)
SBA Meeting: Tue 21st, All welcome.
The SBA committee is having a meeting at the Norman Arms on Tuesday 21st, 6:30 pm to discuss all ongoing business concerns, but especially:
The proposed change in who is in charge of parking, Hastings or Sussex?
Christmas celebrations and attractions.
Parking
Under an established agreement Parking has been under local control for some years. The East Sussex council are considering taking it over, which we feel is a bad idea. Local conditions are known locally, and we need a local response.
There is more info in this document, (downloadable).
Kings Road Bollards
The plan to plant trees in Kings Road to stop pavement parking might have hit a hiccup: the old services might be at too shallow a depth for this to be possible.
It might be that the alternative of using Artist designed bollards will go ahead.
More info as soon as it happens….
Norman Road, western end.
Well, it has now happened: the parking has been restored to two hours in the bit of Norman Road west of London Road.
This is going to help the trade of the antiques people, the cafes, hair salon, and of course the new market.
We can chalk this up to the SBA letting the council know the feelings of members, and, to be fair, the council’s willingness to listen to the SBA and act.
Councillors’ report from Jeremy Birch
The monthly report from HBC.
• St Leonards Festival – Yet again an outstanding success. Thanks to the Gensing and Central St Leonards Forum and especially their officers for the huge effort they put in.
• Cleaning up St Leonards – We have repeated the seafront ‘grotbuster’ walk first done in 2000.
We noted down every building needing repair or redecoration and owners will now receive a letter encouraging them to take action. Failing to respond could result in enforcement action. If you own a building in our town you have a social responsibility for its upkeep.
When we did the first seafront walk we noted the derelict hulks of the Queen’s Hotel, Regent Court and the Marlborough, plus other smaller eyesores too. All those have been dealt with and the seafront looks much better. But with the salt air, buildings in this prominent location need regular maintenance and improvement. A high profile walk sets the tone and reminds everyone what we expect. The ‘grotbusters’ are on the case.
Cllr Birch had a meeting with our local police commander Chief Inspector Mark Ling to agree a get tough approach to street drinking and begging. 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. A dispersal area has been declared on the promenade enabling the police to move drinkers on and this is being enforced. Twenty two of the thirty four anti-social behaviour orders in the town have been issued to street drinkers.
At the meeting we agreed to step up the joint enforcement activity between the police, the council and other agencies. We want a harder line to be taken by off-licenses with habitual drinkers. Just like the Bar Watch scheme, which agrees that named individuals will not be served in town centre pubs, so off-licenses will be pressed not to serve the well-known street drinkers? Habitual Drink Orders will be considered which make it an offence to sell alcohol to a named habitual drinker. In September we are going out with police to see first hand how they are dealing with street drinkers.
There are now more detox opportunities and improved funding for those organisations working with drinkers and we want to encourage street drinkers to take up these opportunities.
During August the council we will be launching a crack-down against dog fouling with some pretty hard-hitting posters and leaflets. Keep your eyes open – otherwise you might tread in something.
• 17 Pevensey Road – in this long-term unsightly property all the flats now have active leaseholders that to want to improve the building and this does seem to be reflected in the improved appearance of the property. All the flats with the exception of the side flat are now back in use. The council recently met with the leaseholders’ representatives and has been assured that they are working towards setting up a company to take over the freehold of the building. The council has also been in communication with the Crown’s representatives and secured their willingness to sell the freehold at a reasonable rate.
• Planning – The empty, semi-derelict shop at the junction of Shepherd Street and Gensing Road – 22/22A Shepherd Street – now has permission to be turned into residential use. Hopefully this will be implemented reasonably quickly and the appearance of the building improved.
• Highways – In early September the entrance to Undercliff by St Leonards Parish Church will be closed and there will be temporary traffic lights on Marina. This all to allow for the resurfacing of Marina (the seafront road). Around the same time similar road closures will be carried out to the entrances to Warrior Square from the seafront (although it will be phased so that only one is closed at any time). This again is to allow for resurfacing works on the seafront road at Grand Parade and Warrior Square.
• Councillors’ surgery – We are holding an advice surgery on Saturday 7th August 10.30-12.00 at St Leonards Parish Church on Marina. Do come along if you wish to see us.
Cllr Jeremy Birch – 425585
Cllr Trevor Webb – 451693
SBA Committee meeting
Committee meeting held at the Norman Arms Thursday, 10th June 2010. A few points arising from the meeting :
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 17th 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.
Monthly Councillor’s Report
Street Drinking
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.
Parking to be taken over by County Council?
Jeremy Birch, Hastings Council Leader has emailed asking for support in an effort to stop Sussex County Council taking over local on street parking.
“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 .
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