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  • Summerfield Leisure Centre, where HBC still has hopes of creating a sports, health and cultural hub. It recently secured a £98,475 grant from Sports England to keep the swimming pool operating.

    Cultural pot offers HBC chance of further Levelling Up money

    The way may still be open for Hastings Borough Council to secure Levelling Up monies for its plan to develop a sports, health and cultural campus in Summerfield despite its failure to win a grant in the third round of awards from the Levelling Up Fund. Text by Nick Terdre, research by Russell Hall.
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    Mark Walter discusses More Mono Than Chrome

    Mark Walter, artist and arts writer, talks about his latest exhibition, More Mono than Chrome, at the Priory Meadow Gallery under the auspices of the Hastings Art School to Jude Montague.

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    Christmas Tree Festival at St Clements this weekend

    A WINTER Wonderland will be the theme of this year’s Christmas Tree Festival at St Clement’s Church in Hastings Old Town, and in mid December there will be a classical concert at All Saints. Text by Lynda Foy, photos by Colin Foy.

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    Ulucan and Roberts at Kino-Teatr

    Elegance, modernism and romance were the abiding features which most struck Victoria Kingham when she attended a coffee concert given by violinist Aysen Ulucan and pianist Kenneth Roberts at Kin0-Teatr this week.

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    Empty homes action

    Campaigners put up posters and erected tents outside Clifton Court in Holmesdale Gardens, which is owned by the Orbit housing association, to highlight the criminal waste of leaving over 50 flats boarded up and empty, while people are sleeping on the streets. Erica Smith applauds a campaign which draws attention to the dire housing situation in Hastings.

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    Don’t miss Hastings Sinfonia’s family Christmas spectacular!

    Much-loved local orchestra Hastings Sinfonia joins international soloists, captivating dancers, and the talented choirs of St. Richards Catholic College and Battle Abbey School Choir to bring you a Family Christmas Spectacular. With 160 musicians, dancers and singers taking part, Alexander Hudson details the delights in store at the De La Warr Pavilion on Sunday 3 December.

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    HBC deprived of last chance to win Levelling Up Fund grant

    Hastings Borough Council has missed out on its last chance to win a grant from the £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund after the government decided to bypass a bidding round. However HBC has recently come in for £40m of government money to improve local living conditions from other funds. Text by Nick Terdre, research and graphics by Russell Hall.

    1 comment

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    Creativity from hospital artefacts with artist Sarah Milne

    In/Visible Stitches by artist Sarah Milne is a new exhibition of textile art exploring an individual’s emotional presence visible on institutional fabrics, in this case, hospital fabrics. The artist speaks about her developing practice to Jude Montague.

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    Ruby in the Crown House

    The inspiring music of Ruby Colley and her quartet, can be heard on 1 December, at the Crown House, Marina, St Leonards. Laurie Temple interviews one of Hastings most exciting musicians in advance of her performance at this intimate venue.

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    Marcio da Silva and the Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir performance of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis

    Marcio da Silva and the Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir perform Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis

    Trevor Jones reviews Marcio da Silva, (conductor and director) and the Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra and Choirs’ performance of  Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, Mass in D major, Op. 123 at St John’s Church, St Leonards on November 11. 

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    Taking the pulse of the Active Travel movement

    Are we making progress towards a world more oriented towards Active Travel choices and away from the private car? Anna Sabin took herself off (by train) to the Sustainable Transport and Active Travel Summit in Eastbourne to find out.

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    HBC’s affordable housing target in question

    Although several of Hastings Borough Council’s key housing projects have for one reason or another been knocked off course, it still maintains that it is on track to meet its target of delivering 500 affordable homes by 2027. The claim is questionable, although a boost is certainly needed, as the supply of affordable homes has slumped in recent years. Text by Nick Terdre, research and graphics by Russell Hall.

    8 comments

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    County Council wasted over £30k on ‘absurd’ security

    A Freedom of Information Act request has revealed that over the last 10 months, East Sussex County Council (ESCC) has hired scores of guards to “protect” County Hall from emails, petition hand-ins and a tiny vigil of peaceful fasters.

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    Ask a straight question, get fobbed off: Hastings Borough Council evades accountability again

    Hastings Borough Council (HBC) has a persistent habit of obstructing local democracy. Through 2023 there were questions to Full Council, but some never got answered. (HBC cabinet of 2 October had more of the same.) Bernard McGinley reports – with necessary detail – on an authoritarian problem that’s causing continuing misery. The next Full Council is on Wednesday 22 November.

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    First parliamentary inquiry into young carers reveals devastating impact on life opportunities

    The first ever parliamentary inquiry into young and young adult carers has revealed a lack of support is having a huge impact on their education, wellbeing and future prospects. Cally Emerson reports.

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    Thousands of carers locally could be missing out on key rights and support

    Care for the Carers, the East Sussex carers centre, is encouraging all carers to understand their rights, as part of the national Carers Rights Day, this Thursday 23 November 2023. Cally Emerson writes.

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