Old Bathing Pool site ‘Protestival’ on Sunday 13 July

The recent consultation on the future development of the Old Bathing Pool site in West St Leonards was a disappointment to many. At the Hastings Borough Council (HBC) Cabinet meeting of 9 June, a large contingent were present to ask the Council to consider more fully the expressed wishes of over 3,000 Borough residents, and the interests of the Borough. (See the Q&A session at minutes 7:00 to 33:00 of the HBC meeting.) Now a ‘Protestival’ has been organised for Sunday 13 July to celebrate the site and debate its future while there’s still time. Bernard McGinley reports on a longrunning message.

The gathering on Sunday 13 July is to involve around 19 participating groups and will include lots of fun activities such as kids’ games, various workshops (including juggling and badge-making), food, music, cabaret, free energy advice, community speakers and open meetings: something for all ages.

HOT has long reported on the issue, such as here and here, and this piece notable for its comment [16] from a planning professional on the possibility of the Council exploiting its own property portfolio (despite the Council Constitution Part 9: Financial Rules, par 15):

The Council allows itself gross leeway in this which it would never tolerate from an independent private developer. The property management tail is very clearly wagging the policy dog.

Points of view

Local campaigner Lucie Mason, a founder of SOBS (Save Our Bathing-pool Site), said:

Let’s be clear: this is publicly owned coastal land — one of the last major seafront sites we have left. It belongs to all of us, and the Council is supposed to be its caretaker, not its auctioneer. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good — handed over for private profit instead of being protected for future generations. This land has huge potential to deliver a truly transformative leisure destination — something that could drive jobs, tourism, and wider regeneration, including appropriate residential development, in an area long overlooked.

The west of the Borough often feels neglected, as Council members and officers too often suppose that the Old Town is their trump card or only suit. A rebalancing of Borough would benefit both west and east, and residents and visitors. This is a major and unique opportunity to pursue that.

Ethan Oshoko from ACORN, a community union that represents renters, said:

I’m looking forward to speaking at this protest because it’s an opportunity to link up with other campaigners.  We’re in the midst of a housing crisis and yet too often we see private interests, developers and corporations have their wants prioritised over the needs of the actual people who live in the community.  What we need is community-led development of public land so that we’re protecting our environment and also providing the secure social housing we actually need — not over-priced luxury apartments that will probably end up as holiday ‘homes’ or Airbnbs.

Many feel that there is a better future for this site than luxury housing. Grace Lally of Housing Rebellion, another group supporting Protestival, said:

Developers are being given the green light for massive amounts of construction, including building on green spaces, which is much more environmentally damaging and expensive than upgrading or converting existing buildings to provide the homes we need. The Labour government accuses people of being ‘Nimbys’ and ‘Blockers’ for standing up against developers, but who is speaking up for the public interest? If the new homes aren’t really affordable then they won’t do anything to help people who are homeless. People are fed up with developers having it all their own way and promising ‘affordable’ homes they then never deliver.

The West St Leonards Neighbourhood Forum has been engaging with local residents to create a Neighbourhood Plan for Hastings Borough Council.  The Forum’s Anna Sabin pointed out the common ground:

It’s no good having a plan if no attempt is made to stick to it. HBC have said – both in their own Local Plan and Cabinet declarations – that what they want from a developer of the Old Bathing Pool site is ‘a viable and attractive proposition to transform the West Marina site into a destination point in line with the objectives of the seafront strategy, provide enhanced leisure opportunities and see much needed investment in the area.’ This is just what local residents and the whole town would like to see there too. County Gate/Generator’s recently published plans fall far short and they need to collaborate with the Forum and Council — and honour the aspirations of their lease.”

Many aspects

Many people have many opinions about the best way forward and the most important aspects of the situation. Protestival will be a chance to improve that understanding. Flooding, transparency, affordability and accountability are among the many aspects of the hot topic of the future of the West St Leonards seafront. The groups involved in Protestival represent many different concerns about developers’ plans for this site and the wider town — from the environmental impact and lack of affordable homes to infrastructure issues.

Will the Council miss a major opportunity — again? (The damage done by HBC-owned Azur continues.) Turn up on Sunday afternoon 13 July and find out more.

Also in: Campaigns

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