Transition Town Hastings news

Transition Town Hastings currently have a membership of 275 people and a host of ideas and initiatives including the community garden at Warrior Square Station, recycling, takeaway food packaging, food waste, sewage, water, keeping the town clean, strengthening the local economy, energy and dependence on fossil fuels. Here’s their latest news.

Sustainable Transport Forum

TOMORROW NIGHT! Thur 9 Feb, 7pm, Hastings Voluntary Action (HVA), Jackson Hall, Portland Place, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 1QN.
Confirm attendance by emailing steve@hvauk.org or calling 01424-444010. More information at Sustainable Transport Forum.

HBC Draft Corporate Plan

Comments can be submitted until 10 February! TTH urge you to submit comments to ask the council to embed a commitment to a low-carbon local economy in Hastings. Click HBC Draft Corporate Plan.

Green Drinks

Weds 15 February, 7.30–9.30pm, Palace Pub, 37 White Rock, Hastings TN34 1JL. Join TTH at the next gathering of community and environmentally minded people. Meet new people, make connections and discuss ideas or just enjoy a chat over a drink! (Paying bar at Palace Pub, for time being til we find a new home for Green Drinks).

Town Centre Greenway Walk

Sat 18 Feb, 10:30–12:30pm. Walk the proposed/promised Greenway Town Centre route with the Greenway Group. Summerfields Tunnel (off Holmesdale Gardens to Mount Pleasant Road). More information at Town Centre Greenway.

Energy Advice Clinics

Once again Energise Sussex Coast (ESC) is running free energy advice clinics. You can take your energy bills down to Hastings Town Hall on Tuesdays from 9.30 – 2.45pm and receive advice on how you can save money on your energy bills by switching provider or tariff, or how to access government or private sector schemes.

ESC run these clinics every winter as part of the Big Energy Saving Network funded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (now the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) to help tackle fuel poverty.

1066 Energy Week in Ore

14–18 February, 9:30am–3:00pm Christ Church, Old London Road, Ore TN35 5BG.
FREE help to stay warm, and save energy and money. Free soup, hot drink or cake. More information at 1066 Energy Week in Ore.

1066 Energy Cafe at the Stade Hall, Stade Hall, Hastings Old Town, Rock-A-Nore Rd on Friday 24 February, 9:30am–3pm (times tbc). Free help to stay warm, and save energy and money. Free soup, hot drink or cake. Transition Town Hastings are going to set up a SWAP SHOP for this event. More information at 1066 Energy Cafe at the Stade Hall.

 

Bridges Not Walls

Will (The Conequeror) Stevens went along to the recent Bridges Not Walls gathering in London. “Like so many millions of people across Britain and the world, I found the news that Donald Trump had won the election on 9 November 2016 utterly chilling,” he says. “The following morning I had the idea of gathering with like-minded people on bridges around Britain, to drop banners bearing messages of hope, embodying the metaphor that building bridges is always preferable to building walls (as Trump continues to propose). This seemed a fitting response.

“Each of the London bridges could have a different theme, to reflect the myriad communities who Trump’s rhetoric offends. The project would be a chance to stand in solidarity with all those in America and the rest of the world anxious about the changing political climate. The day after the election, I contacted a veteran campaigner friend who agreed we should take the idea further. Together, we began contacting relevant parties to put the infrastructure in place and begin building the movement. Appetite for such a gathering was evidently in abundance. Lots of people wanted a means of expressing their feelings about Trump and rallied to the call out. During the two months before the inauguration, Bridges Not Walls gained enough momentum that when, on 20 January, we turned out with our banners on the nine most iconic Thames Bridges (echoed by more than 250 bridges registered over five continents), the mainstream media took up the story. There was also a huge response on social media; for a time, bridgesnotwalls was trending second on twitter worldwide.”

Gardening sessions

The gardening sessions at St Leonards Station Community Garden continue with gusto, especially now that spring beckons. TTH need many hands, energy and a curiosity for discovering what’s under the growth in the wood area! Once they see what’s been uncovered, they’ll put it to use in other ways…. maybe pathways or maybe ways of capturing water? If that sounds like too much hard work for you, they now have a new set of ten litter pickers and high viz tops (donated by HBC) to clear the area of rubbish.

Next garden working session: Sun 19 Feb, 10–1pm: TTH are panning to take part in an art event in March and are looking for people to help with some creative bench making! Please email info@transitiontownhastings.org.uk if you are interested in helping out.

Permaculture courses: TTH member offer

In March and April Anna Locke is running courses on Organic Food Growing, Introduction to Permaculture and How to Plant a Forest Garden. As a member of the TTH mailing list you pay the concession price only! More information at Anna Locke Permaculture. Contact TTH re membership.

Litter picking

And on the subject of litter. Are you disappointed about the general state of the streets in Hastings & St Leonards? Like most of us do you tut, and wonder out loud what the council are going to do about it? That’s exactly how one TTH member feels, but actions speak louder than words (and tutting), so they’ve set themselves a personal challenge to try and do something about it this year – and would like to meet up with others with the same goal.

It’s been agreed with TTH that there’ll be a few trial sessions starting from Warrior Square Station, where they’ll have storage facilities. They have litter pickers, Hi Vis vests and the back up from Hastings Borough Council and now all that’s needed is some more hands.

The first session will be starting from outside of the Kings Road side of Warrior Square Station at 10am on Sunday 12 February. The session will be for a couple of hours or whatever you feel you can contribute. If you are interested in getting involved or would like to discuss further, please contact jonnyfunnell@live.co.uk or on 07802 867147 in advance, to help with planning.

Takeaway food packaging

TTH are currently in the planning stages of developing a campaign project to support and encourage local takeaway food outlets to make the transition to sustainable packaging. Too many times we walk along the seafront and see those dreaded polystyrene food containers blowing their way along the beach, or we go into the new and recommended cafe, only to be disappointed when they serve you up your takeaways in a polystyrene box.

From speaking to businesses who’ve already made the transition, it was relatively easy and was cost effective. Lets make Hastings stand out as a green flagship town! If you’d like to be involved please do get in touch via the TTH website.

The TTH team of volunteers are speaking to businesses to gather their views and find out what they are using. If you’d like to be involved, more people are needed to speak with businesses or research appropriate solutions. Email at info@transitontownhastings.org.uk

Divest East Sussex Pension Fund from Fossil Fuels

Ask East Sussex County Council to move their money: divest from companies which threaten the environment, and actively commit to investing in low-carbon assets and renewable energy. Add your signature to the petition. More information at Divest East Sussex Pension Fund from Fossil Fuels.

10 Ways To Be Unstoppable in 2017!

10:10 offer up 10 ways to tackle climate change and make a difference in 2017. From draught busting to LED lightbulbs to using our political power, it’s time to stand up and get active about this important issue. Sometimes the small changes can make us feel more hopeful about achieving the bigger ones – especially if we do it together!

Hastings and St Leonards Transition Town was set up with the intention of creating a more connected, healthier and self-sufficient community, working with local residents and organisations.

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