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Tressell Blog
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October 2009:
29th October: A meeting of the Ore Valley Planning Special Interest Group this evening. Had a short visit with the architects to the site for the new £800,000 adventure playground, and looked at the plans. Interesting, although some local concerns about possible vandalism and damage. However, these schemes have worked well in London, in areas with more serious social problems than the Ore Valley. My concerns are still around the fence - I was hoping for a more open, natural play area, rather than a fenced area that's only available when play workers are there. The problem will be finding the funding to keep it open more than a couple of hours a week. Peter Chowney
27th October: A meeting of the Coastal Users Group, which I attended as I chaired the seafront Strategy review. Mostly positive, although I disagreed with the Tories about Hastings Pier - the Labour Group are of the view that the Council should CPO the pier now, and pass it immediately to Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust. Tories argue that the PWRT aren't ready for that yet. But PWRT think they are - and whatever they can achieve, it can't be any worse than an offshore company who we know will never do anything to the pier, and who cannot be traced or held accountable. The Council is dragging its feet over this, and it's a pity - time is running out for the pier, we need action now! Peter Chowney
21st October: Full Council meeting in the evening. A relatively short agenda, although I managed to speak on several things - mainly because they related to my shadow portfolio, leisure and housing. I asked Peter Finch (portfolio holder for Leisure) what meetings he'd had with the new contractor for the White Rock Theatre and what influence he'd had over the programming. It turns out he hasn't had any meetings with them, so this threw him a bit - he just went on about how he'd like to see the return of the Black and White Minstrels ... sad really, but no more than I expected! Peter Chowney
17th October: A bit of clearance work in the Upper Ore Valley, with the Ore Community Land Trust. About a dozen people turned up, to tackle some of the vandalism that had taken place during the summer (blocked paths, cut-down trees and dumped rubbish). Didn't take long, and we should be able to get on top of it again now. Peter Chowney
14th October: East Hastings Area Management Board this evening. Well attended, with community representatives all giving their reports. On one level, this is a good opportunity to get so many different representatives from different organisations and community groups together, to discuss important issues. On the other, it does mean that nothing is ever discussed in much detail, and so is never really dealt with. These boards have potential, but it's yet to be realised. Peter Chowney
13th October: East Hastings Community Safety Special Interest Group today, with local councillors and community representatives. Problems in Tressell range from drug dealing to dog fouling. Broomgrove Road seems to be particularly bad for dog fouling at the moment - possibly because people don't realise anti-dog fouling laws can be enforced there. But they can - we'll get notices put up. Peter Chowney
8th October Jay and I had a meeting with PC Golding this afternoon, the PC with responsibility for Tressell Ward. There are problems with anti-social teenagers in Bembrook Road, but PC Golding is having difficulties getting anyone to give evidence. Without that, there isn't much he can do. All it needs is for people to come forward with incidents, times, dates, and action can be taken, which could result in the families being evicted. if you have any such evidence, let us (or PC Golding) know. Peter Chowney
5th October: Went to the first meeting of the Worklessness Policy Review group today. Timely, with the recession now affecting jobs in Hastings. We had some interesting discussions about how 'worklessness' and unemployment is defined and measured, and more will follow. How effective any of it can be in making it any easier for people to find work remains to be seen - how much can councils achieve on this? Peter Chowney
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