We are currently in the planning stages of developing a campaign to support and encourage local takeaway food outlets to make the transition to sustainable packaging.
Too many times have we walked along the seafront and seen those dreaded polystyrene food containers blowing their way along the beach, or we go into a new and recommended cafe, only to be disappointed when they serve up your takeaway in a polystyrene box.
From speaking to businesses who’ve already made the transition, it was relatively easy and cost effective. Let’s make Hastings stand out as a green flagship town!
On Nov 29, Rock House hosted an evening of short, PechaKucha style presentations. These are intended to inform, inspire and even include calls-to-action. Our very own Karen Simnett gave an excellent presentation about the work of Transition Town Hastings and what we have achieved in the last 2 years!
Please share this with anyone you think would be interested.
On November 27th, members of Transition Town Hastings, Hastings Greenway, 1066 Cycle Club, Hastings Urban Bikes and other cyclists joined forces to protest about the delay to the implementation of a cycle path in Alexandra Park. The park route was approved in January 2016, and promised by Autumn 2016, but nothing has happened yet.
“We had 4 to 84 year old people riding bikes through the Alexandra Park route on Sunday, the benefits of cycling are for everyone. ESCC and HBC need to provide safe routes, so everyone who wants to, can feel confident to ride a bike in Hastings, whether that is to work, school or the shops.”
Tim Godwin
Hastings Urban Bikes
Those attending unofficially ‘opened’ the cycle path and cycled courteously through the park following the proposed route.
This is part of a wider issue where safe cycling and walking routes throughout the town are still not being delivered.
The 2014 Hastings Walking & Cycling Strategy was intended to improve “The health and well-being of the local community” and “To develop a culture of walking and cycling”.
In nearly two years since the adoption of the strategy, no progress has been made towards implementing the routes we need. Many of these routes were proposed for the ‘Hastings Greenway’ network in 2003!
HBC & ESCC need to deliver on their promises to implement a network of good quality walking & cycling routes. Community groups like, Transition Town Hastings, see the importance of safer, healthier and more sustainable transport options.
“Sunday was the first time that I have cycled in Alexandra Park and it reinforced my view about just how valuable and needed is this Cycleway & Greenway route through the Park . It avoids very unsatisfactory busy roads with dangerous junctions and will make the journey so much safer for cyclists and allow families and less confident cyclists to enjoy a really nice off road cycle route. The local authorities need to get on with it and complete the approved route.”
The East Sussex Pension Fund – which is administered by the County Council – currently has an estimated £172m invested in fossil fuels. In April, Hastings Borough Council – a member of the Pension Fund – passed a unanimous cross-party motion, calling on East Sussex County Council to divest the East Sussex Pension Fund from fossil fuels.
Now members of the East Sussex Pension Fund can use the new web tool (available online at http://tinyurl.com/divesteastsussex) to contact the chair of the East Sussex Pension Committee, Richard Stogdon, and urge the Committee to divest the Fund from fossil fuels (oil, coal and gas).
On October 9th we celebrated our first harvest at the community garden. Self grown, free food was offered to locals passing by including squash, spinach and chickpea curry, freshly pressed apple juice, apple cake, artichoke cake and sweetcorn fritters.
We also raised over £75 which we can put towards our many expenses. Thanks to all those who came down to the station and supported us.
Hastings Supports Refugees is in the process of mounting a very rapid campaign to try to help the nearly 400 Calais children who already have legal right to be to be brought immediately to the UK. Below are the details of the campaign.
Children and unaccompanied minors in the Calais jungle are suffering appalling conditions. Many are being abused and have mental health problems. In recent months many have been injured and some killed trying to reach the UK.
The jungle is due to be demolished by 31 October. The children must be brought to safety before then.
Their suffering is needless – they have the legal right to be in the UK.
Your government has already given legal entitlement to nearly 400 young people to come to the uk, and they are therefore now our responsibility. Refusing to welcome them is criminal negligence.
We call on you, Amber Rudd, to take urgent action. Do whatever is in your power to honour the legal ruling now and enable their immediate safe passage to the UK.
The home office has the details of 400 legally entitled children and young people from the Calais camp but has processed only a small number.
They have a legal right to come here. Hastings and Rye say: let them in now.
Here are some of the fruits of our labour. Many thanks to Pea Pod Veg, Pannel Organics (Little Pannel Organic Farm between Winchelsea and Hastings) and Alexandra Park Greenhouse Project for donated produce.
Bohemia Walled Garden have produced the first edition of a Heritage Lottery Funded booklet. You can download it from their website. The final edition will be done during 2017 when the other deliverables have been completed.
They do have a few printed copies available and if you would like one of these, please email via their “Contact us” page.
We’ve recently discovered a new place on Kings Road, St Leonards. Bargain are running a community swap shop of art, goods & services at Bargain, until late September (potentially longer).
Open Saturdays 10am–5pm + by appointment
More info: www.bargainstudio.co.uk
Current offers: instagram.com/bargainstudio
Could be a way to find a new home for unwanted items/materials but you can exchange pretty much anything – services & skills included.
Happy swapping!
Last Saturday (August 6th) we planted beetroot, mint, tomatoes and more strawberries. We’ve got a number of volunteers giving up time during the week to water the plants. Let us know if you want to come along – all welcome.
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A one stop online space to join conversations, learn more about our meetings and projects.
