Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust – HPWRT |

19th March 2010 Michael Foster MP Shows Support to the Pier Trust

By HPWRT | Published: May 19, 2010

In a letter published in the Hastings Observer on 19th March 2010, the MP says “As far as the Government is concerned I have spoken to John Denham, the Secretary of State for Communities, who is keen to offer support for regeneration of seaside towns (for example the money towards the Jerwood Project). I believe he is shortly visiting Hastings and I hope that it will be possible therefore to convince him that cash towards the regeneration of the pier has a wider regeneration value.

Of course, you will also know that to do anything we need to Compulsorily Purchase the pier and only the council can do that. Thanks to pressure from colleagues such as Cllr Jeremy Birch the Council have now, albeit belatedly, agreed to CPO the structure if a viable business plan can be provided.

Because of the fantastic work doggedly pursued by the Trust and this Government support we are now in a stronger position to see a solution than for some time past. Please therefore continue to support the Trust in their endeavours over the coming weeks and months. This is one I think we can win.”

The full letter can be viewed on the Hastings Observer site.

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8th March 2010 Trust Secures £75K CommunityBuilders Grant

By HPWRT | Published: May 19, 2010

The Trust secures a £75k CommunityBuilders grant to complete the business plan.

We have great news! We have been successful in obtaining the £75k CommunityBuilders grant which will permit us to obtain the professional advice we need around the engineering and architectural requirements and costs. It will also look into the community/tourism benefits of Hastings owning the Pier and renovating it as planned. The CommunityBuilders fund particularly concentrates on the positive benefits for the local community of the proposed plan.

There is a larger scale development fund which we will be applying for once the business plan is complete which is a low interest loan, so the feasibility will also assess whether there is an ability to sustain adequate income to repay this loan.

We have already met with the architect in order to commence looking at the above deck works required for the Parade Extension or Apron area of the Pier.

The BBC news report can be found here.

1st February 2010 Hastings Borough Council Shows Support

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Arthur Greens – The Pier Information Centre & Shop

By HPWRT | Published: February 15, 2010

We have recently taken over a seafront shop known as Arthur Greens to use as our interim Pier Information Centre and Shop. The shop, located opposite the old Ice Rink building at 34 White Rock, was originally an 1870’s mens tailors and still contains many of the fixtures and fittings of that time. Vacant for over 3 years, the Trust are looking to use the enthusiasm of their volunteers and various grant funding to breathe new life into the shop and create a new place of interest within this unloved area of Hastings.

The shop will be a visible base for the Trust to engage with the public in regards to all of the plans and proposals for the pier and will include a display all about the work of the Trust, its proposals for the pier, and all the latest news. In addition, we are currently creating a history display to detail the history of the Pier and White Rock area and the Pier Architect, Eugenius Birch. We are also planning a schedule of events to be held regularly at weekends to provide entertainment to visitors to the shop.

If you have yet to become a member of HPWRT, membership information will be available. You will also be able to pick up a fund-raising souvenir or an artistic piece made by a local artisan.

We are looking to formally launch Arthur Green’s at Easter 2010, but will hold small publicity events in the meantime (such as our recent Swap Days).

We look forward to seeing you soon!

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Hastings Borough Council Show Support

By HPWRT | Published: February 15, 2010

At the Cabinet Meeting held on 1st February 2010, Hastings Borough Council voted to support an approval in principle to lay out in detail all the conditions that, if they are met will enable the Council to make and seal a CPO and to continue assisting HPWRT in drawing down public funding to produce fuller business plans and technical appraisals that might support their future restoration and use of the Pier

The full meeting transcript can be found on the Hastings Borough Council website here

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16th November 2009 – Margaret Hodge MP Gives Support to the Pier Trust

By HPWRT | Published: February 15, 2010

Margaret Hodge, Government Minister for Culture & Tourism, visited the Pier Trust on Monday with Michael Foster MP for Hastings to discuss strategies for compulsory purchase of the pier with a back-to-back agreement to handover the Pier to the Trust. Starting the compulsory purchase process would allow the Trust to make progress with external funding bids – at the moment without ‘prospect of ownership’ funders can’t look at the Trust’s plans. She has already told Hastings Borough Council that the Government sees no barrier to the Council undertaking Compulsory Purchase and she plans to write to them to encourage a more integrated approach to the seafront

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Open Meeting Heralds New Era for Pier & Hastings

By HPWRT | Published: December 8, 2009

Download the Press Hastings’ Next Generation Open the Proceedings Release for this Meeting

: St Helens’ Candidates

Stephen Kearney from the Regenerate Trust Introducing the Attendees

Stephen Kearney from the Regenerate Trust Introduces the Attendees

The Signed Pier Pledge

Photos Courtesy of Adam Piggott

13th December 2009 – NEW Save the Pier Video

The Battle for Hastings Pier Video

10th December 2009 – HPWRT Congratulate New St Helens Elected Representative

Press Release

7th December 2009 – Open Meeting Heralds New Era for Pier & Hastings

The Pier Pledge

Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust invited the candidates from the 3 main political parties represented in the St Helens By-Election to attend an open meeting to present our plans for the Pier, discuss, and seek their support in signing the Pier Pledge to compulsorily purchase the pier for handover to the Trust as soon as possible.

Read the Press Release here (pdf format)

All candidates signed the pledge, joining all the other political candidates for the St Helens By-election in their agreement to support the approval to compulsorily purchase the Pier.

All photos courtesy of Adam Piggott.

View other images of the meeting here

25th November 2009 – Devastation of Withdrawn Grant

Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust have just learned of the withdrawal of a previously awarded £4000 Campaign grant as a result of the Minister for Third Sector’s decision to reallocate funds that had already been promised to small community/voluntary groups elsewhere. This is a bitter blow to our campaigning funds. We are currently appealing the decision.

Read the articles printed 23 November in Regeneration & Renewal here. Sign the Petition to appeal the decision here.

18th November 2009 – Press Release

Hastings Borough Council released a Press Release confirming the end of Private Investor interest in the Pier. Read press release here. We respond:

“We have always said that expecting a private sector solution was like waiting for a fairy godmother …. Our approach is very different …. we don’t need to make a profit for shareholders…. We hope, at last, the Council will engage properly with the Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust – it really is the only solution left.”

Read the full Pier Trust’s response to today’s Hastings Borough Council Press Release.

The Pier Trust also spoke with BBC South East News who reported the Press Release.

See the BBC news report here.

Listen to the BBC Radio Sussex Interview using controls below.

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