Do You Remember When?

1909

THE decision of the Bexhill Town Council to proceed with the Central Parade Scheme marks another era in the progress of Bexhill. It is, in one sense, however a great pity that the decision was not come to earlier in the winter. The Local Government Board must hold an inquiry, and the Local Government Board is not always quick to move in these matters, and after the inquiry is the report and the sanction for borrowing. The scheme is estimated to take three to four months to complete and it looks as if there may be some difficulty in getting it finished before the summer season commences.

COUNCILLOR Gray supposed that the Fire Brigade Committee had considered the fact that in purchasing a new engine at a cost of 1,000, little more than would be spent than would be paid for the upkeep of the horses. It seemed to him that their finances were not very sound if they were going to keep on paying 40 for horses which were very seldom brought out. In fact, the engine must be made to save a lot in that respect. - From a report on a Town Council debate on whether to replace the horse-drawn fire engine with a motorised appliance.

1959

"GATE crashing" into late dances for which licensing extensions have been granted solely to take advantage of later drinking facilities has got to stop. This warning was given by the Chairman of Bexhill Licensing Justices (Mr. R. C. Evernden) at the annual licensing sessions on Friday last week.

THE Borough Estates and Parks Committee have decided not to go ahead with the proposed scheme for providing coloured lighting on the sea front between the Clock Tower and the War Memorial and are asking for the Town Council to delete from the estimates the 1,500 suggested for the illumination scheme.

1969

THE number of convictions for drunkenness in the town in 1968 was nearly double that of the previous year and commenting on this at the annual licensing meeting, the chairman of the Licensing Justices (Mr. R.C. Evernden) said 'This drunkenness list has been contributed to in no small measure by the younger male element in the town.'

CONFIRMATION of the closure in the near future of the Glyne Gap gasworks, reported in the 'Observer' last December, is contained in a letter from the South Eastern Gas Board which states that production will cease in April. As many as 80 men, the number stated in our previous report, may be involved in the decision.

1979

REFUSE collection services in Bexhill were interrupted on Tuesday morning after what was described by Rother council and a General and Municipal Workers' Union spokesman as a "misunderstanding." The dustmen told the Observer they had been locked out by management.

1989

SAINT Peter's Community Centre has closed its doors. The last of the thousands of functions held in the centre over the last 70 years took place on Sunday. Demolition is due to start next month. The replacement of the old centre with three purpose-built halls with office, toilets and warden's flat is expected to take 14 months.

CONDITIONS must be right before any attempt is made to implement the planned increase in Northeye Prison's population, Home Office Minister Douglas Hogg has been told. The warning comes from town MP Charles Wardle. Last month between 12 and 15 inmates wearing masks and wielding broom handles burned the dental surgery at Northeye. Members of the prison's voluntary Board of Visitors met the regional director of the Home Office prison department recently to press their case for the rebuilding of Northeye's former RAF camp huts with purpose-built secure cellular accommodation.

1999

PUBLIC vigilance and help is more vital than ever in the fight against burglary. The advice comes as police report a shock drop in detection rates. Only 17 per cent of burglaries in Sussex were cleared up by police last year compared with 24 per cent the year before. A recent Bexhill survey revealed that fear of being burgled was a major concern.

CONTROVERSY over the plan to site a 16-acre business park on farmland off Barnhorn Road hotted up this week. Conservative councillors representing irate householders in the Little Common area announced that they will oppose the scheme, citing the potential impact on the A259 trunk road. The Tories want the plan withdrawn. Bexhill Regeneration Partnership has refused, saying there is a real risk to jobs in Bexhill if the decision is delayed.