Hastings MP praises town for its sense of community
Hastings and Rye MP Helena Dollimore has praised local people who took to the beach to clear up plastic waste.
She was speaking following a visit to the town by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last week, to promote the Pride in Place initiative.
She said: “Our town is about people coming together to protect the environment we love. We saw that recently when a large number of volunteers turned out in bad weather conditions to remove plastic and other waste from the beach which came from cargo ship containers.”
She also spoke about the Pride in Place money allocated to Hastings and said: “This is a massive opportunity for Hastings and we have asked the whole town how the money should be spent.
“Many people want to see St Mary in the Castle restored. We have listened to people and now we are moving forward.
"We also need to see Hastings Pier thriving. We need to know the public investment that has gone into the pier is felt locally.”
She said that improving children’s playgrounds and opening more of them remains a priority.
She confirmed that the major water pipe supplying Hastings, that suffered two bursts, leaving hundreds of homes without water, is now being repaired.
She said: “You have to ask why that pipe was not replaced following the burst in 2024? I understand that the pipe replacement is now finally taking pace with work underway.
"Over decades money has been taken out of the water system rather than being invested in infrastructure.”