Direct action against road
Campaigners against plans to build a link road between Hastings and Bexhill say they will take "direct action" if the scheme continue.
Man guilty of dog attacks
The owner of two dogs has pleaded guilty after they attacked 10 people in Hastings.
Dog attack charges
A 21-year-old man, charged following a dog attack which left ten people needing hospital treatment, will appear in court today.
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Rival culture bid towns "absolute dumps"
An Essex MP has angered people bidding for the title UK City of Culture by branding rival towns as "absolute dumps". David Amess, MP for Southend East is leading the bid for the accolade in Essex.
He's suggested that the other towns bidding for the City of Culture accolade are not up to scratch. But Hastings Council Leader Jeremy Birch insists his town's bid is serious and has invited David Amess to Hastings for a guided tour.
"I don't know when he last visited our town, indeed if he ever has. We can take him to the Jerwood Gallery and to the De la Warr," said Cllr Birch
"Perhaps a walk in the Country Park and then in the evening, we can listen to three piano concertos played by the competition finalists. But the coffee is on him! Hastings and Bexhill have every reason to bid for City of Culture status."
Keys handed over to Hastings landmark
The keys for the Hastings landmark venue, St Mary in the Castle have been handed over to Buckswood School after the council voted to give it temporary tenancy.
The school plans to establish St Mary in the Castle as a cultural destination for the South East and for use by the whole community.
Council leader, Jeremy Birch, said: "This is the start of a very bright, new future for St Mary in the Castle. The plans that Buckswood have for the venue will certainly add to what the town has to offer as we make our bid for the City of Culture.
"It gives me great pleasure to hand over the this jewel in our crown and I look forward to seeing a full programme of events"
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Health bosses to decide maternity future
Preparations are underway for an emergency board meeting of East Sussex
Healthcare NHS Trust.
They will put forward proposals to close the maternity department at Eastbourne District Hospital and replace it with a midwife-led unit.
They say they can't recruit enough specialist doctors and nurses so plan to temporarily close the department in 6-8 weeks. Campaigners fear that the closure will become permanent.
Culture bid - Two Mayors speak out
On the sofa tonight, Cllr Derek Burke, Mayor of Southampton and Cllr Frank Jonas, Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, speak to Fred and Sangeeta.
Hastings and Bexhill's bid for Culture title - interview
Last week we told you that Canterbury and east Kent were bidding to be this year's UK City of Culture. Well they have competition - not least from other towns in the south east.
Southend-on-Sea's after the title too. Their pier, they tell us, is the envy of the country. And they have a lively arts and cultural scene - and have bid for city status in the past.
But also after the title is Hastings and Bexhill-on-Sea. Well no-one is more pleased with this latest south coast bid than Jeremy Birch, the Hastings Council leader. Sangeeta asked him earlier what this could mean for Sussex?
Portsmouth and Southampton Culture bids - full report
They have a history of rivalry - especially in football - but two neighbouring cities in the south are coming together to try to become the UK's city of culture.
The competition was set up by the Government after the success of the European Capital of Culture. So can Portsmouth and Southampton put their differences aside and come up with a winning bid?
Andrew Pate has been looking at what makes both cities good contenders and speaks to Culture Minister Ed Vaizey MP.
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'The winner will be the most passionate' - Ed Vaizey on Culture bids
Four of the eleven areas bidding to become the UK City of Culture for 2017 are in our region.
Portsmouth and Southampton have launched a joint bid. As have Hastings and Bexhill in Sussex. Southend in Essex is also a contender.
While Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone and Thanet have clubbed together for an East Kent entry. The shortlist will be announced in June. Minister for Culture Ed Vaizey MP told us what would make a winning bid.
Hastings aims for cultural heights
Hastings is one of several towns across the south applying to be UK City of Culture 2017.
The title is currently held by Derry, but 10 other towns and cities have put themselves forward for the 2017 designation - the next year for which it will be awarded.
– Councillor Jeremy Birch, Hastings Council LeaderThis shows the league we believe the Hastings area is becoming part of. The Jerwood Gallery has now been open a year and has really helped to change our cultural status. We have a culture of festivals and processions to rival anywhere from Jack in the Green to the bonfire. The restoration of Hastings Pier will allow us to relive the culture of promenading of days gone by. And most recently we have the public exhibition of the two shortlisted entries for a major public art feature on Pelham roundabout and next weekend the increasingly significant international piano festival."
Councillor Birch added: " Not forgetting of course all that is on offer at the De La Warr just next door in Bexhill. The Hastings area is becoming a cultural beacon in the South East and nationally, and we have every justification aiming for the city of culture status in four years time."
The full bids for the 2017 competition must be received by the end of April, after which they will be assessed by an Independent Advisory Panel with the aim of announcing a shortlist in June. It's hoped the announcement of who has won will be made in Derry-Londonderry in November 2013.
Hastings hoping for culture success
Hastings council has submitted a bid to be named the UK City of Culture 2017.
Council leader Cllr Jeremy Birch said: "The Hastings area is becoming a cultural beacon in the South East and nationally, and we have every justification aiming for the city of culture status in four years time. This town is on the way up; let the whole country recognise that."
Legacy could help the South
In their year as European City of Culture, Liverpool received 9.7 million additional visitors to the city which resulted in over £735 million in additional visitor spend.
Meanwhile Derry-Londonderry hopes to have 2800 tourism jobs by 2020 as a legacy from their year.
Phil Redmond, Chair of the independent advisory panel said: “The UK City of Culture can be a real catalyst for change and I’m delighted so many places have registered their interest in the competition for 2017.
"Together with the panel I’m looking forward to receiving some ambitious and dynamic bids that highlight the very best of local cultural talent, along with delivering a realistic programme that will appeal to as wide an audience as possible.”
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