4.2

Spatial Areas were introduced in May 2012, four years into the planning process, with no consultation, no evidence base and no facts supporting the choices.
They appear to have been necessitated by the previous introduction of thirteen Focus Areas, which did not adhere to ward boundaries. It is stated that they are 'to give a picture of what is planned where' but that might have been achieved without imposing an additional layer of divisions, different yet again from the schools provision areas.

It is unclear as to how much interaction there is between planners and council officers and service providers on the ground, but it would seem likely that the if the three areas have any administrative status, they will act against effective delivery by hindering joined-up thinking and working as they do not correspond to the established Area Co-ordination Zones.

These were utilised as spatial areas by the Core Strategy Preferred approaches consultation, [2008] and by the Big Map consultation [2010]; their Area Management Boards are tasked to support the delivery of the Hastings Sustainable Community Strategy.

With the divisions of South St Leonards, North St Leonards, Central and East Hastings, the ACZs reflect the natural divisions and caputs of the Borough - Hollington, St Leonards, Hastings New Town, and Hastings Old Town; whereas the Spatial Areas offer no sense of identity and will not support paragraph 2.64 which envisages that residents will 'identify with their own local communities'.

Evidence of the lack of coherence of thought is given in 5.31, where reference is made to 'regeneration of Central St Leonards and the wider South St Leonards area' - an area that in their terms no longer exists.