5.30

5.30 Student accommodation, where and when?

It is not justified in sustainable terms tp always make Hastings the prime recipient of money and effort. While Castle's SOA IMD ranks are low : 2621, 766, 2319, 6163, they are considerably better than those of Central St Leonards - 331, 966, 1134, 2425. This proves the inefficacy of making a conurbation out of the two towns - by placing both town centres in the same Area, only one can be the focus, and of the two areas, Central St Leonards needs more help. In recent years Central St Leonards has been designated as a location for student accomodation, to support regeneration - completely ignoring the fact that the town already has too many transient residents, and that students are about the most transient of them all.

One thing the students complain of is the fact that there is nothing to do. Some consideration of an evening and nightime economy would be nice - at present it consists of people driving in from all parts of the Borough to avail themselves of the parade of takeaways that has been allowed to grow up, causing traffic, noise and litter that is nothing to do with the community itself.