Hastings Borough Council’s Grotbusters team have been touring the town recently to check out new and improved buildings. Since 1999, the team have been responsible for ensuring that improvements are carried out to rundown and eyesore buildings. In that time, over 830 premises across the town have been improved helping to transform the local environment. Improvements to buildings have been made following discussions with owners and, as a last resort, through enforcement action and legal proceedings. The successful initiative has been copied across the country and the team have been called upon to give advice to other councils and agencies.
Council leader Peter Chowney commented that “ It was good to see that so many of the previously dilapidated buildings in Central St Leonards have been improved, many of them through the intervention of the council’s Grotbusters team. But we found more that need attention, so those property owners will be getting a letter from the council. While enforcement action is always a last resort we will not hesitate to take all necessary means at our disposal to improve run down and eyesore buildings, including improvement notices and prosecutions. Unsightly and dilapidated buildings affect the impression local people and visitors have of the town, and inhibit regeneration by discouraging new businesses from moving in. If you have a rundown building near you, let us know via MyHastings https://my.hastings.gov.uk/
The photographs shows leader and deputy leader councillors Peter Chowney and Kim Forward and senior enforcement officer Marcus Berrisford standing in front of recently improved buildings while on a recent tour of Central St Leonards. The team also identified new premises for action and reviewing progress.
