Bembrook Road multi-use games area (MUGA) will be closed on Monday 27 May for maintenance works to the surface. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

It's International Day for Biological Diversity, a day that aims to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. This year’s theme, ‘Acting locally for global impact’, calls for us all to take action to stop and reverse biodiversity loss.

The council offices will be closed on Monday 25 May for the bank holiday. Bin collections will continue as normal. If you need to access council services while the offices are closed, please use My Hastings where you can report hundreds of things...

Calling community groups, sports clubs, charities and community interest companies!  Hastings Borough Council has £700,000 to invest in grants over the next two years to help improve leisure, sport and physical activity facilities across Hastings.

The UK Health Security Agency and Met Office have issued a yellow heat health alert for the South East. This will be in place from 9am tomorrow, Friday 22 May until 5pm on Wednesday 27 May. Please check on relatives and neighbours who may struggle with the hot weather.

Hastings Borough Council’s new councillors met for the first time for Annual Full Council last night (Wednesday 20 May). Cllr Glenn Haffenden was appointed leader of the council with Cllr Julia Hilton deputy leader. Cllr Paula Warne was named Mayor of Hastings, with Cllr Amanda Jobson as deputy.

Councillors will meet for Annual Full Council tonight. The meeting will include the announcement of the Leader of the Council, Deputy Leader, Cabinet members, and the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the coming year.

The government has launched a consultation about whether parts of Lewes District (Peacehaven, Telscombe, East Saltdean, and Falmer parish) should be transferred into Brighton and Hove as part of local government reorganisation.

We know the weather isn’t great today, but the forecast is looking promising with warmer weather and sunshine coming over the next few days. With the sun and summer holidays looming, if you’re looking to spend some time at the beach, why not book one of our ten short-term beach huts.

If you are looking for something to entertain the children over May half term, Hastings Museum & Art Gallery has something for everyone.   On Tuesday 26 May, meet Fossil Trees - Hastings Museum & Art Gallery has partnered with CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) Sussex...

If you’re in Alexandra Park tomorrow (20 May) you might see some council staff taking part in an emergency exercise at Buckshole Reservoir.   The training session is being run to test our response to an extreme weather event at the reservoir in the park.

Hastings’ Pelham beach has been given a Seaside Award and Marina beach has received the Combined Award of Blue Flag and Seaside Award for the second year running. The Blue Flag and Seaside Awards are presented by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, recognising the very best beaches in England.

As lead partner of the Safer Hastings Partnership, Hastings Borough Council is proud to be supporting Knife Crime Awareness Week. This is a national campaign that brings people together to prevent knife crime and keep young people safe.

Today is International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). IDAHOBIT celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community and raises awareness of the violence and discrimination still faced, driving positive change to build inclusive societies.

Help keep our town tidy this weekend. Please bin your litter or take it home with you.  You can easily report any litter you see to us using My Hastings: https://my.hastings.gov.uk/. You can also report full litter bins so they can be emptied. These reports are sent directly to the litter crew.

The multi-use games area (MUGA) in Alexandra Park will be closed on Monday 18 May for essential maintenance work. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Hastings Borough Council is pleased to be supporting the Good Grief Hastings festival (Friday 22 May to Monday 25 May). A festival of love and loss.   The festival invites people to come together through talks, workshops, storytelling, music, film and creative experiences...

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery and The blackShed Gallery are inviting artists from across the region to submit their work for the 2026 Hastings Open.  The exhibition aims to show a wide range of work that reflects different ideas, styles, stories, and experiences.

Thank you to all the artists, both individuals and groups, who sent us some incredible submissions for our artwork project on the columns in Bottle Alley. A panel including officers from the council and Hastings’ art organisations reviewed the submissions

The government has launched a consultation about whether parts of Lewes District (Peacehaven, Telscombe, East Saltdean, and Falmer parish) should be transferred into Brighton and Hove. Residents and stakeholders are being encouraged to complete the simple online survey.

This #StopLoanSharksWeek we are raising awareness of how illegal lenders operate. Illegal lenders adapt - moving online, using social media, or pretending to be someone you trust. But their aim is always the same: control and intimidation.

Come along to Creative Mondays at the Combe Valley Discovery Centre and make a mini accordion flower press booklet.  The session is taking place on Monday 18 May, between 10am to 12noon.

Work has recently taken place around the Stade and Harbour Arm to recycle shingle from Hastings back westward along the coast to Pevensey.  Many coastal areas experience erosion, with beaches receding over time, resulting in an increased flood risk.

We are receiving reports from crews that some residents are placing their kitchen 5L food waste caddy in their outdoor 23L bin for collection. Please only present your outdoor caddy for collection to avoid your food waste being rejected.

Stay Smart, Grow Strong - a series of eight fully funded workshops will be running from May to July across East Sussex.  Designed for sole traders, micro and small businesses, the programme is all about helping you get clarity, reset your approach and take confident next steps.

Foxes and other animals have great noses – and food waste is tempting. That’s why it’s important to make sure that your outdoor food waste container is locked properly.

St Helens ward Andy Batsford - Independent - 544 (ELECTED) Stephen Scott Butterton - The Conservative Party Candidate - 229 Peter Anthony Clarke - Reform UK - 572 (ELECTED) Shaun Dowling - Green Party - 490 Barney Green - Labour Party Candidate - 320

Braybrooke ward: Yoong Kam - Reform UK - 353 Archie Lauchlan - Green Party - 1,232 (ELECTED) Josh Matthews - Labour Party Candidate - 364 John Richard Waterfall - The Conservative Party Candidate - 138

Maze Hill ward:  Rob Cooke - The Conservative Party Candidate - 268 Lee Joseph Grant - Liberal Democrat - 34 Rosie Murphy - Reform UK - 499 Tim John Cairns Shand - Labour and Cooperative Party - 223 Karen Simnett - Green Party - 969 (ELECTED)

Castle ward Charlie Cooke - The Conservative Party Candidate - 125 Steph Fawbert - Green Party - 1,404 (ELECTED) Judy Rogers - Labour Party Candidate - 333 Graeme White - Reform UK - 336

West St Leonards ward:  Matthew Joseph Beaver - The Conservative Party Candidate - 220 Emma Joliffe - Green Party - 346 Derek Lawrence - Reform UK - 506 (ELECTED) Eve Montgomery - Liberal Democrat - 50 Anna Sabin - Labour Party Candidate - 370

Old Hastings ward:  James Edward Bacon - Labour Party Candidate - 640 Steve Foot - Reform UK - 387 Mike Frith - Green Party - 1,064 (ELECTED) Ray Molloy - The Conservative Party Candidate -124

Gensing ward: Shane Atkins - The Conservative Party Candidate - 95 Amanda Christabel Jobson - Green Party - 1,436 (ELECTED) Jet Rankin - Reform UK - 365 John Williams - Labour Party Candidate - 274

Silverhill ward:  Craig Steven Andrew - The Conservative Party Candidate - 213 Ian Moore - Reform UK - 492 Margi O'Callaghan - Labour and Cooperative Party - 327 Dulcie Reynolds - Green Party - 610 (ELECTED) Nigel Sinden - Independent - 265

Central St Leonards:  Alex Dudley - Reform UK - 378 Caroline June Kerswell - The Conservative Party Candidate - 107 Trevor Redmond - Labour and Cooperative Party - 344 Solly Solamito - Green Party -1,303 (ELECTED)

Ashdown ward results: Louise Chantal - Labour and Cooperative Party - 202 Michael Justinian Edwards - The Conservative Party Candidate - 363 Daniel Kendrick - Reform UK - 628 (ELECTED) Marie Louise Parfitt - Green Party - 407 Robert John Wakeford - Liberal Democrat - 95

Conquest ward Rob Drew - Reform UK - 607 (ELECTED) Ian James Gillam - Green Party - 444 Hugh Philip Nicholson - Labour Party Candidate - 235 Stewart Gregory Rayment - Liberal Democrat - 87 Roger Streeten - The Conservative Party Candidate - 398

Ashdown ward results: Louise Chantal - Labour and Cooperative Party - 202 Michael Justinian Edwards - The Conservative Party Candidate - 363 Daniel Kendrick - Reform UK - 628 (ELECTED) Marie Louise Parfitt - Green Party - 407 Robert John Wakeford - Liberal Democrat - 95

Tressell ward Ingrid Kristina Kathleen Allen - Labour Party Candidate - 129 Glenn Haffenden - Green Party - 921 Ricky Hodges - Reform UK - 409 Shelley Lee - The Conservative Party Candidate - 51

Wishing Tree ward John Cannan - Independent - 153 Wendy Cooke - The Conservative Party Candidate - 137 Melanie Kavanagh - Green Party - 263 Mal McDermott - Libertarian Party -18 John Rankin - Labour Party Candidate - 365  Doreena Ross - Reform UK - 516 (ELECTED)

Hollington ward Matthew Clifford Ainsworth - The Conservative Party Candidate - 135 Will Chapman - Reform UK - 484 (ELECTED) Andrea Cowhig - Independent - 197 Angela Liliet Harris - Labour and Cooperative Party - 261 Justin Lee Wynne - Green Party - 196

Ore ward Wojciech Duczmal - Reform UK - 471 Kim Forward - Labour and Cooperative Party - 167 Clem McCulloch - Green Party - 874 (ELECTED) Brett Reginald McLean - The Conservative Party Candidate - 113 Vicky Wilson - Independent - 70

Baird ward Liam Atkins - The Conservative Party Candidate - 151 Rick Dillon - Labour Party Candidate - 128 Jack Philip McCree - Reform UK - 438 Will Rumfitt - Green Party - 492 - elected Mike Turner - Independent - 335

Verification has now finished and the count for the East Sussex County Council election has started.    The East Sussex County Council count will take place first followed by the Hastings Borough Council count.  We will be publishing the results

Polling stations have now closed. The counts for the East Sussex County Council and Hastings Borough Council elections will take place tomorrow. The results will be published on our social media as they become available.

With polling stations open and seeing lots of people already casting their votes, we also have some #dogsatpollingstations Don't forget your photo ID if you're voting on your dog walk, and drop us a photo of your dog in the comments.

Polling stations are now open for both the Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex County Council elections. Polls will close at 10pm tonight.  To have your say you must be registered to vote, and bring an accepted form of photo identification to vote at your polling station.

Are you a landlord? The Renters' Rights Act changes how renting works for landlords and tenants. As a landlord you must send your tenants a government-supplied information sheet by 31 May. Find out more https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-renters-rights-act-information-sheet-2026

Last year Active Hastings asked local sports clubs, coaches, volunteers and community activity providers, what training they really wanted. You told them and they listened.  For more information and to book - https://eequ.org/book/raising-money-for-your-club-with-active-hastings-27836

Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm for both the Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex County Council elections tomorrow, Thursday 7 May.