News Release : 08 February 2001

NEW PLANNING BODY MEETS TO VOTE ON ACCESS TO HASTINGS RECOMMENDATIONS

The South East England Regional Assembly will decide what advice to give to Government about the Access to Hastings Multi Modal Study recommendations, at its plenary meeting in Buckinghamshire on Wednesday 14 February 2001.

The Assembly's 111 members from all of the region's local authorities, as well as economic, social and environmental bodies, will have the opportunity to debate and vote on proposals to regenerate Hastings after they have heard a presentation on the study recommendations from Assembly Director of Regional Planning and Transport Mike Gwilliam.

Mike Gwilliam said: "Hastings is the most deprived district in the South East and is identified in both Regional Planning Guidance and Regional Economic Strategy as a very high priority for regeneration. This is a challenging decision process for members, involving difficult choices and there are no simple answers."

In the first stage of the Assembly's process, its Planning Committee considered the outcome of the Access to Hastings study, which is the first of several multi-modal studies (MMS) currently underway in the region, and the first in the country to report, at its January meeting.

Planning Committee members voted in favour of a substantial transport investment programme as an essential component of a wider regeneration programme for the Hastings area, and agreed that implementation of that programme needed to begin as a matter of urgency. They were mindful that such a programme must be sustainable reflecting the social, economic and environmental issues, and be in line with Regional Planning Guidance.

The full Assembly meeting on 14 February will have the final say on what advice goes to the Secretary of State.

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
   
   
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
   
   
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
   
   
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
   
   
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007

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