Help! have I read too much scary info on this forum..?

[SV]

My family and I (we have young children) are considering a move to Hastings; we have been given so much conflicting advice and information- my head is spinning and I just don't know what to think now!
I keep being told about social problems, trouble, marginal populations etc etc and then equally, being told it's no worse than anywhere else, people are friendly etc etc.
The very first time we came househunting, a teenage boy abused us in the street, wasn't the greatest first impression, I must say..
We are wanting to move, and Hastings appeals to us, we are artists, slightly alternative, think there could be a good life for us here, BUT i am feeling really freaked out and scared for my children (and concerned about them being teenagers here..), after reading some of the stuff on this forum- I just feel so confused!
We live very rurally atm, in East Anglia, and are used to it being very peaceful and quiet. I do think pavements, and somewhere to walk TO would be nice, and think the beaches would be great for the children, but I just don't know to think..would I be bringing my young family to a filthy, dog shit covered hell hole full of druggies and car alarms going off constantly, or a friendly, slightly bohemian town..? Bewildered!

[lixxsi]

Hiya!

I am very new to Hastings, but I hope I might be able to be of some help.

I moved here (I now live on the West Hill) in August (originally from a quiet area in London), and I absolutely LOVE it here.

I love the West Hill and the town. I feel safe going for walks at night alone, and (as an artist myself), there feels SO much opportunity for me here. I moved here, and suddenly I want to paint pictures of the sea and sell them to one (of the MANY!) gorgeous little curiosity / arty shops near George Street, or start doing photography here and do lovely panoramic views of Hastings.

I'm quite a shy, nervous person, but every day I love getting up, going for little wanders around. There are lots of places to go exploring. With that in mind, there's a lovely, informative guy on YouTube who has lived in Hastings all his life, and he makes videos about Hastings. You can find him here: http://www.youtube.com/user/Maybrick44/ ... dandview=0

Having said all that, YES, Hastings, like any other place, has it's downsides. There ARE druggies, there ARE chavs, and there are some very strange (or "quirky"!) folks here, but rarely do I feel threatened or like my safety is compromised.

Teens love the town at night, and often hang around in annoying crowds, making a lot of noise. There are a LOT of skateboarders here also, which a lot of people find irritating but I actually really like (always been interesting in skateboarding myself, even though I'm crap at it!)
I do not have any children, so I can't really comment on that and I have no idea what the schools are like.

Overall, there is so much to do in Hastings, and a lot to love about it.

[Richard]

I have had some unpleasant verbal abuse from kids locally but a minority of kids.
If you tell them off they threaten you, even an older person like myself, sadly this happens the length and breadth of the country, since a long time ago.

Hastings and the sunsets are fantastic as are the walks and general scenery.
Who could look down over Hastings Bay and see the yachts or fishing boats on the shimmering sea and not feel uplifted?
The air is of good quality and plants grow in profusion.
I hear that there are good local schools but I don't have children so can't really tell.
As for being "Arty" there is 'The Lighthouse' at the top of " Whistlers Steps" and several other outlets for support and ofcourse the new College up by the station which, I believe, has classes in Sculpture and etcetera.

There are numerous dogs, some are like the kids, without especially good owners !!
Yes there are people enjoying recreational substances as well as smoking and drinking like it's going out of fashion.
Food abuse by those who are clearly heavily obese.
This is all unfortunate as they will more likely develop illness and handicaps before they are able to enjoy old age.
Other coastal areas are possibley even worse in terms of dangerous lifestyles.
Artist ofcourse occasionally permit themselves a little, ahem, 'peccadillo' to allow the creative juices free reign !!

All in all a bit of a motley crew still looking for adventure, some contraband and a good night out_ _ _

[Herring_Gull]

SV.

You do not say which part you want to move to.

All I can say is essentially what has already been said and it is the same conversation repeated in every other town. It is just that some towns getter a better press than others.Hastings (to those who do not live here) is full of unemployable druggies where there is nowt but muggings and murders etc). Utter guff.

I live on the West Hill. Sure there have been incidents - eg children playing in the street really late at night - the odd drunken loud conversation usually after the pub closes and they are one their way home - but I also lived in Harringey my neighbours 4 doors down had a torture chamber torturing people who did not pay 'protection' money. There were open street wars with baseball bats, knives and fists.

I am not saying Hastings is glorious and the sun always shines, indeed every morning on my way to work I have to look down and not up to check for dog doings - as has been said on here somewhere already who has teenage kids the louts are pussies.

Try and find somewhere in the town that has double glazing, is not on a busy road / rat run for cars / drunks going home look for places that do not have HMOs house multiple occupants (you can tell be the number of gas metres / doorbells / wheelie bins outside) and if your budget is over 200k you should do well.

Let us know where you are looking and I will pop out with my sone for a walk and have a look see.

If you can see a druggie in town let me know I have yet to see one. Alcoholics congregate on the sea front at certain places and are a really nice bunch of people. Obviously we have our fair share of white trash and probably 2nd or 3rd generation but thankfully these are outnumbered by genuinely nice people who clean up after their dogs.

To me the town is full of teenagers and old people but that is probably just down to the times I manage to get into Hasting town center. It might be only a few minutes at the bottom of the hill but I werk five days a week and do sheeeet at weekends so never gets down there. But when I do it is just bearns and oxygen stealers.

Really do not know what you are worried about.

[Michael]

Agree with the above_ _ _..get the area right and you will be making a good move, get it wrong and you will have many regrets. Hastings/St Leonards is a large town with a population of over 80,000 and like most towns of this size it has good and bad parts, I would say if you really love your idillic rural location that you are in now then I'd stick with what you've got_ _ _..the grass ain't always greener elsewhere_ _ _.best of luck whatever you decide.

[the_badlands]

I've recently moved here and I'm just going to tell it as I see it. Others may disagree, it's just my opinion.

I think if you are a left-leaning arty type, comfortable with multi-culturalism and someone who likes a place that's a bit edgy, you would like it.

If you are a 'white-flight' refugee, hoping to escape an expensive part of London that, to you, feels like a ghetto with good PR, you won't.

It is a very working class town, but there isn't any work here and few residents seem inclined to work. St Leonards reminds me of Liverpool, in the 1980s. I don't know how many people are on benefits, but it looks like nearly all of them, except for the elderly.

There are lots of kids hanging around, being pretty noisy. It seems like nearly every time I pop in to a shop, a guy is buying 8 cans of strong lager and street drinking goes on all day. I have seen virtually no police presence on the streets and people just seem to do as they want.

There are a lot of Eastern Europeans here, probably more blacks than you would expect and you will hear quite a lot of Liverpudlian and Mancunian accents. It feels a bit like a 'whiter' version of Hackney, or somewhere like that.

The architecture is fantastic, although how much longer it will look that way, I have no idea.

It's not for me, although I wish the place all the best. Maybe the pier renovation will be a turning point, but I have my doubts. I get the feeling that this is becoming a dumping ground for Londoners on benefits who are being squeezed out by new housing benefit caps.

Bexhill is about 5 miles down the road. It's about 20% more expensive to rent there and I have no idea how house prices compare. Many would find the place a bit tame. I would have in my 20s. Now 40, it is exactly the sort of place I feel comfortable and I will move there, when my tenancy agreement runs out. If Hastings feels a bit like Hackney, Bexhill feels more like Chiswick.

I guess it just depends what you like. Apologies to Hastings residents who feel like I'm running the place down. Few places in England have such a rich history (certainly not Bexhill) and I just hope the town doesn't go the way I feel that it is heading.

I had really looked forward to moving here and it has all been something of a shock. I never thought I would see this sort of thing in a county like Sussex. So many people on the streets look like they have just given up. My advice would be to book a week into a hotel and take a good look around the area, both day and night, before deciding to live here.

[Herring_Gull]

"Comparing Hastings to Hackney"

"More blacks than you would expect"

"nearly all of the people on benefits"

"I had really looked forward to moving here"

" I get the feeling that this is becoming a dumping ground for Londoners on benefits"

Straight out of the Maily Dail's book of journalistic cliches.

[Michael]

[quoted]
The Badlands wrote:
I've recently moved here and I'm just going to tell it as I see it. Others may disagree, it's just my opinion.

I think if you are a left-leaning arty type, comfortable with multi-culturalism and someone who likes a place that's a bit edgy, you would like it.

If you are a 'white-flight' refugee, hoping to escape an expensive part of London that, to you, feels like a ghetto with good PR, you won't.

It is a very working class town, but there isn't any work here and few residents seem inclined to work. St Leonards reminds me of Liverpool, in the 1980s. I don't know how many people are on benefits, but it looks like nearly all of them, except for the elderly.

There are lots of kids hanging around, being pretty noisy. It seems like nearly every time I pop in to a shop, a guy is buying 8 cans of strong lager and street drinking goes on all day. I have seen virtually no police presence on the streets and people just seem to do as they want.

There are a lot of Eastern Europeans here, probably more blacks than you would expect and you will hear quite a lot of Liverpudlian and Mancunian accents. It feels a bit like a 'whiter' version of Hackney, or somewhere like that.

The architecture is fantastic, although how much longer it will look that way, I have no idea.

It's not for me, although I wish the place all the best. Maybe the pier renovation will be a turning point, but I have my doubts. I get the feeling that this is becoming a dumping ground for Londoners on benefits who are being squeezed out by new housing benefit caps.

Bexhill is about 5 miles down the road. It's about 20% more expensive to rent there and I have no idea how house prices compare. Many would find the place a bit tame. I would have in my 20s. Now 40, it is exactly the sort of place I feel comfortable and I will move there, when my tenancy agreement runs out. If Hastings feels a bit like Hackney, Bexhill feels more like Chiswick.

I guess it just depends what you like. Apologies to Hastings residents who feel like I'm running the place down. Few places in England have such a rich history (certainly not Bexhill) and I just hope the town doesn't go the way I feel that it is heading.

I had really looked forward to moving here and it has all been something of a shock. I never thought I would see this sort of thing in a county like Sussex. So many people on the streets look like they have just given up. My advice would be to book a week into a hotel and take a good look around the area, both day and night, before deciding to live here.
[/quoted]

40 is hardly old, Bexhill is pretty boring to be honest with you, agree it isn't all a bed of roses in HSL, but as I mentioned inan earlier post if you get the area right then you don't have any problems_ _ _..at least that is what we have experienced.

[the_badlands]

Herring_Gull

I did say that if you were a left wing arty type you would probably like the place. Someone like that would probably like Hackney too, as people are paying half a million quid for houses in parts of Hackney.

The sort of people you want to move here (ie: not Daily Mail readers) will not be put off by what I have written. They will just see it as the rantings of a right wing reactionary and they might have a point!

Not all people think like you though. This isn't the place for everyone, especially not those who have had enough of living in the only parts of London they can afford and who are looking for a tranquil seaside haven. Bexhill is going to suit them a lot more. Plenty of Daily Mail readers they can have a moan with about the country going to the dogs.

I'm just telling it as I see it. It looks like there are a lot of people living here who don't have much money, don't work and who appear to live pretty aimless lives.

As for me bringing up race, anyone who has lived in London knows that most of the areas with a large black population have significant social problems and issues with crime. It doesn't mean that all black people are a problem. Many hard working black families have taken flight themselves from London, as they want to get their kids away from the problems they see around them. I brought it up because I think that some people moving here would want to know, but would be too embarrassed to ask.

All I would say to people is to spend at least a day walking around Hastings/St Leonards and a day walking around Bexhill, if the sort of things I mentioned are likely to concern them. As I said, in my 20s I would have much preferred to live in Hastings, as it's livelier and things like litter, anti-social behavior, noise, street drinking, etc. wouldn't have bothered me.

Now I'm older, I prefer places like Bexhill and Bexhill would certainly seem to be a much better destination for anyone with kids. Michael is right though, there are plenty of people in their 40s who would run a mile from Bexhill, as it's like something from the 1950s.

I didn't check out both towns properly and made what I feel was a mistake. I'm just telling people to spend time looking and to judge for themselves.

[Richard]

Hello "The Badlands"
There is hardly the remotest case to be made for Hastings being multi-cultural when compared to places in London.
There are two main communities from foreign climes hereabouts - the Polish and Kurdish - neither of which cause any trouble.
I've hardly seen any 'Black' people (and even fewer Arabs) so I can't belive you when you say there are more Blacks than one would expect.

You cannot begin to compare Hastings with Bexhill, except I feel the latter is very low key and lacking in atmosphere, to my way of mind, with plenty of retired teacher-types who think they are still in charge when they are 'out and about' in public.
Hastings has a beautiful coastal vista and unique charms all around in great profusion.

Perhaps you need to move to a different part of Hastings.
For myself (late 50's) I would feel isolated and miserable in Bexhill or at least if I moved away from Hastings then Bexhill would not be next on my list, not by a long chalk.