At HPWRT our vision is to rescue, restore and reinvigorate Hastings Pier, formerly renowned as the ‘Peerless Pier’ and a cultural icon of the British seaside. We aim to rebuild its structure to provide a stable platform for future development, create and operate a new visitor centre and develop the Western Pavilion building, the only building to survive the fire in 2010, as a signature, high quality eating and drinking venue. Around the core assets we will create a dynamic programme of seasonal activities. In addition we intend to establish educational and participation activities as a core part of the Pier’s purpose and to ensure that it contributes fully and effectively to the social, economic, cultural and environmental regeneration of Hastings and St.Leonards.
Initially we need to raise the funds for this programme and we have obtained development funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to allow us to develop our plans. The HLF is our majority project sponsor, and their continued financial support is essential to the project, but we are also approaching other large funds for specific aspects of the project scope. Alongside this, our goal is to raise at least £500,000 through a range of fund raising initiatives including the issue of Community Shares in the People’s Pier Co-Operative, the social enterprise that will run the Pier.
OUR TRUSTEES…
L-R - Lesley Davis, John Hough, John Hodges, Tina Reid, Jess Steele and Ray Chapman.
Our Chair, Ray Chapman has experience in delivering large scale programmes of work within the travel industry and has years of experience campaigning with local government figures for the rail improvement programme across East Sussex. Ray holds a MA in Strategic Marketing Management.
Jess Steele, our Treasurer has been involved in Community Regeneration for her whole career and was a leading force within BURA. She is currently the Director of Innovation at the DTA, leading such initiatives as the Meanwhile Project which provides leadership and grants to groups to take over empty retail units to encourage short term use – thus reviving flagging retail areas.
Tina Reid is a property developer in London and holds an MA in art and architecture. Tina is keen to see public art displayed on the Pier and has a strong interest in ensuring that the Pier has good quality architectural design.
Lesley Davis is a founding member of the Friends of Hastings Pier and Trust. She is the management secretary and oversees grass roots fund-raising.
John Hodges is a local Councillor in Hastings and member of many organisations involved in the improvement of the Hastings area. He has been involved in engineering and programme management during his career and so has an interest in these aspects of the project.
John Hough is the manager of Priory Meadow shopping centre in Hastings. He provides useful business networking opportunities for the Trust and also brings retail expertise to the Board. The trust regularly uses the shopping centre for involving the community in pier decisions and John orchestrates these opportunities.
Alan Peirce is a retired professional engineer, who lives locally. A former Senior Lecturer in Engineering at Brunel University, he has been working with the Trust for about a year, and is involved in ongoing work with the architects and Pier engineers to ensure that the Pier’s sub-structure is sound and provides a safe platform to support the upper structure.
Amy Sanders grew up in Hastings, and has strong family links with the town. She works for the Wellcome Trust, managing national cultural projects. Amy is working with HPWRT to develop educational and heritage activities – school loan box scheme and partnership with University Centre Hastings are already taking place.
Teresa Hall is a former HR Director in the further education sector, now working part-time as a Human Resources Consultant. Working with HPWRT since August 2011, Teresa provides advice to HPWRT on employment matters and is working on a volunteer strategy
The Trustees are aged between 30 and 55. As well as those responsibilities listed, they attend to governance, grass roots fund-raising and events, the management of the shop and employee, grant based fund-raising applications and publicity. Many of our Trustees are educated to Masters level and have a track record for running successful businesses. As well as the expertise mentioned, they have experience within consultancy, retail, property development and charity work.
The trustees meet at least monthly. Sub-committees for engineering, large fundraising, marketing and ground-level fundraising draw in additional expert advisers.
OUR GOALS AND AIMS….
- Restore the Pier to local ownership
- Stabilise the structure and develop effective fixed assets, now and in the future
- Provide a viable and sustainable economic purpose for the Pier
- Engage in Education and participation activities that value the Heritage of the Pier
- Engage and enlighten schoolchildren in ‘Science you can Stand On’®
- Involve the Community in the operation of the Pier
- Attract inward investment and offer training opportunities that make the Pier a gateway to employability
- Attract large numbers of visitors on to the Pier
- Provide inspiration and learning for other piers and seaside towns in need of regeneration
Click here to view our accounts for 2009 / 2010.
