Projects & updates
Town Plan
Project lead: Hailsham Forward CIC
Scope of works
The original plan was established following public consultation in 2013. The plan is reviewed annually and the current objectives following the review in 2022.
The “shortlist” of objectives comprises:
- Building a culture of collaboration
- Specialist markets
- Town centre floral displays
- Zero tolerance on dilapidated buildings
- Promotion of Hailsham’s markets including the Farmers’ Market
- Improvements to public transport infrastructure
- Movement and access around Hailsham and Hellingly
- Industrial estates access and parking
- Communication with parties both inside and outside Hailsham
- ‘Town & Shopping Guide’ – maintain and expand scheme to include more local information
- Sports and youth facilities – improvement to health and wellbeing of residents
- Establish ‘Keep Trade Local’ campaign
- Hailsham Business Improvement District (BID)
- Encourage links between education and business focussing on employment and training
- Safety and security
- Hailsham News & Hailsham FM
Summary
There are many different strands to the work schedule proposed above, and all will take a differing amount of time, effort and run to varied timescales.
The delivery of the plan will provide a range of benefits to Hailsham including the increase in the number of visitors to the town and surrounding area.
Hailsham Forward has already built a reputation for being able to deliver in very short timescales projects that people showed interest in and the important thing for Hailsham Forward now is to focus on the projects that it can have a direct influence over or involvement in.
In a similar fashion to with the Street Market project, the format for delivery on these key issues would be to establish smaller working parties operating within a framework within set out by the executive team and reporting back to the wider stakeholder base at regular intervals.
Updated
January 2023
Regular Town Market
Project lead: Hailsham Forward CIC
Scope of works
The Saturday market established by Hailsham Forward is now operated by Hailsham Town Council, this change has provided the market with more resources to build the number of market traders and visitors to the market, this has been essential following the impact of the pandemic.
What happens next?
The pandemic has hit the market hard over the past two years. Hailsham Town Council continues to manage the market fully supported by Hailsham Forward. Following the reopening of the market a small number of new traders have been secured and there are great incentives if you wish to trade at the market. If you want to trade and need more information please contact Kaylee on 01323 841702 or email: enquiries@hailsham-tc.gov.uk
Follow what's happening: www.facebook.com/HailshamStreetMarket
Location
Vicarage Field every Saturday 8.30am to 1.30pm.
Updated
January 2023
Online Hailsham Town and Shopping Guide
Project lead: Hailsham Forward CIC
Scope of works
Development of a smartphone-optimised complete town and shopping directory for Hailsham with details of shops, eateries, attractions and more. There are stickers in shop windows and signs in town centre car parks displaying a green QR code which can be scanned with a smartphone and which then opens the town & shopping guide website. The aim is to enable visitors to see at a glance the wide range of shops available and to allow visitors alike to have quick on-the-go access to all shop opening times and other useful information.
If you are a local business and would like to be featured please email us.
What happens next?
The Guide will be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that information is kept up-to-date. The details of the local community groups has recently been updated and we will continue to encourage both businesses and community groups to be included in the guide information.
Location
Shop windows, Town Centre car parks and online
Updated
January 2023
Hailsham BID
Project lead: Hailsham Forward CIC
Scope of works
Hailsham & District Chamber of Commerce has developed a Business Improvement District (BID) proposal, focused on a zero-carbon environment, renewable energy, social heating projects and enhanced building insulation for the benefit of the entire Hailsham and District business area. The BID will provide businesses with knowledge and assistance both to increase their energy efficiency, reduce substantially costs and ultimately become zero-carbon compliant.
What happens next?
New business opportunities will emerge in the zero-carbon economy and the BID will engage with the Government and other sources of assistance on behalf of businesses in the Hailsham District to take maximum advantage of any opportunities.
The Chamber's BID focuses on zero-carbon green energy benefitting the environment whilst reducing costs for businesses and creating new business opportunities in the BID District.
Today, businesses are confronted by spiralling energy costs whilst being legislated into ultimately a zero-carbon economy.
Additionally, it is now generally accepted that global warming is responsible for the change in climatic conditions caused by burning fossil fuels, cutting down forests and farming livestock, adding enormous amounts of greenhouse gases to those naturally occurring in the atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Energy and climate costs are growing, as are the costs of national insurance and business rates with small and medium businesses being particularly affected and the Hailsham & District Chamber of Commerce is continually being reminded by their members of these increased costs and asking for solutions.
With this in mind, the Chamber is proposing a Business Improvement District (BID) for Hailsham and the surrounding District which will provide businesses with knowledge and assistance both to increase their energy efficiency and also to reduce substantially costs.
Whilst the current rapid rise of all energy costs proceeds along with the highest rises in interest rates in forty years, there are solutions, and the Chamber of Commerce proposes to enable businesses in the Hailsham district - through the BID - to take advantage of both the solutions and opportunities.
Location
Hailsham
Updated
January 2023
Hailsham Community Forum
Project lead: Hailsham Forward CIC
Scope of works
To build a networking forum for all the local based community groups and as a collective group benefit from sharing experiences, ideas with other local groups and to overcome similar issues groups maybe struggling with.
The long term benefits could be cost savings to each group, for instance a large forum of people would have more leverage with ordering leaflets, printing cost, sharing resources and more.
What happens next?
The Forum is meeting again following the impact of the pandemic. Meetings will continue on a bi-monthly basis and all local community groups are invited to join in. The regular “what can I join event“ is scheduled to take place in January 2023 following two years of cancellation; this event has been very popular in the past and has helped some local groups recruit new members. The management and organisation of the group continues to be carried out by Julie Coates supported by Hailsham Town Council staff. Several groups have joined together to organise a fun day for Hailsham during the summer, which again has showcased the broad range of local community groups in the town and at the same time given local people a great community event.
If you are a local group and want more information please use the contact page to get in touch.
Location
Hailsham
Updated
January 2023
