Bohemia Village Voice

LOWER SOUTH ROAD Planning permission has been refused for a development of four flats at 27 Lower South Road. The planning-committee decision states that ‘the proposal fails to provide adequate off-street parking facilities to serve the development … [which] will therefore exacerbate the on-street parking problems in the area.’ Councillor and planning-committee member Vivienne Bond told the Voice, ‘We reluctantly agreed to the development when it was just three flats, but then they added another one, which would mean potentially too many cars for the area to cope with.’
BAA MEETINGS From now on, all meetings of the BAA will be ‘open’ meetings, i.e. anyone may attend and speak if they wish, but will not be allowed to vote unless they are members of the committee. The next three BAA meetings will be held at 7pm at the YMCA on Thurs May 10, Thurs June 7 and Thurs July 5.
CHURCH ROAD Planning permission is being sought to turn a former care home at 57 Church Road into 12 self-contained flats. Colben Properties is the  applicant, c/o Pump House Designs of Sedlescombe.
BOHEMIA ROAD The proposed conversion of a shop into a one-bedroom flat at 121 Bohemia Road has been refused permission by Hastings Council’s planning committee. Councillor Vivienne Bond told the Voice, ‘This was turned down by the planners before it ever came to us, because the shop lies within the Bohemia Road Core Shopping Area set out in the Borough Plan.’
ST PETER’S CHURCH For the seventh year in a row, the book sale held at St Peter’s Church Hall (on Sat 17th March) was a great success. Organiser Stewart Buchan said, ‘The event was well served by dealers, including Clive Linklater of Bookman’s Halt.  There were four or five dealers who went away with their bags full.  In all we made £310, of which half must have come from the dealers.’
VIC CHALCRAFT Mr Vic Chalcraft, local resident, has decided not to go ahead with plans to have his Bohemia Remem-bered memoirs published by Voice owner John Humphries. John said, ‘I’m really very sorry about this, as they are good stories and deserve to be told.’
LONDON ROAD A planning application has been submitted to convert a disused shopfront, basement flat and three-storey maisonette at 237 London Road into five flats. The applicant is A. Chaudhry of Trentcrown Ltd, Southall, west London.
VOICE FORMAT Local reaction to the recent changes in the format of the Village Voice has been broadly favourable. Local newsagent Dorothy Wood told us that people have generally appreciated the new look. ‘People like the new book form and tell me it’s better than the “sheets” [the old A4 format] it used to come in. Most of them also seemed to like the cover. There are a couple who grumble, but then they always do.’  Dorothy also told us that people find the village directory comes in handy. We’re delighted to hear that, of course, and Dorothy says she’s also glad she decided to advertise with us. ‘I’ve picked up several new customers for the newspaper round,’ she said.’
COUNCIL TAX Have you had your council tax bill yet? If not then you’re not alone.  Councillor Vivienne Bond says that some half a dozen Bohemia residents she had spoken to recently had yet to receive their bills for 2007/08. ‘The Council has insisted that all bills were sent out on 9th March, meaning that perhaps many more must have gone astray. Anyone paying in monthly instalments who is not on direct debit should be particularly concerned. ‘If you’re late on a payment then the Council is likely to ask for the full amount in one lump – even if it’s not your fault.’