Bohemia Village Voice

High Spirits
London Road newsagent High Spirits has been adding a few services in recent weeks. As well as an increasing number of promotions, shop owner Arun Thiva says there is now a Paypoint in the shop, where customers can pay for TV licences and utility bills, and also pick up phonecards, bus and train tickets.
Fire escape
The replacement of a wooden fire escape at 11 Markwick Terrace with a mild-steel stairway has been approved by Hastings Council’s planning board. The permission is granted on condition that ‘the works proposed will not harm the character of the listed building’.
London Road
The conversion into four flats of a three-storey maisonette, a disused shopfront and basement, at 237 London Road has been approved by Hastings Council’s planning committee. The planned works include alterations to the front and rear elevations of the building.
Alldays
Alldays on Bohemia Road are planning a shop refit. Our interest was sparked by a planning application to Hastings Council for a new, double-sided projecting sign. Store mananger Alan Derosa told the Voice, ‘We’ve been owned by the Co-op for a number of years, and now we’ll be getting the Co-op green fascia above the shop and Co-op colours inside. Obviously, we’ve been selling Co-op goods for years, so the only changes customers will notice are cosmetic.’
Tower Road West
Planning permission is being sought to change a dwelling house at 17 Tower Road West into bed-and-breakfast accommodation. The applicant is A. Edwards of Cheshunt in Hertfordshire.
Siam Property
No parking for Penny Lane. Now you see it, now you don’t. Local guitar shop Penny Lane Music closed very suddenly last month. The business was a welcome addition to the retail landscape of Bohemia, but rumour has it that, after a trial period in the corner premises at 76 Bohemia Road, the music chain decided not to continue in this area, citing the parking difficulties of potential customers as the reason for their hasty departure.
The property will not remain empty for long, however, as the Voice was quick to notice its interior being refurbished in mid-June. One of the decorators, Joel Higgs, told us that Siam Property Services Ltd will be opening an office there at the beginning of July. The company belongs to Joel’s father Roy, who also owns the corner building. We wish them a long and prosperous stay in Bohemia.

Scan unit coming
Summerfields Leisure Centre is seeking planning permission to cast concrete pads on which to position a mobile unit offering MRI/CT and radiology scans. Summer-fields Leisure Centre manager Paul Wilson told us, ‘The NHS approached us and Hastings Borough Council, who employ Freedom Leisure to run Summerfields. The mobile unit will be sited in the car park, which is owned and managed by the Council, while patients waiting for scans will be invited to wait in the centre’s cafe area. The cafe is rarely full, so there should be space for everyone.’
Slimming World
Teresa Spackman, former resident of Newgate Road now living in Redmayne Drive, is proof that you don’t need to starve to lose weight. Having lost 3½ stone herself and with her husband’s diabetes being controlled by diet alone, Teresa has now opened her own Slimming World group at Concordia Hall, Church Road on Mondays at 7pm. For more information, phone Teresa on 465170.
Pestalozzi Boot Fair
Clive Coleman has organised a grand boot fair and classic car show at the Pestalozzi Village in Sedlescombe. Clive and his Welsh border collie, Silo, will be well known to regular readers of the Village Voice. The event will be held to raise money for the Pestalozzi Village and the NSPCC. Sat 30th June/Sun 31st July at 9am.