Another national award has come Hastings’ way.

Hastings Borough Council (HBC) is celebrating after its Bottle Alley lighting scheme won the Outdoor lighting project of the year award at the prestigious 2018 LUX awards, which took place in London last week.

As local people know Bottle Alley is a 250m long covered walkway along Hastings seafront. Located to the west of Hastings pier it was built in the 1930s as part of the much acclaimed works to Hastings seafront that were designed by borough engineer Sidney Little who also oversaw the construction. Bottle Alley gets its names from the fact that one side is covered in coloured broken glass, the other side of the walkway affords  amazing views of the pier and sea.

The lights are LED multi-coloured programmable lighting, with each individual LED being programmable the new scheme was installed by HBC to replace what the council described at the time as, “the dilapidated and old lighting and framework”. The programmable nature of the lights means that everything from a subtle wave effect to a riot of colour can be set.

The scheme was one of nine installations to be shortlisted; others included Alexandra Palace telecommunications mast, Hull City public realm, Westminster Bridge Road London and Newport Bridge. The judges praised Bottle Alley for its transformative nature, particularly its impact on the regeneration of that part of the seafront and the way it engaged the community.

HBC was also shortlisted in the Client of the Year category for the Bottle Alley project, in recognition of the great relationship the council has, and maintained, with its contractors throughout the process.

HBC leader Councillor Peter Chowney said after the awards ceremony: “I am obviously delighted that we have won this award. Bottle Alley has been transformed from an unpleasant, dark walkway that many people avoided, to a fantastic attraction in its own right. Our nightly light shows, and extended light show on Fridays, have proved really popular with residents and visitors alike. We can also change the lighting scheme to reflect the various events that take place here in Hastings, so turning Bottle Alley green during Jack in the Green, for example.

“Thanks must go to Laser Energy Ltd who provided the procurement framework for the project, and contractors World Busy, PR Lighting and Osram, all of whom view Bottle Alley as an exemplar project and are as proud of the project as we are.

“I would also like to thank the various council staff involved in the project. Hannah Brookshaw gave a speech at the LUX Safer Cities conference the day before the award ceremony, highlighting the positive impact the lights have had on the space, the community and surrounding area.”