I was surprised to read D Curtis suggesting Hastings is closed for the summer because of the closure of the East Hill Lift and partial closure of the pier (Letters, March 24).

Nothing could be further from the truth. Hastings is very much open and business is booming.

Yes, there is a sorry tale to tell about our pier but we are not alone in having problems with piers.

We had hoped to open the East Hill Lift for this summer but the health and safety investigations into the cause of last summer's accident have only just finished.

We were also frustrated about how long this took but it was completely out of our hands. We couldn't carry out a detailed assessment of the repairs required until the technical investigations had been finished because of the need to preserve the evidence.

So it is only in the past few days we've been told the coach bodies are beyond repair and need replacing.

These are unique so the new bodies will need designing and building from scratch. Hence the delay.

However, there is still a huge amount to do in Hastings, more than in many other Sussex resorts, dare I say. The West Hill Lift is still open, taking visitors to the castle and Smugglers Adventure.

Hastings Country Park and Alexandra Park are well worth a visit, as are the recently refurbished St Leonards Gardens.

We've got Clambers Playcentre, a fantastic Adventure Golf on the seafront and one of the highest concentrations of half-timbered houses in the country in the Old Town. Last week, Blue Reef opened its new aquarium here, after an investment of £1.5 million. I popped in on Saturday. It was really busy and a fantastic addition to our attractions.

So do pay us a visit. I can promise you that Hastings really is worth coming to. And come back again next year and ride on the refurbished East Hill Lift.

  • Kevin Boorman, head of destination management and marketing, Hastings Borough Council