SPOTLIGHT: Revealed – doctor appointment waiting times
THREE out of 11 GP surgeries in the Eastbourne area offered same-day appointments to 75% of patients who requested them, according to new Government figures. But five practices only offer the same-day service to around 50% of patients who ask for one. The data shows the time between booking and “all appointment modes”, which include […]
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SPOTLIGHT: ‘I am human. I want to study and I want to work’, says asylum seeker in Eastbourne
AS controversy continues about the placement of asylum seekers in hotels around the country – including at six hotels in Eastbourne – I spoke to one young Iraqi who has arrived on the East Sussex coast after a tortuous two-year journey across Europe. ALI is 22 years old. He tells me his story of endurance, […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Port Hotel extension deal called off
A DEAL to extend the distinctive black-painted Port Hotel on Eastbourne seafront into the neighbouring property has been abandoned. Peter Cadwallader of the 19-room Port Hotel wanted to buy the Atlanta Guest House, which has ten guest rooms. Mr Cadwallader, the co-founder and managing director of Port Hotels Ltd, confirmed to the Eastbourne Reporter: “The […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Bandstand stage restoration to start in spring
THE long-awaited first phase of repairs to Eastbourne’s iconic 1930s bandstand will start in the spring and it will re-open for the summer 2023 season, a council meeting heard last night as it approved the work. After an initial £750,000 is spent to repair the stage and parts of the main structure, up to £8 […]
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SPOTLIGHT: What inspires the artists who welcome us into their homes?
WHEN socks or yet another scented candle just doesn’t cut it at Christmas, an original piece of art or craft from an independent artist might fit that gift-shaped hole. And when those independent artists invite you into their own homes and studios to see the work, it’s a great way to avoid over-heated over-busy shops […]
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Why I started the Eastbourne Reporter – and how you can help
The Eastbourne Reporter is a free-to-read independent website with original content written by me, Rebecca Maer, an experienced journalist. It is a Community Interest Company, which means any profits would be re-invested in the business. I interview people face-to-face where possible to explore untold stories on the East Sussex coast. I also write occasional impartial […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Bandstand conservation takes centre stage
THE LIFE of Eastbourne’s iconic bandstand should be extended by decades with extensive repairs to the stage and roof, the borough council’s conservation advisory group heard last night. The existing plywood stage floor has wet rot and is now deemed to be dangerous, according to a report to the group on the Grade II-listed building. […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Nearly £2 million must be cut from town budget
Nearly £2 million in savings must be found to balance the annual budget amid rising pressure from high inflation, an Eastbourne Borough Council meeting was told last night. Councils across the country are nervously awaiting what Chancellor Jeremy Hunt may announce in his Autumn Statement on 17 November to hear how deep the cuts will […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Why does the Winter Garden still look so tatty?
LONG delayed work on the dilapidated exterior of the Winter Garden will finally go ahead next year, according to Eastbourne Borough Council. Refurbishment of the landmark building, near the theatres and art gallery in the Devonshire Quarter (DQ), has fallen victim to the impact of Covid on local government finances, the council says. A revised […]
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REVIEW: Polegate High Street
Polegate High Street should be a delightful place to shop and linger. It could feature in a classic Ladybird illustration of Shopping with Mother, wholesome girl and boy at her side on a sunny day as they visit the bakery, the greengrocers and butchers. There’s a mainline railway station, a church (below) opposite Victorian villas […]
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