SPOTLIGHT: Pressure mounts over Sovereign Centre contract
By Rebecca Maer [Updated 18.12.2024 with council statement at end] Pressure is mounting on Eastbourne Borough Council to talk to more than one leisure operator about running the Sovereign Centre as it emerged that others are interested. Another company has confirmed to the Eastbourne Reporter that it approached the council about the centre, where two […]
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SPOTLIGHT: New operator announced for Eastbourne’s theatres
A theatre operator with sites in London and Sydney has signed a deal to run entertainment venues in Eastbourne. The partnership deal with Eastbourne Borough Council will involve the Congress Theatre, pictured above (1,689 seats), Devonshire Park Theatre (873 seats), Winter Garden (1000+ Seats) as well as conferencing and exhibition facilities. Trafalgar Theatres – the venues […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Protesters urge reprieve for swimming pools
By Rebecca Maer Dozens of protesters braved the cold and rain last night as councillors met to scrutinise the controversial decision to close two Eastbourne swimming pools. Furious residents chanted ‘Save Our Pool’ and waved placards on the steps of the town hall in Grove Road (above). The fun pool and the smaller training […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Decision due on shared housing in Meads conservation area
By Huw Oxburgh, BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporter Proposals for shared housing in Meads are to go before councillors next week. Eastbourne Borough Council’s planning committee is due to consider plans (Tuesday, December 10) to officially create an eight-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Meads Street. The scheme has been recommended for approval by planning […]
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SPOTLIGHT: The case for and against assisted dying
By Rebecca Maer Emotional stories of Eastbourne people’s experience of seeing loved ones at the end of their lives unfolded last night in an online discussion about assisted dying. One woman who was in favour of allowing it said: “I would not want anybody to have to go through what my husband went through and […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Council committee to explore ‘further options’ for Sovereign Centre
By Huw Oxburgh, BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporter The leader of Eastbourne Borough Council has committed to making no “irreversible changes” to swimming pools at a leisure centre ahead of further investigations into its future. The commitment was made at a full council meeting last night (November 20), in response to a motion submitted by Conservative […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Eastbourne and Lewes councils chief to also head Hastings council
By Rebecca Maer The chief executive of Eastbourne and Lewes Councils is to also head up Hastings Borough Council for six months, it has been confirmed tonight. Robert Cottrill, whose salary at Eastbourne and Lewes is around £145,000 a year, is to replace Jane Hartnell in Hastings, who left three weeks ago “by mutual consent”. […]
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SPOTLIGHT: The woman behind Friends of Eastbourne Seafront
By Rebecca Maer For a woman who has been an aid worker, forklift driver, foster carer, business owner and town mayor, Gaynor Sedgwick is modest and unassuming. Sipping her mid-morning coffee in a seafront hotel, she could pass for a retired person enjoying her leisure time. But Gaynor, 69, feels in some ways she’s only […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Eastbourne bus lanes approved
By Huw Oxburgh, BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporter Controversial proposals for new bus lanes in Eastbourne will go ahead, a senior county councillor has decided. Cllr Claire Dowling, East Sussex County Council’s lead member for transport and environment, agreed with plans to install new bus lanes along the A259, Seaside (main image / Google) and St […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Plans for civic space scaled back due to costs
By Huw Oxburgh, BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporter Regeneration plans for a car-free public space in Eastbourne town centre are being scaled back as a result of rising costs. East Sussex County Council councillors agreed at a meeting today to reduce the scope of plans to create a new civic space in Terminus Road. Nearly £2.5 […]
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