SPOTLIGHT: Luxury apartments planned for Claremont Hotel site
By Rebecca Maer [Edited 4.3.2025 to include comments from the Eastbourne Society] A property developer is planning to build 55 luxury apartments on the site of the burnt-down Claremont Hotel opposite Eastbourne pier in a £20 million project. No planning application has yet been submitted but an outline of the scheme is on Oasis Developers’ […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Controversial closure of vital day centre confirmed
Rebecca Maer, Eastbourne Reporter Huw Oxburgh, BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporter A centre for people with learning disabilities in Eastbourne is to be closed to save money to the dismay of families. East Sussex County Council’s ruling Conservative cabinet has today controversially decided to close Linden Court on the Birch Road Industrial Estate, near Lottbridge Drove. […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Booking system for tip approved despite huge opposition
By Huw Oxburgh, BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporter Proposals to introduce a booking system at East Sussex rubbish tips have been approved by a senior county councillor. The proposals were agreed by Cllr Claire Dowling, East Sussex County Council’s lead member for transport and environment, on Monday (February 24). The decision is despite huge resistance from […]
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SPOTLIGHT: What does devolution mean for Eastbourne?
Residents of Eastbourne are being asked for their views on the Government’s plans to reorganise local government. People can agree or disagree with the proposal to set up a Sussex-wide Mayor and a single authority. The consultation runs until 13 April. Paul Bromley takes an in-depth look at the issue. What is devolution? A House […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Questions keep coming over Sovereign Centre
By Rebecca Maer The council leader was in the hot seat last night as he faced a heartfelt plea from a mother spearheading a campaign to keep the Sovereign Centre swimming pools open all year. Cllr Stephen Holt, leader of the Liberal Democrat-controlled borough council, was called to answer questions at the scrutiny committee under the […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Sovereign Centre protest draws large crowd
By Rebecca Maer More than 200 people turned out on a grey, cold Saturday morning at the Sovereign Centre to voice their concerns about the long-term future of the seafront swimming pool complex. Families waved placards, children chanted into megaphones and a large motorbike cavalcade swept up, all making their feelings clear about what the centre […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Former hospital could be used to house asylum seekers
By Rebecca Maer [Update: in early February, the Home Office confirmed it was to “walk away from Esperance House and will not be pursuing this site” as dispersal accommodation for people seeking asylum.] Eastbourne Borough Council has objected to a Home Office proposal to house up to 125 asylum seekers in the former Esperance Hospital […]
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SPOTLIGHT: East Sussex to discuss local government overhaul
CORRECTION NOTE FROM THE BBC-FUNDED LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTING SERVICE: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the government’s Devolution Priority Programme (DPP) was intended to see “combined authorties” set up in time for “the next round of local elections in May”. This is inaccurate. The DPP is linked to the new “strategic” authorities, which […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Motcombe Pool clinches £520,000 in funding
By Rebecca Maer Community campaigners are celebrating the news they have been awarded more than £520,000 funding towards refurbishing Motcombe Pool. The vital injection of money will help realise the vision of creating a wellbeing centre at the 120-year-old buildings in Motcombe Lane in Old Town. The Government grant is for £475,000 capital funding and […]
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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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