SPOTLIGHT: Three sisters rise to the occasion
WE talk to the family who have brought European-style bread and pastries to the East Sussex coast as they mark the first anniversary of their town centre shop It’s slice, weigh, knead, shape, repeat at To The Rise Bakery, Eastbourne. It’s soothing and hypnotic to watch 23-year-old Morgan Pollard preparing dozens of sourdough loaves as […]
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SPOTLIGHT: ‘Water companies have been getting away with blue murder’
As Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey visits Eastbourne, we ask him about the sewage spill controversy and what he would do to address the issue Sir Ed is a busy man this month – and has a pair of wellies in the car boot to cover all eventualities. He is touring areas where his […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Sea swimmers make waves over sewage spills
A TOP executive at Southern Water took the plunge into the chilly waters with sea swimmers in Eastbourne when he met them to face questions about sewage discharges. Dr Toby Willison (below), the director of environment and corporate affairs, swam for a few minutes on Saturday before emerging to declare: “It was a bit cold, […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Who gives up their weekends to clear rubbish?
Many of us would consider litter picking to involve a little light collecting of discarded crisp packets, drinks cans and coffee cups. But eight shopping trolleys, part of a car door, a handbag, toilet brush, dozens and dozens of cans, a plastic utensil holder, clothing, two useable toolboxes and a cycle wheel were among the […]
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SPOTLIGHT: How people power saved Fisherman’s Green
The controversy over plans to earmark the seafront site for housebuilding involved thousands of residents’ objections and the intervention of a Cabinet minister. It has now been taken off the list. We unpick what happened and talk to the women who successfully campaigned against the proposals Fiona Mullen and her neighbours had prepared for a […]
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SPOTLIGHT: How safe is our sea water?
We plunge into the murky waters of storm overflow – or sewage dumping, depending on your point of view, for a long read on what is happening to our coast. We talk to those on both sides of the argument about how Southern Water operates the sewerage system as we examine the controversy. The quality […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Who goes sea swimming in January?
AS THE cold snap persists and daytime temperatures barely edge above zero, most of us wrap up in thermal layers to take a few lungfuls of cold air before scuttling back to central heating. But there are people, who can be glimpsed on the beach, who take a very different view. The members of Eastbourne […]
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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: 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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SPOTLIGHT: Small change, big difference
The challenges facing the planet can seem overwhelming as we sit and watch David Attenborough’s latest BBC documentary on a Sunday night talk about melting glaciers and struggling penguins. What on earth can we, as a single individual, do? Will it make a difference in the global scheme of climate change if we don’t […]
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