SPOTLIGHT: Councillors delay decision on Exceat Bridge scheme
By Huw Oxburgh, BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporter Plans to replace Exceat Bridge remain uncertain, after county council leaders deferred a decision on whether to scale back the scheme in the face of rising costs. East Sussex County Council’s cabinet had been due to decide today (March 4) whether to discontinue plans to replace the single-lane […]
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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: 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: Councillors approve shared house with eight bedrooms
By Huw Oxburgh, BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporter Eastbourne councillors have approved plans for shared housing in Meads. On Tuesday (December 10), the borough council’s planning committee approved proposals to create an eight-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Meads Street. While the scheme had been recommended for approval, neighbours argued it would harm the Meads […]
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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 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: A look inside Eastbourne Mosque
By Rebecca Maer The carpet is deeply plush, the tables are laden with home-made food and the welcome is the warmest you will find in Eastbourne. The town’s mosque opened its doors at the weekend for the first time to invite the town to meet the community and see at first hand prayers taking place. […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Is the Claremont Hotel site finally being redeveloped?
By Rebecca Maer Is the end in sight at last for the peeling hoarding, scaffolding and colonising weeds on the site of the Claremont Hotel in a prime seafront location? A planning application for the site of the hotel, which burned down five years ago, is likely to be submitted soon, according to Eastbourne Borough […]
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SPOTLIGHT: The value of arts and culture to Eastbourne
By Rebecca Maer Amid a raft of proposed council spending cuts, we examine the figures being quoted for running arts and heritage in Eastbourne High above Eastbourne, surrounded by sky and downland, is the flint-faced barn housing the Beachy Head Story. Through a wide window at the back, there are far-reaching views across the swooping […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Controversial spending cuts agreed
Rebecca Maer, Eastbourne Reporter Huw Oxburgh, BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporter Eastbourne council leaders agreed spending cuts of £2.7 million for this year at a meeting last night of the cabinet amid jeers and heckling from residents in the public gallery. The borough council’s ruling Liberal Democrats agreed to move ahead with immediate cuts, including the […]
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