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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SPOTLIGHT: Station drop-off zone to reopen
The long-running refurbishment of the side canopy at Eastbourne station is finally finishing, with the drop-off point likely to re-open within the next two weeks. The work was severely delayed due to extensive wood decay which was discovered by workers. The area on Ashford Road (below) was closed in May 2021 so work could take […]
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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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SPOTLIGHT: Plea to cut housing targets
A council leader has pledged to lobby the Government to change national planning policy after approval was given to build 700 new homes on farmland near the South Downs despite huge local opposition. Last week, planning permission was granted for the controversial scheme at Mornings Mill Farm in Lower Willingdon, against Wealden District Council’s wishes. […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Appeal for 700 homes at Mornings Mill Farm allowed
Planning permission has been granted for a controversial scheme of 700 homes at Mornings Mill Farm in Lower Willingdon – and Wealden District Council will bear the cost of the three-day appeal hearing. A Government planning inspector has upheld an appeal by the landowners Peter and Robert Vine against a decision by Wealden District Council […]
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SPOTLIGHT: A new lease of life for landmark
The landmark building which housed former department store T J Hughes sprang back into life this week as the venue for a host of community projects under one roof. Christian charity Living Life Eastbourne has been granted a one-year rolling lease and plans to use it extensively as a charity retail store, a warm space […]
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SPOTLIGHT: St Mary’s bell ringers – the hidden heroes of Royal mourning
WE have witnessed many ancient traditions and protocols in the past week following the death of the Queen. There has been the proclamation of accession to the Privy Council, sombre vigils by the coffin and the hearse inching through streets lined with thousands of people. The tolling of bells in churches around the country is […]
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