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 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: Cycling by the sea still a distant prospect
NO solution to the decades-long quest for a safe cycle route along Eastbourne seafront appears imminent, despite an urgent need to offer viable alternatives to car use. East Sussex County Council (ESCC), which is the highways authority, said it is “committed to delivering a continuous cycle route” but that it “cannot be delivered in the […]
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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: The ancient farmland which may disappear under 700 homes
John Pritchett pauses beneath the avenue of centuries-old oaks at Mornings Mill Farm with panoramic views of the South Downs towards Butts Brow. He looks up into the tree canopy and thinks back to when he worked the farm in Lower Willingdon. “I used to walk down this path after work in summer and there […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Life on the ‘Grow Eastbourne’ allotment
A SMALL group of people sit on logs under the welcome shade of an old apple tree at the end of an allotment. There is banter and plans for a Friday evening get-together (‘bring beer!’) and it seems like a sociable break from a spot of planting, weeding and watering. The plot has flourishing potatoes […]
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SPOTLIGHT: Where do we go from here on seafront cycling?
In the final section of our three part series looking at why there is no safe Eastbourne seafront cycling route along the entire beachfront, we talk to the local authorities involved. We ask Eastbourne Borough Council and East Sussex County Council about the way ahead as we face a climate emergency THERE are two parts […]
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SPOTLIGHT: “I am not optimistic about anything changing very quickly”
A wide view of Eastbourne promenade looking west to Beachy Head
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