Channel swimmer on beach at Eastbourne

SPOTLIGHT: The Channel swimmer who battled to reach the French coast 

Craig Kircher, a 49-year-old electrician, successfully swam across the English Channel to France in 14 hours, overcoming a migraine and challenging currents. His intense training and mental resilience enabled him to achieve what fewer than 2,000 people worldwide have done, raising £4,500 for charity.

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SPOTLIGHT: Solar panels on Eastbourne Levels given go ahead 

By Rebecca Maer Solar panels will be installed across an agricultural flood plain either side of the railway track into Eastbourne after councillors approved the scheme.  They voted narrowly in favour – with three for, two against and one absention – after the scheme was discussed at last night’s Eastbourne Borough Council planning meeting.  The […]

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SPOTLIGHT: Sovereign Harbour flats scheme still too big, say councillors

By Rebecca Maer A controversial retirement scheme planned for Sovereign Harbour was last night deferred for the second time as councillors dug their heels in over the scale of the design, rejecting a recommendation to approve it. The original plan for three blocks at Martinique Way at the edge of a shingle beach has already […]

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REVIEW: Grease – The Musical

By Paul Bromley A profusion of ‘Pink Ladies’ poured into the Congress Theatre for a stylish and colourful production of Grease – The Musical. Some of the audience members were mature enough to remember the film first time round; others seemed too young to be familiar with the story of Danny and Sandy at Rydell […]

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REVIEW: The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company

By Gary Murray The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company’s summer residence in a big top tent in Helen Garden has become a regular fixture of the Eastbourne summer scene. The Rudes, as they are affectionately known, specialise in a highly visual type of theatre incorporating elements of the Italian theatrical form of commedia dell’arte plus several […]

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SPOTLIGHT: Have your say on Orchard Road apartments plan

By Huw Oxburgh, BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporter Council plans to build town centre apartments in Eastbourne on the site of the former magistrates’ court are now open for comment. In a planning application validated last week, Eastbourne Borough Council has put forward fresh proposals to build housing on the site in Old Orchard Road. The […]

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SPOTLIGHT: Plan for 100 homes to replace ‘eyesore’ car park

By Huw Oxburgh, BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporter A developer has submitted plans to replace a multi-storey car park near the station in Eastbourne with more than 100 homes. In plans validated by Eastbourne Borough Council last week, developer Elstree Land is seeking planning permission to demolish the now-closed multi-storey car park in Junction Road and […]

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Hound of the Baskervilles

REVIEW: The Hound of the Baskervilles

By Paul Bromley If you’ve ever been to one of Eastbourne Theatres summer productions before, you’ll know what to expect. If you’ve never been to one of Eastbourne Theatres summer productions before, you’re about to experience the unexpected. The Hound of the Baskervilles follows in the footsteps (or rather pawprints) of previous shows such as […]

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SPOTLIGHT: When is Fort Fun re-opening?

Prominent seafront site Fort Fun is on the verge of partially re-opening with the revamped indoor play area.   The company developing the site is about to finally sign a five-year lease with Eastbourne Borough Council.  The refurbishment has been dogged by legal delays and repeated anti-social behaviour at the former fun park. Vandals have […]

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SPOTLIGHT: Controversial flats plan reduced by just one storey

A controversial seven-storey “oversized” coastal retirement scheme will be lowered by just one floor, according to a revised planning application.  The new plan for the plot on the western edge of Sovereign Harbour also reduces the number of apartments by eight to 128 and changes the appearance of the building. But the residents’ association would […]

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