This page contains 2010 news. Click here for the news archives. Click here for Event Announcements. If you have a local news story or a local event to announce please e-mail the web manager.
►15
Mar - Secure your PIN and credit card! - Police are
advising customers shopping at supermarkets to be extra vigilant
when using the store's "Self service checkouts".
Recently there have been an series of offences where customers have
paid for their goods using a credit or debit card at a self service
checkout. Whilst they have done this 2 people have been watching
them input their PIN into the card machine.
A short time later, the same customer is approached in the store's
car park and distracted, often by being asked the directions to the
local hospital or similar and the card is stolen from a handbag or
purse by someone else. Very quickly the card is used at the store's
cash point and the maximum is withdrawn for that day.
This is particularly nasty as is plays on the good nature of
residents who wish to help others in medical need. Additionally the
victim does not realise the card has gone until some time after.
Enquires are continuing as to who is responsible for this crime, but
vigilance is needed by all shoppers, especially at busy times.
Insp Rachel Barrow, the Neighbourhood Policing Inspector has said "This type of offence is very rare in Eastbourne, but it does appear well organised. We are reminding people to cover the keypad when typing in their PIN and be aware of anybody standing close-by and watching them. If an individual is acting suspiciously please call Police straightaway by dialling 999".
►15
Mar - Sovereign Harbour on Google Street View - the
streets of Eastbourne and Sovereign Harbour can now be viewed on
Google Street View. The feature provides users with 360° horizontal
and 290° vertical panoramic street level views within Google Maps.
This latest release has greatly expanded the UK coverage.
Google collects these images using special cameras mounted on the
roof of cars
that capture and match images to a specific location using GPS
devices. Once the images are captured, they are "sewn" together to
create a 360° panorama. Faces and license plates are blurred before
the panorama images become viewable in Google Maps.
Click here for Google Maps... Then zoom in (try using your
mouse wheel) to street level - then drag the golden human icon (Pegman)
on to the street.
►13 Mar
- South Bridge closed daytime - Message from Premier Marinas -
We have been advised our contractor will be on site from Monday 15th
March until approximately Friday 19th March 2010 to carry out the
painting and maintenance work we planned to carry out a few months
ago on the South bridge.
We are hoping we can lower the bridge each evening for pedestrians,
however if this changes I will let you know.
Dave Needham
Assistant Marina Manager Sovereign Harbour
Premier Marinas Limited
Tel: 01323 470099
►13 Mar
- Beach work and Harbour dredging update - Monday (15th March) will see the
start of shingle movement from Cooden and Herbrand Walk to 'White
Horses' and Sovereign Harbour. There will be six trucks travelling
in convoy with each return journey taking about 75 minutes. As
usual they will be restricted to 10mph. The work will last just 5
days, start at 07:30 each day and finish by 17:30.
At
the same time you will see Sospan Dau working at Sovereign Harbour
dredging the entrance channel for Premier Marinas. As part of a
concerted move towards improving sustainability we will be trying to
reuse any clean sand and shingle that is dredged from the entrance
rather than see it all dumped out in a licensed area in Eastbourne
Bay.
When suitable material is identified in the dredger’s hold, the
skipper will divert the vessel to the area seaward of 'White Horses'
and Pevensey Bay Sailing Club.
Most of what will be found will be sand, which will be bottom-dumped
in the area just above MLW. A bulldozer will be on hand daily to
ensure that any shingle is pushed ashore and to dissipate any small
amounts of silt that may be included with the sand.
Given the tidal constraints of working inshore and any waves that
may develop, we have no idea how many loads may be delivered, but
certainly the vast majority will still be disposed of at sea.
Similarly, duration of the work will depend on the weather, but in
any case it has to be completed by the end of March when the
disposal license expires for the season.
If you have any queries or comments please get in touch.
Ian Thomas
Project Manager
Pevensey Coastal Defence Ltd
Tel: 01323 761202
email:
pcdl@pevensey-bay.co.uk
Website:
www.pevensey-bay.co.uk
►
10 Mar - Eastbourne Herald & Gazette available at the Waterfront
- From this Friday (12 March) copies of The Herald will be on sale at Seamoors
Wine Bar on The Waterfront.
►
10 Mar - Medical Centre update - Peter Waugh, Project
Co-ordinator, has sent us the
following up-date on progress with the new Sovereign Harbour Medical Centre.
A further soil investigation has shown the best foundations will be
obtained by using a large number of short piles. Pre-tender
estimates for the building contract are prepared and the scheme is
almost ready to go out to tender. There has been much interest from
the building industry.
Discussions with Carillion have continued for the purchase of the
site and a formal offer has now been made.
A landscape scheme has been prepared for the ground around the
building, using a mix of grass, shingle, pine trees and shrubs, with
low hedges and railings to the side and rear of the site. The
pumping-station will as far as possible be visually integrated with
the rest of the site and ivy is proposed to cover its walls.
A brick type is being chosen which will fit in with the wide variety
of bricks found within sight of the centre.
The approach road will go into the site from the existing bell-mouth
which leads into the existing temporary surgery car park, then it
will loop round the back of the building. Pedestrian access will be
straight in off the pavement to the main entrance. A cycle way will
eventually run across the middle of the whole site and the
beginnings of this will form the far boundary across the top of the
site.
The building will be heated in winter and cooled in summer by an
air-source heat pump, located in a separate brick-built out-house on
the far side of the building , away from housing.
The building has been assessed by the infection control staff of the
PCT as meeting the standards for minor operations.
►
08 Mar - Beach work update - With no major change in the
weather expected this week, recycling plans remain largely
unaltered.
After a day’s work at Beachlands today (Monday), machines will return to
Cooden. For the remainder of the week shingle will be taken
primarily to Normans Bay East.
A week today will see the start of
a long distance haul all the way to 'White Horses' and Sovereign
Harbour. As has been the case for previous such hauls, all dumptrucks will run in convoy
to reduce the potential
inconvenience for residents and beach-goers.
If you have any
comments or queries, please let me know.
Ian
Thomas
Project Manager
Pevensey Coastal Defence Ltd
Tel:
01323 761202 email:
pcdl@pevensey-bay.co.uk
Website:
www.pevensey-bay.co.uk
►
07 Mar - Improved Eastbourne Neighbourhood Panels website -
The new
website gives information on Eastbourne's Neighbourhood
Panels and details their local issues, priorities, meetings and
other information.
Neighbourhood Panels were set up because Neighbourhood policing
teams, Borough and County councillors, local people and other
agencies, are required to work in partnership to ensure crime free
areas in which people want to live and work.
A Neighbourhood Panel provides a solid platform from which a strong
relationship can be built between local people and the police, and
are mostly about identifying the root causes of problems, and trying
to find resolutions to any issues. An added benefit is that any area
with a Neighbourhood Panel is a safer one.
Neighbourhood Panels, driven and chaired by local people (such
as the
Sovereign Harbour Neighbourhood Panel), are a proven way of
fostering and ensuring good working partnerships and reducing crime.
►
05 Mar - Community working together to make real difference
- Latest crime figures for the residential area of Sovereign Harbour
have shown a real reduction in the number of victims.
The statistics, released after a request from the
Sovereign Harbour Neighbourhood Panel (SHNP), showed that in
2009 there were 148 crimes recorded in the residential area of the
Harbour; a reduction from the 183 in 2008. These crimes were wide
and varied in nature and exclude those that took place in the
business area of the Crumbles.
Whilst any crime can have a devastating impact on the victim, this
reduction shows that the strong partnership working between the
Neighbourhood Policing Team, Neighbourhood Panel, SHRA, and local
Council is beginning to have to a great effect on crime in the
area. The Harbour, whilst being a relatively new community, is
working to ensure criminals know they are being watched, and will be
caught.
Neighbourhood Constable for the area, PC Ed Faulkner, said: "This is
great news; joined up thinking involving all the community is
exactly what is needed to tackle all sorts of crime. These figures
are a tribute to the work and dedication put in by residents who are
prepared to go that little bit further to help out their community.
We intend to continue this close working to drive down the figures
for 2010. I know that stats aren't everything, but these are a
measure of our work".
Chairman of the SHNP, Jan Weeks, said "These statistics show
that good co-operation within the community - residents, police,
the Borough Council and harbour stakeholders is essential, and has
had a positive effect in keeping crime down. The Harbour is a
beautiful and safe environment in which to live; working together
we can keep it that way.
"We have to thank the Neighbourhood Policing Team for
being visible and approachable, and the issuing of personal mobile
numbers has made contacting Neighbourhood officers easier than ever
before. This means residents are able to speak to somebody they know
and who knows their area; not just a faceless voice. The SHNP has
been operating since May 2008 and, by prioritising residents'
issues, has been an influential factor in the production of these
excellent results."
Also released today is the March Update from Eastbourne District
Police Commander Jayne Dando.
Click here to
read it...
And also the March edition of the Eastbourne Crime
Reduction Partnership Newsletter -
Click here to
read it...
►
02 Mar - Survey of bathing water at Normans and Pevensey Bays -
The Environment Agency are planning a survey on the
10th March around Pevensey and Norman's Bay in which they will be
using fluorescent dye (red and green) along with microbiological
tracer. The dyes readily biodegrade and the tracers are high
concentrations of organisms found in the environment.
There are no designated shellfish beds in the area, but as a sensible precaution you should avoid eating any fish or shellfish from the immediate area for a few days after the survey has taken place. See Notice to Mariners
The EA will put the tracer into the streams/rivers and then take a series of samples along the beach for a tidal cycle to see how the water from the streams impacts on the bathing area.
The survey is being conducted to investigate the causes of pollution to the designated bathing water beaches of Normans and Pevensey bays. We are quantifying the impact of pollution from the streams and outfalls onto the beach so that we can hopefully reduce any pollution and make the bathing waters cleaner.
►
01 Mar - Volunteers wanted at Beachy Head - Commencing in
April when its summer daily opening begins, volunteers are needed to help in the gift shop of
the
Beachy Head
Countryside Centre.
Only 3 hours (morning or afternoon) 10-1pm or 1pm-4pm, and an
opportunity to meet visitors from all over the world and the UK
enjoying the spectacular scenery of the South Downs.
Please call Hazel on 07903-840 287 (Email :
hazel.levene@delta45.com) if you are interested.
►
26 Feb - Pacific Drive adopted at last - We have just
received the good news that Pacific Drive has at last been adopted
by East Sussex County Council.
This is the culmination of a long process of co-operation between
SHRA, ESCC Highways Officer, Graham Kemp, and Sovereign Ward County
Councillor, Cllr. David Elkin. Our thanks to Graham and David, who
have both ensured that SHRA was consulted at every stage, and kept
fully informed of both progress and problems.
SHRA Chairman, Jan Weeks, said: ”The recent adverse weather
conditions showed the importance of this vital access road in and
out of the North Harbour. When the snow arrived, I contacted the
Highways officers and was told that, although adoption was imminent,
the necessary documentation had not been completed, so they were
powerless to do anything about it. I then contacted Cllr. Elkin who
promised to do everything possible to speed up the process. I’m
pleased to say that, since then, progress has been rapid and our
goal has now been achieved.”
Cllr. David Elkin said: “It was unacceptable that the only route to
the outside world for the residents of 2,000 dwellings was almost
impassable and the County Council was unable to resolve the problem.
Following the latest representation made by SHRA's Chairman Jan
Weeks, I redoubled my effort to
finalise the process."
"Although the delays have been frustrating, inspection showed the road was not up to the required standard. The price for the remedial work that was necessary was about £100k; it would have been irresponsible to burden the Council Tax payers with this cost. I have to say that the involvement of SHRA has been crucial.”
Now that the road has been adopted, it will be added to the ‘snow route’ which will ensure that it is kept clear when conditions are difficult.
We now need to put further pressure on the 'powers that be' for the Deed of Dedication for the remaining unadopted roads of the South Harbour.
►
25 Feb - Beach repair work scheduled - Since a
tempestuous November all has been relatively quiet, and hence beach
works for the last 10 weeks or so have been very limited. However,
the highest spring tides of the year are due in the very early hours
of Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd March, so it will be a surprise if
we escape as lightly as we did for similar tides in January.
Two years ago on 9th March the beach was well prepared for summer.
24 hours later, after the most erosive storm of the last 10 years, 6
weeks was needed to restore the defences to their earlier condition.
With this in mind we have started an excavator and two dumptrucks to
do some final reinforcement at Beachlands and Normans Bay East
before the weekend.
Where they work after that depends on the weather we receive between
now and Monday morning, but once they are on site they will
available at a few hours notice to deal with whatever comes our
way. I am sure one way and another they will work at Cooden,
Herbrand Walk, Normans Bay East, Beachlands, 'White Horses' and
Sovereign Harbour – all in relatively short hauls. All things being
equal they will continue in this way until Friday 12th March,
although the number of trucks will be increased if necessary.
For the week commencing Monday 15th March we intend to run shingle
from Cooden or Herbrand Walk all the way to Sovereign Harbour, with
6 or 7 dumptrucks running in convoy.
For the week commencing Monday 22nd March we intend to transfer
shingle round Sovereign Harbour from Langney, adding it the beach by
the north harbour revetment.
I have no doubt the weather will have the last word and change our
plans for us. I shall endeavour to keep you updated as and when
things do change.
Ian Thomas
Project Manager
Pevensey Coastal Defence Ltd
Tel: 01323 761 202 Mob: 07884 234 298
email:
pcdl@pevensey-bay.co.uk website:
www.pevensey-bay.co.uk
►
25 Feb - East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service expansion
- The WRAS, who SHRA support through sales of The Crumbles Story, are looking at the possibility of taking on a larger
unit at the Shaw Barn, Whitesmith where they are currently set up.
The new unit will be much
bigger and better suited for separating out prey from predator as
well as space for isolation. It will also provide a meeting room, office,
kitchen and toilet.
Before they take on the unit there will be much work needed
to clear, clean, tidy and decorate the new premises as well as construct
dividing walls etc.
If you are interested in helping fundraise or help with the move and
any work involved and would like to visit and see the possible new
unit, then please contact Trevor Weeks on the WRAS rescue line 07815
078 234.
Copies of The Crumbles Story, an illustrated history of the
land on which Sovereign Harbour was built, are still available from
us at £7.99.
Click here for details...
► 23 Feb - Harbour Friends
celebrates its 5th birthday -
An excellent turnout of members attended the 5th birthday
celebration and AGM of Harbour
Friends on Sunday 21 February at Sovereign Harbour Yacht
Club, and joined in a welcome glass of bubbly and a slice of
birthday cake.
In recognition of all her hard work in starting and running Harbour Friends over the past five years, Bev Adams was welcomed into the new role of Lifetime President, and Brian Trefty was appointed as Chairman, with a committee of 6 members to manage the club's activities in 2010.
Bev thanked all those who had assisted in 2009 in running a great mixture of events. The usual Sunday evening meetings included 'not quite' bingo, beetle drives, quiz, race and Call my Bluff nights. Events away from the Sunday venue included the summer ball, Christmas dinner, bowling and a variety of coach trips. All were a success and well attended.
The club remains in a healthy state with over 150 members in 2009 and numbers on target for a similar membership this year. Members thoughts on future activities were welcomed in general discussion, and it appears the committee will be kept fully involved in planning these over the coming months!
Membership is open to all those living on Sovereign Harbour. Meetings are every Sunday evening in the bar at Sovereign Harbour Yacht Club and membership provides excellent value at only £12 per year. New members are most welcome and should email Bev for more information at bev@harbourfriends.co.uk
►
20 Feb - Trinity House MV Alert at Sovereign Harbour -
The Alert is working in the outer harbour today (Saturday)
lifting the navigation buoys out of the water for servicing. The
removal of these buoys also usually indicates that the annual
depth surveys and dredging of the outer harbour are imminent.
►
16 Feb - Keep communal areas secure - There has
recently been an increase in dwelling burglaries where access has
been gained via insecure communal doors.
PC Ed Faulkner of the Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "The Harbour
has a very high concentration of blocks of flats and whilst we
regularly give advice over security of these properties I would like
to remind everyone who lives in a block of flats that, when you come
and go, to ensure the door closes properly behind you. Also if you
see any doors which are insecure, close them as soon as possible.
Similarly if you have balcony doors or windows, ensure that they are secured when not in use. Burglars take every opportunity they can, and so let's not give them any. Help protect your property and that of your neighbours. Keep doors and windows secure."
►
15 Feb - Crime Reduction Partnership newsletter -
Eastbourne Crime Reduction Partnership have recently published their
February newsletter.
Amongst other items, it contains info on road safety and a report on an interesting and
fruitful exercise, 'Operation Synergy' in Old Town. To read it
click
here...
►
13 Feb - SHRA membership renewal - Many SHRA memberships are
due for renewal in late March. If you renew your membership early
(like from now!) to help us deal with the rush, we will still extend
your new membership card to the end of March 2011. We can do this
whether you renew by cheque or on-line by credit card via PayPal.
See Join page for details, postal application
form and PayPal link.
►
12 Feb - Visit by the Mayor - At the invitation of
Sovereign
Harbour Social Club, Eastbourne's mayor visited the Harbour on
Wednesday, along with local councillors Margaret Salsbury and Susan
Morris and Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Stephen Lloyd, to
celebrate the Club's second birthday.
Video...
►
08 Feb - Shoresearch 2010 - If you enjoy being out in the
open air, are interested in rock pooling and learning more about our
coastal habitats and species, then this may be exactly what you are
looking for. A series of field trips from March to November to nine
lovely beach locations to help survey the intertidal plant and
animal life. Full details in this
Shoresearch
information sheet.
►08 Feb - Police get mobile phones - The Neighbourhood Policing Team have been issued with mobile phones which they will carry whenever they are on duty. If they are busy the call will be diverted to the Hammonds Drive office, and then to voicemail.
The numbers are:
 Ed Faulkner 07787 685 813 |
 Louis Thompson 07787 685 801 |
 Martin Hylands 07909 873 787 |
►
05 Feb - Parking enforcement update - The
NSL Services Group
mobile patrol unit is making regular visits during the day to both
Atlantic Drive and Pacific Drive.
Eight penalty charge notices have been issued to vehicles parked on
yellow lines since December. Three penalty notices were issued last
weekend. Further weekend and evening enforcement is planned.
►
03 Feb - Visit by Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex. The Lord
Lieutenant, Peter Field, was the guest of the
Sovereign
Harbour Social Club, on Wednesday, February 3rd.
He spoke of his role appointed by The Queen to act on her behalf in
East Sussex and explained how the title was created in the reign of
Henry VIII.
Click here... to view a video of the visit made by Eastbourne
Live Television
► 03 Feb - Thanks from Harbour Rotary Club - Photo below shows Don Perman, President of Sovereign Harbour's new Rotary Club, presenting a cheque for £530 to Kara Bishop, Chief Executive of St Wilfrid's Hospice. This sum was collected by the Club, outside Boots at the Crumbles, on 11 and 12 December and they are most grateful to local residents for their generosity.
►
02 Feb - Medical site inspection - This jacked-up
vehicle was spotted on the proposed Medical Centre site yesterday (Monday),
and is presumably carrying out the investigations mentioned in the report below.
The contactors website
suggests that these are probably Cone Penetration Tests which takes place
in-situ, with virtually instantaneous results.
►
29 Jan - Medical Centre update - Dr Adoki’s project team report
that detailed design is complete and the preparation to go out to tender has
begun.
They also report that the ground conditions revealed by the deep site drilling have shown
a need for some extra investigations which will be carried out within the
next two weeks. These will consist of a number of shallower ground tests.
Finally, they say that detailed discussions with Carillion regarding the purchase of the land continue and that they are keeping in touch with the PCT over the NHS support for the project.
►
29 Jan - Report scams - ESCC are asking residents in East Sussex to
help in the fight against con artists, criminals and scammers by taking part
in a month-long ‘Scamnesty’ campaign. The Council's Trading Standards are
asking the public to hand in any suspicious ‘scam’ mailings to their local
library during February. All of the County Council’s libraries are taking
part in the campaign which is being replicated by Trading Standards across
the UK with the support of the Office of Fair Trading.
More info and advice...
Also, be on your guard against so called 'phishing', where criminals phone you or send you a fake email tempting you to reveal your account details to them.
Do not to give out your personal details or passwords to anyone you don't know, both on-line or on the phone - no matter how essential they insist it is.
Ignore emails saying your Sky, BT, mobile phone or bank account has a problem or needs updating, no matter how 'official' the email looks (the logos are easily copied). All these organisations have other ways of informing you if there is a genuine problem. More info from Consumer Direct... More info from Bank Safe...
►
21 Jan - Sports and Leisure Directory updated - The directory lists
clubs and contacts offering activates for the over 50s in the Eastbourne
area. From Archery to Yoga via Creative
Writing, Family History and many more. It is published by the
Eastbourne
Seniors Forum (ESF).
Click here to view the Directory index...
►
20 Jan - If it 'aint the dogs, it's the blooming pigeons! -
A
Harbour resident has written to us seeking suggestions for keep pigeons off his
balcony. We've suggested the usual moving objects (e.g. windmills or
strung-up old CDs), or model owls, or something from
this web site...
Any other ideas or
suggestions to pass on welcomed.
► 20 Jan
- More dog fouling complaints - There has been an increase in cases
of dog fouling on the Harbour pavements and footpaths. All dog owners are
asked to please clear up after their dog.
More info...
►
17 Jan - Beachy Head light to be switched off - In their recently
published '2010 Aids to Navigation Review', Trinity House are proposing to
"Discontinue all Aids to Navigation at this station [Beachy Head] in
conjunction with increasing the range of the light at Royal Sovereign
lighthouse to 24nm".
You can
read the Review here... January.
More info...
►
15 Jan - Haiti Earthquake Appeal - You may like to donate at the
Disasters Emergency Committee
(DEC) website,
or the Oxfam
website, or via
PayPal.
Or you can donate by posting a cheque made payable to DEC HAITI EARTHQUAKE to DEC HAITI EARTHQUAKE, PO BOX 999, LONDON, EC3A 3AA
Or by phone on 0370 60 60 900, or by making a payment in any high street bank or post office quoting Freepay 1449.
►
12 Jan - New Year message from Police - Eastbourne's District
Commander Jayne Dando, reports on recent police work and prepares to welcome 8 more
officers to the team.
Click here to read message...
►
11 Jan - What's the name of that ship on the horizon? Now you can find out with
this live, marine tracking map.
Click here...
The data is collated from information received via the vessel's AIS
(Automatic Identification System).
All vessels over 299GT are required to
carry an AIS, which
transmits their position, speed, course, name,
dimensions and other details.
►
05 Jan- Local choir seek accompanist - The current accompanist of
the Sovereign Singers
female voice choir is unable to continue after May. The choir need to find
someone to accompany them next Autumn from October to December and hopefully
thereafter for a while.
As the choir donate all to charity their budget is minute for anything; they
really do need a minor miracle so they may continue with their future
musical and charity endeavours. If you can help the choir find an
accompanist please contact the Musical Director on 01323 470 445.
► 02
Jan - Reminder - new Stagecoach bus numbers from Jan 03 2010 - Buses on the routes
to and from Eastbourne Town Centre and the North and
South Harbour will be re-numbered as Number 5 (ASDA & North Harbour),
and Number 5A (Beatty Rd and South Harbour).
More info...
New timetable (seems
much the same).
► 02 Jan - 'Purse Buddie' alarms for free - The Crime Reduction Partnership have paid for a large number of "purse buddies" which are alarms that can be fitted easily to purses and handbags so that if they are removed a rather horrible and ear piecing alarm goes off.
Anyone who would like one free of charge can call PCSO Martin Hylands on: 0845 60 70 999 Ext 14462 or e-mail him with your name and address or contact info. Click here for more details...
►
02 Jan - The Crumbles Story -
back in stock - Where did the
rock of the harbour arms come from? What was the Crumbles Railway? What is the
wreck visible at low tide? We have a limited number of signed copies of the very
informative paperback book, The
Crumbles Story by local author Ann Botha that answers these
questions.
If you are interested in the history of the land on which Sovereign
Harbour is built, the industry and events that took place on it, and
its unique flora and fauna, this book is for you, and at just £7.99,
it won’t break the bank. The book contains many illustrations in
colour and B&W.
To order a copy and pay with your credit card, send an email to the
webmaster
webmaster@shra.co.uk with your name and address and we'll email
you a PayPal payment request (you don't need to have a PayPal
account).
Or send a cheque for £7.99, payable to SHRA, with your name and
address to:
The Crumbles Story
SHRA
PO Box 124
Eastbourne
East Sussex BN24 9AW
We will deliver the book to your door, or post it to you if outside
the area.