Eastbourne’s Council Tax Bands Announced (2010/11)

Eastbourne Borough Council have set their Council Tax charge for properties in Band D at £1602.77 for the year 2010-11, up from £1561.15 last year.

The Council Tax charge comprises elements for East Sussex County Council, East Sussex Fire Authority, Sussex Police Authority as well as Eastbourne Borough Council.

Read on to discover the total charge for bands A to H …
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Eastbourne Marina: High Tide Warning

I don’t want to panic anyone, but as the following video snippet shows, the tide in the outer harbour here at Eastbourne’s Sovereign Marina is very high.

In fact, I’ve been here ten years, and based on the ‘A’ test, this is the highest tide I’ve witnessed.

Royal Sovereign: Preventing Accidents off Eastbourne

As you walk along the Eastbourne seafront and look out to sea, you might notice an odd looking shape on the horizon, a shape looking something like a large cross.

In fact, that cross is a very important safety feature for any of the marine users navigating this part of the English Channel for its the Sovereign Light Tower.

Around about that point on the sea bed there’s a sand bank and at low tide it can be as shallow as about 2.5-3 meters.  That’s been a hazard to shipping over the years and has seen many ships run aground.

In olden days, to prevent this happening, there was an actual ship called the Royal Sovereign that had a lighthouse on it and was anchored on the bank to prevent ships running aground.

In modern times, the boat has been replaced by a more formal structure, which consists of a tower sticking into the sea bed with a helicopter platform and a lighthouse on top of it.

If you get a chance take one of the boat tours out there, it’s certainly well worth a look.

Give Way: A Warning to Cyclists on the Marina

You may think I’m a grumpy old man for writing this, but I’ve had way too many near misses whilst driving around the roads on the marina not to say SOMETHING.

These close shaves have been with cyclists that don’t know when to give way on the cycle path.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a great fan of cycling.  I used to do a lot of it when I was much younger (and have lots of good intentions for cycling now I’m in the grumpy majority).

In many respects it’s actually one of the great things about living on the marina that the urban planners managed to incorporate a lot of cycle paths for everyone to use.

However, these cycle paths cross roads, and whilst they might only be these minor roads, it still means you’ve got to give way when you go across them!

What’s worse is that a lot of times it’s the teenage children that are just cycling along like maniacs and don’t know what a give way sign looks like, although, they’re hard to read because they’re actually on the cycle path.

But if they are flying across the road and a car comes as has happened a couple of  times with me, and I’m sure I’m not the only one on the marina, it means you need to have your wits about you to press the brakes.

So, please use the cycle path safely. Enjoy yourself, but be aware of where you cross the road and where the dangers are.

Video: The Return of Sospan

The annual visit of the dredger Sospan to Eastbourne Sovereign Harbour to remove the silt to free up the outer channel for boats to get a clear passage from the marina to the English Channel.

Eastbourne’s Council Tax Bands Announced (2009/10)

Eastbourne Borough Council have set their Council Tax charge for properties in Band D at £1561.15 for the year 2009-10, up from 1,506.33 last year.

The Council Tax charge comprises elements for East Sussex County Council, East Sussex Fire Authority, Sussex Police Authority as well as Eastbourne Borough Council.

Read on to discover the total charge for bands A to H … Read more »

Lucky Strikes Again

Lucky the cat is a feline celebrity around Sovereign Harbour. Often wandering from North to South, in and out of the Waterfront. But he gets tired and looks for a comfy place to catnap. Unfortunately for JoJo the dog it was her bed and she didn’t like it. Like Lucky cared!!

South Harbour Wedding of the Year?

For the past few months, Bermuda Place has been a hive of activity. Not one but three weddings in short succession.

So CONGRATULATIONS to Nigel and Karin, to Yvonne’s daughter and new son-in-law, and last but not least to ME and CAROLE!

That’s right, after a short period of thirteen years getting to know one-another we’re finally tying the knot TODAY…

Please read on for the full details and photos…

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Rough Weather Tests Eastbourne Marina Sea Defence

It’s just as well I like to live beside the seaside because with the stormy weather the past few days I thought I’d be in it.

With high tides and strong gales Eastbourne marina’s outer seawall breakwaters have been tested.

As the photo I took yesterday below shows, the waves were having a great time hitting the breakwaters…

waves crashing over the sovereign harbour breakwaters

Seal Visits Eastbourne Marina

Residents and visitors to Eastbourne’s outer marina were in for a treat this weekend – if they were patient that is! For if they looked closely, they may have noticed a small head and two dark eyes staring back at them from the sea.

harbour seal

Click for more photos!
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