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In modern times, the boat has been replaced by a more formal structure, which consists of a tower sticking into the sea bed with a helicopter platform and a lighthouse on top of it.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

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 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 »

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…

Just as car registrations now take place twice a year, it was felt that only having one official fools day in April meant that we didn’t have sufficient opportunity to do silly things!

For the past few days, the following sailing boat hasn’t moved (even when the tide has meant it could do). I don’t know whether the owner’s are just trying to save a few euros, or whether they may have experienced technical problems, but it’s made a different view from the promenade and always brings a smile to my face ;-)

Unfortunately many Eastbourne Half Marathon well-wishers were disappointed not to see Elvis, the kangaroo-suited prankster, at this year’s event.

It appeared, that like so many others, the clash of the annual fun run with Mothers Day meant that Elvis had a more important place to be.

This slight disappointment didn’t ruin the event, and the weather even improved to almost Spring-like proportions, as the score of Bermuda Place residents managed to light the barbie and applaud the dedicated runners as they headed for the finishing tape.

Eastbourne Borough Council have set their Council Tax charge for properties in Band D at £1,506.33 for the year 2008-09.

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 »

This weekend sees the annual Eastbourne Half Marathon and if previous years are anything to go by it should be a successful, well turned out, and well supported event.

The question on many peoples’ lips, especially those who live along the South Harbour promenade is “Will Elvis reappear this year>”

Checkout last year’s posts to see what you missed…

Checkout the video of Elvis from last year…

We’ll be there keeping a lookout, perhaps you will too…

As a youngster growing up in Eastbourne in the 1970s I always looked forward to the quintessentially British annual event that marked on of the high points in the Summer calader of almost every major seaside resort in the Country.

Tastes change and unfortunately the dual demons of economics and ‘health and safety’ have contributed to Eastbourne’s last attempt being 12 years ago.
But there’s great news…
Read more »

Eastbourne’s mayor Mary Pooley officially opened the new Community Gym based at the Sovereign Centre swimming pool complex today.

It’s aimed at both people undergoing rehabilitation (having been referred by a doctor) and children; offering easy-to-use equipment for those over the age of eight.

For more info call 01323 738822