News releases

Illegal Vape Haul 2

THE OWNER of a shop where more than £18,000 worth of illegal vapes were discovered has been handed a suspended sentence. Hamza Pirot, licence holder for Zap Off Licence Limited in Seaside Road, Eastbourne, was found guilty of possessing 1,866 illegal vapes and sentenced to 21 months in prison suspended for 24 months. The 52-year-old was also ordered to carry out 75 hours of unpaid work over the...

Karen Bowles Wednesday, 29 July 2026



East Sussex Apprenticeship Graduation Social Graphics (FB Linkedin) 2025 (1200X628)3 Gen CB

APPRENTICES from across East Sussex are invited to celebrate their achievements at a special graduation ceremony. The East Sussex apprenticeship graduation ceremony, which acknowledges the commitment and hard work of all local apprentices, is organised by the Sussex Council of Training Providers and supported by East Sussex County Council. Apprentices who have, or will have achieved the nati...

Rebecca Durrant Tuesday, 3 March 2026


County Hall, Lewes, with trees in the foreground

Ministers have today approved East Sussex County Council’s request to raise an extra £70 million of funding, known as exceptional financial support (EFS). This measure is essential for the council to set a balanced budget for 2026/27, allowing us to continue funding essential services on which so many people in East Sussex depend. It is welcome that the government has recognised those needs and...

Karen Bowles Monday, 23 February 2026


Acrewood 2

A NEW purpose-built school building which will bring primary and secondary SEND provision in Crowborough onto the same site is taking shape. A steel frame now stands in the grounds in Church Road, as construction work for secondary school accommodation at Acre Wood Academy gathers pace. With primary age pupils already on site, the development will provide a new home for secondary age students w...

Karen Bowles Friday, 20 February 2026


Smoke Free Pevensey

SMOKERS visiting Pevensey Bay will be asked to stub out their cigarettes as it becomes the third smoke free beach in the county. Working in partnership, East Sussex County Council and Wealden District Council have introduced the voluntary smoke free space in a bid to protect children and young people and the environment. Pevensey Bay beach becomes the third smoke free beach in East Sussex follo...

Karen Bowles Wednesday, 18 February 2026


Victoria Place Visit

WITH 25,000 paving slabs laid, 1,700 metres of road resurfaced and almost a mile of granite kerbs and channels installed, the latest phase of a town centre improvement scheme is nearing completion. Over the past ten months, Victoria Place has been transformed into a pedestrianised space designed to improve the public space, increase visitor numbers and help local businesses. As part of the East...

Karen Bowles Tuesday, 17 February 2026


Roofer Apprenticeship

A MAJOR new roofing apprenticeship programme will launch for the first time in East Sussex in September 2026, creating new routes into skilled employment while helping address a growing industry-wide skills shortage. The new Level 2 Roofer Apprenticeship, delivered by East Sussex College, comes after months of collaboration between a working group of the Skills and Employment East Sussex (SES)...

Karen Bowles Friday, 13 February 2026


Sussex has reached a significant milestone in its devolution journey, with the Government laying the Statutory Instrument in Parliament that will formally establish the Sussex & Brighton Combined County Authority. This is the final legislative step and will enable the new Mayoral Combined Authority to be created this Spring. Government has also confirmed that, although mayoral elections hav...

Karen Bowles Thursday, 12 February 2026


Exceat Bridge Existing

THE CONTRACTOR tasked with building a new bridge that will help improve traffic flow on a busy East Sussex route has been announced. East Sussex County Council have awarded the contract for the new two-lane structure at Exceat to Jackson Civil Engineering Group. The company, experienced in bridge and highways projects, will work with the county council to set a timescale for construction. Cllr...

Karen Bowles Thursday, 12 February 2026


Lewes Town (9)

INDEPENDENT high-street businesses across East Sussex are being encouraged to attend free county council-backed business support workshops in the coming months. Two programmes of in-person workshops and practical support aimed at helping local businesses improve footfall, visibility and trading confidence are part funded by East Sussex County Council and the East Sussex Growth Hub. Experienc...

Rebecca Durrant Thursday, 12 February 2026


Eastbourne Library

AVID readers across East Sussex are being urged to return overdue titles to the county council’s library service as part of the annual book amnesty which launches on Saturday (February 14). Residents are once again encouraged to return forgotten or mislaid books to their local library from Saturday, February 14 until the end of March without fear of being fined. Cllr Claire Dowling, the coun...

Rebecca Durrant Wednesday, 11 February 2026