Category: Sussex

Janina from the High Weald AONB organisation emails to say that the High Weald will be featured on regional documentary show Inside Out on 30 January. The show, which will air at 1930, shows pigs returning to one of the old sunken droves near Wadhurst.

Excellent news in today’s Argus – the City council are planning to redevelop Brighton’s main shopping area, extending the Churchill Square shopping area to give shoppers more of a sense of being near the sea and – joy of joys! – knocking down the Kingswest and Brighton Centres to replace them with something worthy of a prime seafront location in one of England’s up and coming cities.

Kerry Mayo, the Brighton footballer, has threatened to withold his council tax (he lives in Lewes district) if Lewes council go ahead with their legal challenge to Falmer stadium.

Also notable: Kerry Mayo’s wife is also called Kerry.

At last the Marshlink line is useful! Southern Railway start direct services from Brighton to Ashford International on 11 December, slicing 35 minutes off the journey time and allowing lots more direct journeys, including to Rye and Winchelsea.

Southern have started running a new TV ad (3Mb mpeg) about the benefits of commuting by their trains. It’s not too bad – though the slogan following your train of thought is dire.

I expect the advert’s glossy presentation will get a few bitter chuckles from regular commuters, but it does show off one of the really great advances in commuting in recent years – the new trains, with proper seats and tables. The first summer I lived in Wadhurst, the old slam-door trains were still running, and were unbelievably hot and stuffy. Now, I can work on the train, read the paper without assaulting the person sitting next to me, or even doze in a not-completely vertical position.

Found buried in the county council’s website, a bit of food news from Sussex:

• This weekend sees the start of British Food Fortnight;

• There is a whole directory (web) (pdf) of local Sussex food suppliers;
• Harveys Best has won Best Beer of the Year at the CAMRA Beer Festival.

Not quite Sussex, perhaps, but the Guardian has a short profile of Tunbridge Wells.

Southern Railways’ new Electrostar trains – the last one of which was delivered the other day – have broken the London – Brighton rail speed record, setting a new time of 36’56”.

There are hundreds of free Heritage Open Days around the country over the next few days. The list of sites in East Sussex is here.

The Sussex Express reports on the creation of a new consultative body to talk about issues around the South Downs. Apparently representative bodies are involved – are yours? More information at the South Downs Virtual Information Centre.