Latest news with #LewesDistrictCouncil
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Swimming pool reopens after four years
A swimming pool in East Sussex has reopened after more than four years. The decision to bring Ringmer Pool back into use was made following a public consultation by East Sussex County Council, who then worked with Lewes District Council (LDC). Wave Active has been appointed to run the facility on behalf of the local authority, and the company's CEO, Duncan Kerr, said he was "delighted" the pool reopened on Saturday. The pool has been closed since March 2021. Mr Kerr said: "This facility is a wonderful community asset. We worked hard to get it ready and hope many residents visit regularly to support the pool, their health and enjoy swimming." Councillor Johnny Denis, cabinet member for tourism and leisure at LDC, said: "Ringmer Pool was initially built thanks to the hard work and fundraising of local people and it's really exciting to be bringing it back for the whole community. "I am delighted we got the pool up and running again." LDC invested £100,000 in Ringmer Pool as part of its £3m council investment programme to maintain local leisure services. Councillor Nick Bennett, deputy leader at ESCC, said it was "great" to see the facility reopened. He said: "We worked with Lewes District Council to secure funding to ensure the future of Ringmer Pool for the benefit of the wider community." Plans to be unveiled for new city swimming pool Adults with sight loss invited to open water swim Leisure centre to re-open under new operator Pool reopening 'within touching distance' East Sussex County Council Lewes District Council
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Ringmer Swimming Pool reopens after four years
A swimming pool in East Sussex has reopened after more than four decision to bring Ringmer Pool back into use was made following a public consultation by East Sussex County Council, who then worked with Lewes District Council (LDC).Wave Active has been appointed to run the facility on behalf of the local authority, and the company's CEO, Duncan Kerr, said he was "delighted" the pool reopened on pool has been closed since March 2021. Mr Kerr said: "This facility is a wonderful community asset. We worked hard to get it ready and hope many residents visit regularly to support the pool, their health and enjoy swimming."Councillor Johnny Denis, cabinet member for tourism and leisure at LDC, said: "Ringmer Pool was initially built thanks to the hard work and fundraising of local people and it's really exciting to be bringing it back for the whole community."I am delighted we got the pool up and running again."LDC invested £100,000 in Ringmer Pool as part of its £3m council investment programme to maintain local leisure Nick Bennett, deputy leader at ESCC, said it was "great" to see the facility said: "We worked with Lewes District Council to secure funding to ensure the future of Ringmer Pool for the benefit of the wider community."
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Proposals for 5G mast in Lewes to go back in front of council
Proposals related to a 5G mast in an East Sussex town are set to go back in front of District Council's planning committee is due to meet on 11 June to consider an application seeking retrospective approval for a 18-metre tall monopole mast in Nevill mast is already built but has been at the centre of a planning dispute over the past few years as it was installed several metres south of a location shown in its initial application, according to the Local Democracy Reporting a result of this discrepancy, the mast needs to secure full planning permission to remain where it is. The first attempt was refused by the council's planning committee in October 2023 on the grounds it would be "harmful to the landscape character of the area and detrimental to visual amenity."The applicant, Cignal Infrastructure UK Ltd, sought to appeal this decision, but a planning inspector dismissed its case in July last year. According to the planning inspector's written decision, the applicant's declaration did not include the correct company inspector also said the declaration contained insufficient information about the specific mast and site, describing the overall document as "highly inadequate". Lewes District Council has seen 93 individual written objections, which raise concerns including its visual impact and location. Objections also relate to health concerns, its proximity to Wallands School and the fact the previous application had been Town Council's own planning committee has also objected to the scheme on similar a report to the committee, a council planning spokesman said: "The certificate has been altered to address the planning inspector's reason for dismissing the appeal, and the applicant is proposing to paint the mast and equipment green."Planning officers are recommending the scheme be approved.
Metro
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Metro
What is a 'personhood' and why has this chalk stream been granted one?
A historic chalk stream immortalised by a Poet Laureate has been granted 'personhood' by a council, giving it the right to sue. The River Loddon, near Basingstoke, Hampshire, will be recognised as a legal entity in a move hailed as a 'landmark' by wildlife campaigners. 18th century Poet Laureate Thomas Wharton wrote a sonnet praising the 'sweet native stream', which has been dubbed 'The Cinderella River' as it is 'hard working but overlooked'. Now, Basingstoke town council has voted for it to acquire a legal status that environmentalists say will help restore it to its former glory. In law, 'personhood' means a river becomes a legal entity despite not being human, much like a company. The river can own property, sue, and agree to contracts. The Universal Declaration of the Rights of Rivers states that rivers have… The right to flow The right to perform essential functions within their ecosystem The right to be free from pollution The right to feed and be fed by sustainable aquifers The right to native biodiversity The right to regeneration and restoration The decision was made after years of underinvestment, pollution and toxic road runoff. Now, all local waterways – including the Loddon – have the 'Rights of Rivers'. This declaration, which has been adopted by countries across the world since 2017, gives the habitats 'Personhood', including the right to flow, the right to be free from pollution and in theory, the right to sue. Kate Tuck, an independent politician representing the Basing and Upton Grey ward, said: 'Not a single river in our Borough is in overall 'Good' condition – the current system just isn't working and hasn't for a long time. 'We need to change the way we do things if we value nature and want to see things improve, and this motion is the start. We will be working with our residents to create a 'Declaration of the Rights of Rivers' which will ensure a new approach and I hope will mean more weight in our Local Plan.' Liberal Democrat Councillor David Conquest told the council meeting that the rivers and chalk streams in Basingstoke have suffered from 'years of neglect and mismanagement'. More Trending Debbie Tann MBE, Chief Executive of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: 'Hampshire is home to so many of England's iconic chalk streams, but those in the north – like the River Loddon – are often overlooked and have no formal legal protection. 'Years of underinvestment, over-abstraction, pollution from untreated sewage, and toxic road runoff have pushed these habitats to the brink. 'This Rights of our rivers (Chalk Streams) motion is an important first step in turning this around. It sends a clear message: nature matters, and healthy rivers must be a priority in local planning, investment, and governance.' Though the River Loddon is the latest UK river to have personhood, it's not the first. In March, Lewes District Council voted for the River Ouse to be a 'living entity'. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Foragers rescued from remote Welsh island after eating highly poisonous plant MORE: Passengers are 'swerving' train fares with trick to save over £50 per ticket MORE: Map reveals the UK loan hotspots where people borrow the most money
BBC News
19-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Lewes District Council to launch air quality action plan
An action plan to improve air quality in an area of East Sussex is set to be adopted from the summer as a public consultation into the project comes to a District Council said improving air quality in its jurisdiction by 2029 was a "priority" and recently set out the five ways it hopes to achieve council said its Air Quality Action Plan aimed to deter people from driving private vehicles, promote transport alternatives, improve transport planning and infrastructure, provide increased public information, and improve traffic have until 17:00 BST on Friday to give their thoughts on the plans via an online survey. A spokesperson for the council said that based on the feedback it had received so far, the action plan was expected to be put in place later this year."We are grateful to all those who have contributed to the consultation on the draft Air Quality Action Plan," they said."Improving air quality is a priority for the council and the proposals in the consultation are designed to achieve this key objective over the next four years."Chief among the council's ambitions is a new cycle path which is estimated to cost between £1m and £10m, though according to the plan it has not yet secured plan states: "Various route options have been considered over the years but it has not been possible to identify a satisfactory route."The council said it would monitor progress each year in its Annual Status Reports and review the plan every five years.
