Sussex pothole scourge, market movers
The best curated guide to East (and West) Sussex. What's on in your county, news, food & drink, sport, miscellaneous, history and humour.
News: On the Agenda
One East Sussex resident clearly wasn't confident that any potholes being filled, if at all, would last.
And sure enough, when he took a picture of the above freshly-filled surface after council contractors had gone over with tarmac, it soon disintegrated - just three days later.
Pete Munro, of Three Oaks, said the before and after pic summed up the state of Britain’s neglected roads.
“It’s a shambles. They can’t be repairing potholes properly because they are failing so quickly, and the contractors have to go back and fill them in again. They are chasing their tails. It’s no wonder why there are so many potholes in our roads.”
West Sussex council said this month that £4m has been put aside for repairs.
Going over one with tyres being punctured is costly. Sussex Social's tyre man said that if you have serious willpower, you can reclaim compensation from the council. But they make it devilishly difficult. If any reader has advice, let us know!
March is regarded as the worst month for potholes due to the freeze-thaw cycle. In one road in Peacehaven, a pothole is even celebrating its first birthday.
Rottingdean beach could become a designated bathing water site as part of a new government rollout.
Gatwick: easyJet unveils exclusive new route to Salerno’s Amalfi Coast
Dinosaur footprints have been discovered on Bexhill beach by a young family.
Sussex in colour: Spotted this month
On the market
A delectable selection in this edition…
In a stunning location adjoining the Royal Ashdown, above, a rarely available 6-bed property in Coleman’s Hatch. On the market at £2.5m
Refurbished Edwardian red brick home, below, invites you to experience the ultimate in seaside living. Hove. £9,500pcm with Hamptons
Designed by leading architect Berthold Lubetkin in 1936, a Grade II-listed three-bedroom house in Haywards Heath is on at £500,000
Plumpton - Superbly appointed family home, below, with exceptional views to the South Downs. Rightmove, £2m
Ground Floor Apartment for sale with 2 bedrooms, Bruce Manor Close Wadhurst Place. On at £1.3m
Seven bedroom renovated family home, below, on Lewes Road, Haywards Heath - £2.2m
And a cut above from The Times…
On the move:
The Telegraph has put this classic trail in its ‘British trail for every taste’ feature (basically a walking holiday unless you are a fast mover)
Route: Winchester to Eastbourne
Duration: 100 miles, 7-10 days
Best section: Seven Sisters to Eastbourne (7.5miles), to walk via the meandering Cuckmere River and rolling white cliffs Best view point: Ditching Beacon, which at 814ft (248m) is the highest point in East Sussex
Best pub: The Black Horse is a smart pub with rooms in attractive Amberley
How to do it: Footprints of Sussex (01903 813381; footprintsofsussex.co. uk) offers an eight-night selfguided walk from £825pp. See southdownsway.org
Looking ahead
March 17 - Daytime cycling session for the family on the 2.5m track at Goodwood
March 23 (until April 14) - Easter egg hunt at Sheffield Park and Garden. Tickets
March 26 - 80s band OMD are on at Brighton Dome. Tickets low
James Blunt is playing Brighton Centre - April 2
June 25 - Bat for Lashes, De la Warr Pavilion, Bexhill
Paul Weller is playing the Brighton Centre - Oct 19
Katherine Ryan is touring her Battleaxe show in Feb 2025, Brighton Centre
Sussex sport
Brighton v Roma (Europa League second leg), March 14 8pm
Lewes FC women v Watford, March 17 2pm
Crawley Town v Stockport, March 18 7:45pm
Lewes FC v Concord Rangers, March 23 3pm
Plumpton Races Easter Festival - March 31/April 1
Brighton Racecourse - season opener on April 20