The £41m Uckfield 'slum'; more sewage woes
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News: On the agenda
Every now and again the tabloids produce a story on the dilapidated state of Hamilton Palace, above, just outside Uckfield.
Now it's been branded the 'biggest slum in Britain', by 'furious' locals in a Daily Mail piece published on Saturday.
The newspaper says that locals want their council to probe owner Nicholas van Hoogstraten's £41m residence, but that seems unlikely.
One local says:
“The place is an eyesore and a wreck and it has blighted this area for as along as I can remember.
I feel the council have bent over backwards for this man because they are a little bit scared of him and his wealth.”
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The Met Office has issued a weather warning for Sussex today. It covers parts of Sussex and Kent from 3pm where flooding could lead to communities being cut off.
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Sea swimmers are protesting against water firms’ sewage discharges by boycotting their water bill payments.
The i newspaper reports that campsite owner Katy Colley, of Hastings, owes Southern Water £1,755. However she is withholding the figure in protest at the discharges, like the disgraceful one below last year.
More recently, sewage poured into the sea for nearly nine and 12 hours after failure at one Southern Water treatment plant in the last fortnight. Of course, one look at Surfers Against Sewage reveals that Sussex rivers and coastal areas are usually red flagged.
Southern Water said the release was down to technical failure after heavy rainfall. The company said it was "heavily diluted due to the rain" but we can only take their word for it.
Back to the sea swimmer, who said she began boycotting payments after being infected by the danger bug E.coli.
“Anyone who’s ever had that knows it is the worst thing,” she said. “It is really debilitating and it was from swimming in the sea. I decided that when the next bill came in, I was going to do the boycott.”
Meanwhile, Southern Water has been over-pumping diluted but untreated sewage into a pond in East Dean and into the River Lavant at Charlton.
The under the cosh water firm said on Saturday that it would vow to stop pumping water into it by, er, 2030.
Our waters are becoming ever more dangerous. Who would even swim or allow children to do so in slow flowing rivers come the summer?
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On the rails
Calls for support are going out from campaigners fighting to reopen the former Horsham to Guildford railway line which has been shut since the 1960s. More
The number of trains running along the coast is set to double as part of a timetable shakeup | The Argus
What else is in the media…
In photos: large section of cliff falls away at Seaford Head
Drivers are still fined at a rate of one every six minutes in Brighton hotspot
Worthing seaside house invaded by 200 teenagers after party invitation goes viral on Facebook
On the market
A captivating period residence, below, nestled just steps away from the picturesque Hove seafront. On at £1m
5 bedrooms, swimming pool, tennis court, 2.5 acres in Heathfield, below. On at £1.1m
Barcombe - Spacious Grade II listed barn conversion with stables, all weather arena and paddocks. Listed with Savills at £2.15m
A historic Rottingdean building which inspired the hit board game Cluedo could receive a new heritage plaque and information board.
South Downs mansion with top-flight cinema room on sale for £3.5m | The Times
Rotherfield, below, £2.6m
Hotels, food and places
Once a hop farm, Tillingham is now a biodynamic vineyard, focusing on natural wines. Expect locally sourced food and quirkily designed rooms. The Times hotel review
The best roast in Brighton? Square Meal has listed 14 top Sunday lunch spots.
Your local arts
Tickets to Brighton Fringe, England’s biggest arts festival, went on sale this week, with over 450 events due to be staged. Organisers want punters to ‘Find Your Fringe’.
Posters from Picasso, Matisse, Warhol and Banksy, including some dating back to 1945, can be viewed at Hidden Gallery in Brighton. Ends March 6.
A film starring Olivia Colman and filmed in Sussex is hitting cinemas. Wicked Little Letters, a comedy mystery, is based on a true scandal which hit Littlehampton in the 1920s when people were sent a series of obscene letters. Trailer below.
Woman in Black is on at the Theatre Royal, Brighton. Feb 26-March 2.
Echo and The Bunnymen - Songs to Learn and Sing. Low tickets for Brighton Dome gig on March 3.
Recommended: Comedian Troy Hawke: the Greeters Guild - June 7, Brighton Dome
Sussex sport
Feb 26: February Jumps Raceday, Plumpton
March 4: Spring Raceday, Plumpton
March 2: Lewes v Canvey Island
March 3: Lewes women v Sheffield United
March 10: Next Brighton home game v Notts Forest
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