Community wise in Eastbourne to re-open

Both Upperton and Old Town councillors put forward £450 each so that Community Wise in Ocklynge Road could reopen and continue to provide community services including a market and shop. Community Wise is a charity that offers facilities for local groups at low cost and the centre is gradually opening up its bookings again now following lockdown. Upperton councillors Sammy Choudhury, Robin Maxted and Pat Rodohan and Old Town councillors Peter Diplock, Jonathan Dow and Amanda Morris jointly agreed to fund the work. In a separate project, Upperton councillors are planning to close a section of Compton Place Road on World Car Free Day, Tuesday, September 22, from 8am to 8pm to encourage children and parents to walk, cycle or scooter to school in safe and pollution-free surroundings. There will also be community activities in the closed-off road. Letters and leaflets to notify people of the plan, costing £95, have been funded through Upperton’s devolved budget. In a joint statement, Councillors Choudhury, Maxted and Rodohan said, “During Eastbourne Walking Festival, the mayor suggested each ward should apply to close one road on World Car Free Day to allow for a healthier and more secure journey to school. “We fully support this idea and hope families will take advantage of this car-free stretch of road on their route to school.” A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton: In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers. Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. Stay safe, and best wishes.