Parking in Eastbourne
It has been a debacle from day one; the Borough Council were going to introduce a new Controlled Parking Zone but after public consultation decided against it, because it was plainly obvious that the residents and business owners of Eastbourne were against it. The scheme was dropped.
Then the County Council jumped in with both feet and decreed that whatever the Borough Council and the people of Eastbourne wanted, the new parking scheme was going to be brought in and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Then at the last minute (after all the yellow lines and parking bays had been painted, and after 150 £3,000 each pay and display machines had been installed) the Borough Council had their legal challenge heard.
That challenge was overturned, but forced the County Council to re-think their plans and what has now been in place for almost a year is a hotch-potch of old and new parking controls and 150 machines that have never had their covers taken off. Their is also no enforcement, as the new wardens that were employed have no powers to serve penalty notices. So for the past year, traffic and parking in Eastbourne has been more of a nightmare than it ever was before the Councils started mucking about with everything.
Today comes news that the County Council have refused to entertain the Borough Council’s suggestion that the whole matter be put to a referendum of the people of Eastbourne, and that the County Council abide by that decision. Seems they don’t think it would be worth the £40,000 to £60,000 such a plan would cost.
And I must say that I agree with them. There would be no point holding a referendum on the issue; there have already been two public consultations that have been resoundingly against the scheme, yet they have continued to forge ahead anyway. A referendum vote against the scheme would, I am sure, be treated in the same way. So it is pointless. However, given that the scheme has already wasted somewhere over £500,000 I don’t see that another £60,000 would really matter all that much.
Up the Borough!!
Football* has never really been my game, probably because I was never any good at it at school (anyway, we were a rugby school really), but I’ve caught the odd game over the years.
I’ve always thought that the local, non-league game is a much better example of the genre than the big league sides because the guys who play locally really want to play. The best match that I ever saw was in around 1987 / 1988 when Newhaven’s local side played host to an Allstar XI captained by the legend that was Georgie Best. Of course, George played everyone else off the field (even at that stage of his career and health), but the Newhaven guys really gave it all they could - for the love of the game.
And it’s that same love of the game that drives the players of Eastbourne Borough FC - many of whom come from many miles away for training and matches. Which is why I’m so proud to be part of the company that is this season sponsoring the away kit for the team. As part of an effort to put something back into our local community, Health Plus is supporting the team not only with a cash sponsorship, but also with free supplements for all the first team players.
And to show their thanks for this help, the boys done good in their first pre-season friendly, by beating Sussex County Division One side St. Francis Rangers 3-2! Excellent result and well done to all the guys.
If you’re local to Eastbourne, why not come along to Priory Lane on Thursday 2nd August when the first XI will again be in action - wearing their new, Health Plus sponsored away strip - against Hastings United. It’s sure to be a great match - kick-off’s at 7.30pm. See you there!
*or soccer if you’re American. How you can call rugby for pansies (what’s with all the padding and constant stopping?) football is really beyond me.
Wolfs Stuff
Wolfs Helpers
-
