Lewes District Council’s Environmental Health department commissioned an independent mystery shopper exercise to establish the quality of service experienced by customers who contact the department by telephone, email or letter.

Over £434,000 has been made available to residents..

Lewes District Council has removed leylandii trees that caused structural damage to the northern boundary wall of Seaford Cemetery.

Cllr Carolyn Lambert represented Lewes District Council at a meeting of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) at Chichester last week, giving evidence as to why Lewes wishes to see the ongoing provision of services at the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH).

Over 260 Lewes District residents took time to fill in the 2007 Crime Reduction Survey run by the Crime Reduction Partnership, with one lucky resident being rewarded with £100 for their trouble!

A rise of 4.7% in Lewes District Council Tax will help to pay for a package of service improvements to improve the quality of life for residents. The Council will continue to work to improve the waste management, recycling and street cleansing services within the District as well as working with Housing Associations to deliver more affordable housing and improve public access to services.

Residents of Glynn Road, Peacehaven have in the past been subject to motorbike nuisance. A motorbike "inhibitor" device has now been installed that will stop motor cyclists using the road for such anti social behaviour.

Lewes District Council is backing calls for Lewes to be included in the proposed South Downs National Park. The District Council is supporting the South Downs Campaign in its efforts to reverse the decision to have Lewes deleted from the Park.

Following the great success of Seedy Saturday 2007, Lewes District Council will hold another community seed swap in February 2008 in cooperation with Common Cause, Transition Town Lewes and local volunteers. Last year’s event, organised by local volunteers, councillors and officers of Lewes District Council far exceeded expectations with over a thousand people visiting or taking part.

The new All Weather Pitch at Downs Leisure Centre, Seaford will be officially opened on Thursday 31st January at 2pm by Norman Baker MP.

Second Year for Community Seed Swap
2 February 2008, 10.00am - 4pm
Southover Grange, Southover High Street, Lewes
Childhood home of John Evelyn,
the 17th century diarist and author of Sylva

........and this year featuring Christine Walkden local and national radio and TV broadcaster and former presenter of BBC's Gardener's World

The operator of the Brighton Health and Racquet Club at Falmer, Esporta Group Ltd, was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £4,874.50 by Lewes Magistrates on Monday 7th January 2008 following prosecution by Lewes District Council for a number of offences under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

If you’re about to have a child, they will be 18 years old in 2026; if you’re in your 20’s you’ll be in your 40’s; and if you’re in your 40’s or 50’s you may be looking forward to your retirement. So what kind of place do you want yourself, your family and friends to living in 18 years from now?

Lewes District Crime Reduction Partnership is giving residents some seasonal advice on how to avoid having Christmas spoiled by burglars

The Clean & Green Team recently completed another blitz on untaxed and abandoned vehicles in the coastal towns.

Lewes District Council recognises the great importance of local post offices to individuals and businesses within the District. It is lobbying Post Office Ltd during the current consultation period which ends on 24th December 2007.

Lewes District Council's Clean & Green Team continued its success in prosecuting fly tippers this week with 2 more cases at Lewes Magistrates Court.

Lewes District Council has expressed deep concern to the Government over the inadequate level of funding of the concessionary travel bus passes scheme. The popular free bus passes are available to everyone over 60 or with a disability and the scheme is fully supported by Lewes District Council as it helps many vulnerable elderly people stay independent and continue to enjoy life.

Seaford Tourist Information Centre will be closing for a short time over the Christmas period as it prepares to move to its new location.

At a recent meeting of the Cabinet of Lewes District Council consideration was given to a number of options in the Environment Agency’s Draft Flood Risk Management Strategy for managing flood risk in the Cuckmere Estuary.

Lewes District Council and Sussex Police are inviting the residents of Mountfield Road, Lewes to take part in a street consultation on Thursday, 29 November between 6.00 pm and 7.00 pm. It will take place at the Mountfield Road car park.

Lewes District Council has been working closely with the Lewes Chamber of Commerce in a battle to keep open North Street car park in the important run up to Christmas.

Lewes District Council Leader Ann De Vecchi will give evidence at the Public Inquiry into the proposed Compulsory Purchase Order relating to acquisition of land for an incinerator

Lewes District Council’s Local Sustainability Team has had another busy month with a number of community events taking place across the District.

Due to work pressures Cllr James Page has had to stand down as Leader of the Conservative Group....

Lewes District Council, Sussex Police and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Services are inviting residents of Newhaven to a “Street consultation” session ..

Lewes District Council offered a “peep into the past” by opening Lewes House and gardens and Southover Grange...

A Public Inquiry will be held into the planning application for the proposed wind turbine on land at Mill Plain, New Road, Ringmer. (Planning application reference LW/07/0077).

Newhaven residents will soon have...

How to become a District Councillor, Local Government Structure, What we do, Finance and much more

We are working closely with partner agencies across the district in establishing the groundwork for a Children’s Centre in Lewes.

LDC together with Sussex Police and East Sussex Trading Standards has organised a seminar that will deal with the pressing issue of underage sales of alcohol in the district. The event will be held on 7 March at 4pm in Lewes Town
Hall, following the Lewes ‘Pubwatch’ meeting which starts at 3pm.

A rise of 4.3% in Lewes District Council Tax will help to pay for a package of service improvements to improve the quality of life for residents, including continuing our successful Clean Streets programme.

TELSCOMBE & PEACEHAVEN UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT AS “CLEAN STREETS” PROJECT LAUNCHES

LDC launched its Climate Change Strategy: A Changing Climate on Saturday 3rd February at the Seedy Saturday event in Grange Gardens, Lewes.

LDC took part this week in the first inter-agency operation in the district to target vehicles transporting waste without property authority. The operation, called "Bagpipe", involved uniformed Street Wardens from the Council's Clean and Green Team together with officers from Sussex Police roads policing department, the Vehicle Operators and Services Agency (VOSA) and the Environment Agency.

LDC is consulting residents and businesses in the district, offering them the opportunity to have their say on what services and expenditure they would like prioritised during the next financial year.

‘Seedy Saturday’, a community seed swap organised by Lewes District Council, will take place on Saturday 3 February at the Southover Grange in Lewes. The event starts at 9.30am and ends at 4pm.

LDC has been advised by Oakdene Homes of the withdrawal of the major planning application (LW/06/1172) for the regeneration of the Marina and Railway areas of Newhaven.

Lewes District Council Chair, Marina Pepper, will be launching the 2007 Enjoy Sussex Visitor Guide at Lewes tourist information centre (TIC) on Monday 8th January at 10:30am. Cllr Pepper will be helping TIC staff to serve some of the first visitors of the season by handing out the latest accommodation and attraction guide.

The people in the Lewes District are the most active in East Sussex, according to the results of a major survey conducted by Sport England which sees the South East of England outperform the rest of the country.

We would like to remind residents of simple steps everyone can take to help minimise the amount of waste produced – and going to landfill - during the festive season.

A successful Christmas Coffee Morning held by Ringmer Sheltered Housing has helped raise funds for the Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice.

The Government has confirmed it will look again at alternative sites for the Albion stadium. The High Court quashed John Prescott’s discredited decision a month ago prompting a new approach by his successor Ruth Kelly.

The Local Sustainability team from the council attended the South East Renewables Conference on Thursday November 9 and gave a presentation to approximately 300 delegates about some of the projects taking place under the Action Renewables Programme in the District. These include renewable installations at schools, the Solar Car Championship, the Lewes Renewables Grants and other projects.

We are aiming to improve the availability of affordable homes for local people.

Work has started on the Newhaven Business Centre which will eventually provide some 2,000 sq. metres of new office, studio and workshop space specifically geared towards new and small businesses.

LDC has this week been carrying out extensive scrub clearing work on the old sidings area of the Lewes Railway Land Local Nature Reserve.

Seaford Town Council, Lewes District Council and
Sussex Police are delighted to announce a partnership opportunity utilising Seaford Police Station in Church Street Seaford.

John Prescott’s discredited decision on the proposed Stadium at Falmer will not now be reviewed in the High Court. Government lawyers have this morning sent
a letter giving assurances that all the points in the legal challenge will be considered when the planning applications go back for re-determination to the new Secretary of State, Ruth Kelly.

Cllr Marina Pepper, Chair of LDC hosted a reception on Tuesday evening at Lewes Town Hall to launch the fundraising for the proposed Linklater Pavilion at the Railway Land in Lewes.

Don’t forget to return your voter registration form by 15 October. That’s the message from Lewes District Council to the 13,000 households across the District that have still to complete and send back their forms, in time for inclusion in the electoral register to be published on 1 December 2006.

The Highways Agency has signalled its intention to start work on the recently approved A27 improvements between Southerham and Beddingham in mid
October. The works will involve road widening, a new bridge over the railway and junction improvements. The plan is to start construction works on Monday
October 16. These will last around 18 months, up to spring 2008

Latest Audit Commission information shows that the Council’s performance across many of its services is improving. The Improvement Report looks at the period 2002/03 to 2004/05 (the latest audited figures for the Council).

LDC is committed to keeping the district green and clean and now has a dedicated team to deal with ‘environmental crimes’ like litter, dog fouling, rubbish dumping and abandoned vehicles.

Everyone is invited to the Park Life free family festival taking place next Saturday at Malling Recreation Ground, Lewes from 11am till late, fireworks start at
9.00pm.

As part of the Heritage Open Days Lewes House will be open on Saturday 9 September between 10.00am and 4.00pm. Entry is free.
There will be guided tours at 10.30, 12.30 and 14.30-bookable in advance by emailing ann.spike@lewes.gov.uk or calling 01273 484112.

LDC would like to remind residents of some changes to their refuse collection and kerbside recycling service over the Bank Holiday week starting Monday 28 August.

For the first time ever, Lewes District residents can go online to confirm their details on the register of electors. They can also use a Freephone service to do so.

This week the Secretaries of State for Transport and for Communities and Local Government announced their decision to proceed, with minor modifications, with the A27 improvement scheme that was the subject of a 12 day Public Inquiry in Lewes last year. The purpose of the scheme is to address safety and traffic congestion issues on the A27 between Southerham Roundabout and Beddingham Roundabout. The scheme includes the replacement of the Beddingham Level Crossing by a bridge. It also includes carriageway widening to improve safety and to aid traffic flow, together with associated works to increase traffic capacity at the two roundabouts.

LDC SAYS "TAX IT OR WE'LL TAKE IT!" AS IT REMOVES FIRST OF MANY UNTAXED VEHICLES

Officers from LDC's new Clean & Green Team have recently been authorised by the Secretary of State to immediately remove any untaxed vehicles within the
District.

“We have an open mind and we will think carefully about what is in the best interests of the town”.

David Neighbour LDC’s new Lead Member for Planning has given that important assurance to Lewes people about the expected planning application for the
Phoenix area.

LDC and the Castle Hill Conservation Group are presenting a day of family fun to celebrate Castle Hill, the Local Nature Reserve in the heart of Newhaven. The event, which will take place on the first Friday of the school holidays on 28 July, promises to be a great day of fun for all the family.

Thursday, 22 June heralded the launch of the Draft Management Plan for the South Downs and the opening of a four month period of public consultation.

An outstanding win and some great efforts sum up the impressive performance of the Lewes district young athletes in this year’s Sussex Youth Games, which took place in Eastbourne at the end of June.

Councillors are setting a new direction for planning policies in Lewes District, as they take account of the South East Plan and carry through work on the new Local Development Framework (LDF) to guide the future of the area up to the 2020s.

For the fifth consecutive year – ever since the scheme was launched -Newhaven Fort has received an extremely positive assessment in the annual Visitor Attractions Quality Assurance Scheme run by Enjoy England.

John Prescott’s discredited decision on the proposed Stadium at Falmer will be reviewed in the High Court. Government lawyers have refused to give a clear assurance that all the points in the Council’s legal challenge will be dealt with by the Government when the matter goes back to the new Secretary of State, Ruth Kelly, for re-determination.

There’s a big programme of events across the South East, including over 20 events in East Sussex. These include:
* June 24: Exploring the underground galleries at Newhaven Fort *June 18: Sustainable building in Brighton *June 16-25 Tours of Embassy Court

The Audit Commission has recently submitted its annual Audit and Inspection Letter which reports on the Council’s performance, financial accounts and governance arrangements.

LDC Chair, Cllr Marina Pepper attended Safety in Action week today held at
Plumpton Racecourse. Despite the blustery weather the week has gone well and over 700 year 6 Children from across the district have attended during the week.

The combined challenge of LDC, Falmer Parish Council and the South Downs Society to John Prescott’s decision is moving closer to a conclusion.

Newhaven Fort will again be hosting the Horsham Historics weekend, taking place on Saturday the 13th and Sunday 14th May.

Children from Newhaven have produced spectacular willow sculptures in celebration of Castle Hill Local Nature Reserve.

Around 30 local children of all ages took part this month in an exciting natural sculpture project at the reserve. Workshops led by artist Sara Holmes saw the young artists work on a natural coastal theme to produce a number of creations, including a large shell sculpture.

Today saw the presentation of prizes to the winner and runners up of LDC’s anti-litter competition launched recently in District Link. There was a fantastic
response with nearly 200 entries.

In March 2006, Advantage Business celebrated the success of its events programme in Newhaven, Uckfield and Hailsham. A total of 18 events were held over the year, either as breakfast or lunch at different venues in these geographical areas.

We have only just received the letter from Mr Prescott’s solicitors and it raises a number of questions that we have to consider. The first thing for people to understand is that John Prescott’s decision has not been quashed. Only the High Court can quash the decision and they have not yet heard the case.

From tomorrow, 1 April, free bus travel will be available to pensioners and disabled persons across Sussex for the first time. New legislation requires free bus travel to be available within the District boundaries but the Council agreed that the scheme should be extended to cover travel on buses throughout both East and West Sussex. In this way we have been able to continue within the Sussex Countycard Scheme for which we already had 12,500 passholders. All of the bus companies which operate throughout Sussex have agreed to accept existing 'half-fare' bus passes through to their expiry date which has meant that we have not needed to issue replacement passes.

As part of an initiative aimed at promoting the work of volunteer groups in the district, LDC Chair Cllr Julie Carr will join the Special Constabulary on patrol today Friday 24 March. The Constabulary is made up of volunteers who alongside their colleagues in the regular police force work to make their community safer and a better place to live in.

Even the best-run businesses can be hit by unexpected events like fires, floods, power cuts and computer breakdowns. Around 1 in 5 UK firms suffers major disruption in any one year. Firms need to plan for the worst and put in place business continuity plans to bounce back quickly after a disruptive incident.

LDC is committed to promoting sustainability in new buildings and appreciates the contribution that developers can make to sustainable design. The council
has drawn up a draft Sustainability Checklist as a guide to design for future developments in the District.

Lewes District Council has scotched comments that it is to be blamed for delays concerning the challenge to John Prescott’s decision on the proposed Falmer stadium. The legal challenge was filed with the court in early December, we are still awaiting a High Court hearing date.

Our parks service is doing its best to plan for this summers predicted drought following warnings from water suppliers.

Lewes Railway Land is a Local Nature Reserve rich in history and natural habitats. A leaflet designed and published by LDC explains how the reserve came into being, how its landscape evolved over time and what flora and fauna inhabit it.

A rise of 4.3% in Lewes District Council Tax will help to pay for a package of service improvements to improve the quality of life for residents, including the free bus travel scheme for pensioners.

LDC’s Cabinet met last Friday and agreed a package of service improvements to improve the quality of life for residents in next year’s budget.

There was some good news for Lewes this week with the Regional Flood Defence Committee (RFDC) allocating over £2million for improved flood defences in the Cliffe area to be spent over the next five years.

LDC has fulfilled its promise to get the challenge into the High Court and is ready for an early hearing.

A landmark recycling initiative is set to begin this week in Newhaven when Lewes District Council starts to collect glass from residents’ doorsteps as part of Box It!, its kerbside recycling scheme.

There will be no collections on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. Please see the documents below to see when your refuse/kerbsides will be collected.

Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club’s application for a new football stadium at Falmer has been granted

Information and advice about bonfire night events in the district

LDC has undertaken a study looking at the housing needs of the people in the district this year

Residents interested in composting were given a fresh boost at the Compochino Morning organised by Lewes District Council last Saturday. The event proved very popular and offered the added boost of freshly made coffee for people who bought a discounted composter.

'Out of Sight’ is the latest exhibition at the Crypt Gallery, running from Saturday 27 August to Saturday 1 October

Community Leisure is proud to announce the arrival of ‘Junior Challenge’ to Seaford Head Pool

Newhaven Football Club affectionately known as “The Dockers” are delighted at their new replacement Club House provided by Lewes District Council

The opening of the new Lewes Skatepark in Malling Recreation Ground is to be celebrated in style with a full day of events on Sunday 7 August

Businesses can register materials available or wanted in the Materials Exchange

'Cool and Lovely Art’ is the latest exhibition at the Thebes Gallery in Lewes, running from Saturday 30 July to Saturday 20 August.

A joint exhibition of two exceptional artists opens at The Crypt Gallery, Seaford on Saturday 7 May.

There are four editions of our arts newsletter, SPECTRUM per year..

Wednesday 13 April 2005 Media: 435
The Crime Reduction Partnership has formed a new action group,...

People living in the Lewes district will experience some changes to their refuse collection and...

There are now six new trees of the variety Sorbus aria (Whitebeam) at Denton Island. The trees were...

Enrolment is now under way for people wishing to join swimming lessons...

Newhaven Fort is jammed full of fun this Easter

Lewes District Council would like to ask local residents and businesses to put their rubbish out...

A Tulip tree will be planted on Friday 11 March at 11.30am in Southover Grange gardens, Lewes....

A rise of 3.9% in Lewes District Council Tax will help to pay for improved services

A football competition organised by Lewes District Council in conjunction with the Tenants' Federation has proved a big hit with young people in the district.

Crown reduction works to the Tulip Tree in the Grange Gardens will begin on 28 February

Site investigation work is to be carried out on the cliff top at Peacehaven Heights shortly

Improvements to the A27 between Southerham and Beddingham will include the construction of the bridge over the railway to replace the level crossing

If you are a secure tenant, in most cases you will have the right to buy your home

The Horse Chestnut tree outside the Morrisons store in Eastgate Street, Lewes is shortly to be pruned for safety reasons

From Friday 7 January 2005 Lewes District Council will be commencing kerbside recycling collections in North Chailey. South Chailey will begin collections on Tuesday 11 January.

About 400 residents have joined the scheme so far. In the lead up to Christmas residents will receive two recycling boxes in which to collect a variety of materials. The large box is for plastic bottles, cans and clean foil and the smaller one is for paper (not card). Textiles (clothes, shoes, off-cuts, blankets etc) will soon be added to the scheme. Glass can still be taken to one of the many recycling banks around the district.

WALKERS looking down from the golf course above Lewes this month will, for the first time, see the unique heart shape of the reed bed being created on the Railway Land Local Nature Reserve.

Tulip tree fenced whilst survey takes place

This week Lewes will host visitors from Waldshut-Tiengen in Germany to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of twinning.