Sussex weekly round-up: 4 May - 10 May 2024

Brighton Palace Pier
Brighton Palace Pier is to introduce a £1 admission fee [Getty Images]

The story about Brighton Pier introducing an admissions fee proved a popular read this week

A variety of local issues featured on the BBC News website, BBC Radio Sussex and BBC South East Today.

We have picked five stories from the past week in case you missed them.

Thousands without water for fifth day

Southern Water tankers arriving in Hastings
A fleet of 24 tankers have been used to bring water to the town [Southern Water]

About 6,500 properties in East Sussex are still without water or with a limited supply as a fifth day of problems comes to an end, Southern Water has confirmed.

The firm said 32,500 customers in Hastings and St-Leonards-on-Sea were initially left without water after a pipe burst on Thursday.

At 20:00 BST, Southern Water said supplies had been restored to about 26,000 properties.

It said it expected "a significant number" of the remaining affected customers to be back in supply later on Monday evening.

Read more here

Sussex police commissioner Katy Bourne re-elected

Katy Bourne
Conservative Katy Bourne was re-elected as the police commissioner for Sussex [BBC]

Katy Bourne, Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Sussex, has been re-elected.

Ms Bourne, who has served as PCC for the county since 2012, when the role was created, stood against three other candidates.

Since 2012, PCCs have controlled forces' budgets, set their priorities and have the power to hire and fire chief constables.

The count took place at the Brighton Centre on Sunday.

Read more here

Channel search stood down after debris identified

A vessel on sides side in grey sea at Seaford
HM Coastguard confirmed the debris was from a vessel, seen here, which ran aground at Seaford on 19 April. [Eddie Mitchell]

A search sparked by a report that parts of a pleasure vessel had been seen off the coast of East Sussex has been stood down.

HM Coastguard led the search in the English Channel, south of Hastings, from about 08.45 BST on Thursday.

A coastguard helicopter, an aircraft, an all-weather lifeboat and several non-emergency vessels were assisting the operation.

The coastguard found the debris was from a boat which had run aground about three weeks ago, and its occupants had made it safely to shore.

Read more here

Parade heralds start of three-week Brighton Festival

A children's parade, "oozing" sculptures, and music are among the attractions of a three-week community festival which starts on Saturday.

Brighton Festival will also include performances from space rock band Spiritualized, Senegalese group Orchestra Baobab and events at the Brighton Dome, the Pavilion Gardens and the Theatre Royal.

The annual event, which runs to 26 May, promises 120 events, according to festival guest director Frank Cottrell-Boyce.

The award-winning children’s author and screenwriter said the city will share its "fun, gags, bright ideas and beauty with the rest of the world".

Read more here

Shoreham dancer celebrates 103rd birthday

A dancer and former ice skater from West Sussex is celebrating her 103rd birthday.

Dinkie Flowers, from Shoreham, said she was hoping to spend time with friends to mark the special occasion on Tuesday.

Ms Flowers explained that the secret to her long and happy life was her passion for dancing.

She said: "I don't sit on my bottom all day. I dance all day."

Read more here

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