Latest news with #EastSussexCountyCouncil
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Eastbourne day centre saved after council U-turn on closure
East Sussex County Council has backtracked on plans to close a day centre for adults with autism and learning council previously said it had "reluctantly" looked at shutting Linden Court, in Eastbourne, as demand outstripped available on Tuesday, councillors agreed to reduce the capacity from 45 places each day to 25, which "meets its current usage", instead of closing the council said the reduction in places saved £145,000 but it now needed to make £182,000 of cuts elsewhere instead. There are currently 44 people regularly attending the day service, with around 60% of available spaces filled. Evening sessions have a lower attendance, about 10%.The service had been marked for closure but it was feared that could lead to some clients moving into full-time residential care, the Local Democracy Reporting Service officers highlighted in a report that the average cost of residential care for a high-needs individual would come to about £75, said it meant that even if just three clients moved into residential care, it would reduce the overall £327,000 saving by around £225, light of this, the council has chosen to keep the service running, but with a reduced had previously declared it was in its "worst financial situation ever" and needed to cut nearly £4m from its adult social care budget for 2025/26.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Children's mental health 'suffering' due to lack of SEND services
Parents and guardians in the South East are calling for the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system to be "overhauled", saying the current set-up is affecting their children's mental from East Sussex, says the lack of support available for her son has caused his mental health to deteriorate "dramatically".The Tunbridge Wells MP Mike Martin is due to hold a debate in Parliament on SEND services in the region saying he hopes to highlight some of the "systemic issues".The government says it "inherited a SEND system left on its knees" and it is "looking at changes to improve support for children". Tora's 16-year-old son Mason has complex needs, including autism, type 1 diabetes and a severe learning said Mason was asked to leave his special educational needs school in October last year, when they felt they could no longer meet his needs."He's lost all his confidence. At the beginning he wouldn't leave the house. His behaviour deteriorated as well. He was very challenging," Tora then, Tora says they have applied for places at 20 different schools, all of which have rejected him, saying his needs are either not great enough or too Sussex County Council says it cannot comment on individual cases, but that it works with parents and carers "to find an education setting which can meet their individual needs".In a statement it said: "As is the case nationally, the level of demand for specialist provision in East Sussex outstrips supply, this is despite there being much better availability of special school places in East Sussex than in many parts of the country."The number of education health and care plans (EHCPs) issued in England - which allow children with SEND to access support - has increased by 140% between 2015 and 2024, according to the Office for National funding from government has been insufficient to meet demand, with an estimated £4.6bn deficit in council schools budgets across England expected next year, the National Audit Office says. 'Mentally, it was wearing him out' Tommy, 13, has autism and other special educational needs. He spent three years in mainstream education in Kent before he was moved to a school for children with guardian, Denise, said while the mainstream school tried its best, it was unequipped to deal with Tommy's challenges, and it had a huge impact on his wellbeing and mental health."He'd be banging [his head] and not sleeping and screeching... mentally it was wearing him out," she says. Tommy is now in a new independent specialist school for children with autism and wider SEND needs, and Denise says he is "much happier".But she said she still had to fight for the council funding needed to secure him a place and she believes the whole system needs to be "overhauled", with the creation of more special schools for other children like County Council has been approached for a comment. The Tunbridge Wells MP, Mike Martin, is due to raise the issue in a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament on Tuesday, saying he hopes to highlight some of the "systemic issues" across the South government is reported to be planning to reform the SEND system in the Autumn.A Department for Education spokesperson said: "The evidence is clear that this government inherited a SEND system left on its knees – which is why we are looking at changes to improve support for children and stop parents having to fight for help. "The education secretary has been clear that there will always be a legal right to additional support for children with SEND."This government is actively working with parents and experts on the solutions, including more early intervention to prevent needs from escalating and £740 million to encourage councils to create more specialist places in mainstream schools."
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Opening date for 'major' new road revealed
The opening date for a new major road has been confirmed. The Queensway Gateway Road, which will connect the A21 Sedlescombe Road North and Queensway in Hastings, was due to be completed in 2016. However, a judicial review of the planning approval was granted following a resident-led campaign in 2015. In April, Helena Dollimore, MP for Hastings and Rye, said the roadworks had "gone on for too long" and started a petition against East Sussex County Council. The council has now revealed that the road is expected to open on August 31. Councillor Keith Glazier, leader of East Sussex County Council, said: 'This extremely important project will make a real difference to traffic flow and make it quicker and easier to travel between Hastings and Bexhill. 'We appreciate that work on this major project has caused disruption to road users and apologise for any delays, but we hope they will soon be reaping the significant benefits the new road will bring.' The project includes the permanent closure of Junction Road and the creation of a public right of way and cycle path, as well as major improvements to the A21 Sedlescombe Road North, with the installation of new traffic signals. Read more: One person taken to hospital after three vehicle crash near Gatwick Lorry crashes into bridge causing train delays Flat shut down due to antisocial behaviour and drugs 'blighting community' A significant amount of work has been completed on site, the council said, including the relocation of a water main by Southern Water and the removal of 3,000 cubic metres of earth from an embankment – the equivalent to about eight standard swimming pools. Contractors also carried out remedial work along Whitworth Road and installed new drainage and gullies as well as a new traffic island and signals. A period of monitoring will follow the opening of the road to ensure traffic is flowing smoothly.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Opening date for 'major' new road announced
The opening date of a "major" new road in East Sussex has been confirmed by the county council. The Queensway Gateway Road, which will connect the A21 Sedlescombe Road North and Queensway in Hastings, is due to open on 31 August. It was originally due to be completed in 2016, but the final section of the road was delayed by an unsuccessful judicial review. Keith Glazier, the council's leader, said: "We appreciate that work on this major project has caused disruption to road users and apologise for any delays, but we hope they will soon be reaping the significant benefits the new road will bring." Helena Dollimore, the MP for Hastings and Rye, told the House of Commons in December that local residents called the project the "road to nowhere" because "it has been left unfinished for over a decade". The local authority said at the time that work on site had been delayed "due to significant remedial works" and a burst water main. The road is part of an East Sussex County Council project to improve traffic flow and transport links between Bexhill and Hastings. The project includes the permanent closure of Junction Road and the creation of a public right of way and cycle path. Major improvements to the A21 Sedlescombe Road North, which include the installation of new traffic signals, are also part of the project. A period of monitoring will follow the opening of the road to ensure traffic is flowing smoothly. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Major highway improvement scheme nearing completion 'Chaos' concern as traffic lights return to A21 Delayed road costs businesses millions, MP says East Sussex County Council
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
New 'major' Hastings road to open in August after years of delays
The opening date of a "major" new road in East Sussex has been confirmed by the county Queensway Gateway Road, which will connect the A21 Sedlescombe Road North and Queensway in Hastings, is due to open on 31 was originally due to be completed in 2016, but the final section of the road was delayed by an unsuccessful judicial Glazier, the council's leader, said: "We appreciate that work on this major project has caused disruption to road users and apologise for any delays, but we hope they will soon be reaping the significant benefits the new road will bring." Helena Dollimore, the MP for Hastings and Rye, told the House of Commons in December that local residents called the project the "road to nowhere" because "it has been left unfinished for over a decade".The local authority said at the time that work on site had been delayed "due to significant remedial works" and a burst water road is part of an East Sussex County Council project to improve traffic flow and transport links between Bexhill and project includes the permanent closure of Junction Road and the creation of a public right of way and cycle improvements to the A21 Sedlescombe Road North, which include the installation of new traffic signals, are also part of the project.A period of monitoring will follow the opening of the road to ensure traffic is flowing smoothly.
