With 2025 in the rear-view mirror, we’ve taken a look back at the stories that got Eastbourne talking last year.
Data, including number of ‘likes’ and comments online, has revealed the top 13 stories that captured our readers’ attention.
We’ve chosen one top article from each month of 2025, plus a bonus story which had everyone talking for much of the year.
See the selection below.
1. Pedestrianisation works announced for Victoria Place
Pedestrianisation works to the seafront-end of Terminus Road (known as Victoria Place) were announced in January. The road has been closed for much of the year to allow for the works which were made possible following a £19.8 million grant from the government’s Levelling Up Fund. The joint project between Eastbourne Borough Council (EBC) and East Sussex County Council (ESCC) has been controversial, mostly due to its impact on traders. Katerina Tutt, owner of Qualisea in Terminus Road, said local businesses are ‘in favour’ of the project overall, but that the road closure had ‘caused absolute carnage’. According to EBC and ESCC, the completed project will see the road transformed into a ‘more attractive and vibrant destination for everyone to enjoy’, with al fresco dining, new paving, a Victorian-style street arch and newly-planted trees and flowers. Photo: ESCC
2. Controversial retirement village reaches final stage of planning process
In February, our top story centred around a 126-home retirement development in Martinique Way receiving its final planning approval. Under what is known as a ‘Section 106’ agreement signed with Eastbourne Borough Council, developers Untold Living said it would contribute £214,000 to projects in the local community, including the improvement of bus services, training local people and tackling unemployment, and funding a local car club. The agreement marks the final stage of the planning process. Plans for the retirement development were first put forward in 2023, proposing 137 flats across seven-storeys – but residents objected to the plans in their hundreds. Concerns largely revolved around lack of privacy for existing dwellings, an increase to traffic in the area and added stress to infrastructure. A revised scheme was released which developers said that they felt ‘positively addresses those concerns and results in an improved solution for the site’. Photo: Contributed
3. £1 to 'spend a penny' at public toilets
In March, it was announced that four public toilets - located at the Pier, Bandstand, Holywell and Beachy Head - would reopen with a £1 entry fee. The toilets had previously been closed due to vandalism, according to Eastbourne Borough Council (EBC). Several residents were on board, others were firmly against the idea – while a handful of people believed it was an April Fools’ joke. An EBC spokesperson said: “The toilets on the seafront and at Beachy Head are used by high numbers of people throughout the year and obviously need to be regularly serviced, not just for cleanliness but also to help combat anti-social behaviour, including vandalism. Vandalism has put many toilets out of action in recent years and the costs to repair them are very high. We hope that the changes and improvements we are making will reduce incidents of this nature.” Photo: Jon Rigby
4. Rare bird spotted in Eastbourne garden
In April, Dave Mines, of Mountbatten Drive, photographed a Eurasian Hoopoe - a colourful bird found across Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe. He spotted the ‘impressive-looking’ bird in his neighbour’s garden while taking a break from a home renovation project. The exotic bird is ‘unlike anything else you can see here in Sussex’, according to the Sussex Wildlife Trust. Charlotte Owen, the charity’s communications officer, said: "As well as being rare, they are beautiful and distinctive birds with a very exotic appearance, especially when their impressive head crest is raised." Photo: David Mines