Coronavirus: The Latest Developments In Sussex (Thursday, 23)

Here’s all the coronavirus related news that’s gone on in Sussex over the last 7 days.

As of Thursday, (July 23) at 6am, the following figures are the known number of Covid-19 cases in each district:

East Sussex - 1,584

West Sussex - 2,759

Brighton and Hove - 786

Sussex Total - 5,129

The total number of deaths in hospitals across Sussex currently stands at 636.

Traders In Lewes Furious Over Planned Covid-19 High Street Parking Suspensions.

An outcry from many traders has greeted East Sussex Highways' plan to widen pavements in Lewes's main shopping street but suspend 159 metres of parking spaces outside the town's stores — beginning in August.

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Festival In Eastbourne WILL Go Ahead In September.

Tourism bosses in Eastbourne said today (July 20) at least one of the autumn's festivals will go ahead, with practical social distancing measures in place.

It's the town's Walking Festival, still scheduled for 18–27 September 2020.

According to the Borough Council, the format remains the same as before: a curated collection of more than 50 free-to-join guided walks, together with published itineraries for self-guided walks around the town and its surrounding countryside.

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150 Jobs At Risk In Worthing, Lancing, Shoreham, Southwick, Storrington in Leisure Company Collapse.

Following a warning issued in June, Adur District Council today (July 20) said the company running many local leisure centres had collapsed.

According to the local authority, Adur Community Leisure had earlier requested a council-backed loan to help it weather the pandemic, but announced its voluntary liquidation before the district council made a decision on the money.

As a result, the district council said, 150 jobs are now at risk.

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West Sussex coroner's court to reopen.

Families of individuals whose death is to undergo an inquest are now able to attend Coroners Courts once again after its closure because of coronavirus.

At the start of the Coronavirus outbreak, the Court had to be closed to the public when restrictions were introduced in March.

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Firle: One Of World's Oldest Cricket Fixtures Takes Newest Format.

One of the oldest fixtures in sporting history — the cricket match between the Gentlemen of Lewes and the Gentlemen of Firle — is to be played in the game’s newest format, the "100", this Wednesday 22 July.

The players of Firle Cricket Club in East Sussex said that the poster in the Firle clubhouse, also copied in village's pub, The Ram, shows that this particular contest has been on the sporting calendar since at least 1851.

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Eastbourne's Devonshire Park Tennis Courts In Rare Opening For Public Play.

The grass courts of Devonshire Park have opened to the public for six weeks only, in a rare opportunity to play at the home of the Nature Valley International, after the cancellation of all tournaments this year.

According to Eastbourne Borough Council, the impact of Covid-19 has led to the, apparently, "immaculate" courts being opened up for bookings as part of the Lawn Tennis Association's "Play Your Way" scheme.

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West Sussex: Fines For School Absence Are "Last Resort".

Parents who don’t send their children back to school in September will only be fined as a last resort, West Sussex County Council has said.

At a meeting of the full council, Nigel Jupp, cabinet member for education and skills, was asked what would happen if parents who were worried about the pandemic kept youngsters away from lessons.

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Martin Clunes presents new Blueball Railway promo video showing Covid-19-safe reopening.

It's set to be a case of new meets old at the Bluebell Railway, as heritage is set to come up against social distancing when it reopens on August 7th.

Due to open to the public on 7 August 2020 - its 60th birthday - the railway has produced a reopening film featuring TV actor and presenter Martin Clunes. 
   
The short film focuses on the new Covid-19 safety measures in place and shows how a day at Bluebell Railway might look.  It shows that a visit to the railway is safe and enjoyable.  

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New Bishop Of Horsham Goes Viral (with Covid-19 bad joke. Viral in two senses, therefore).

When the Church of England ceremonially put in place two new bishops for Sussex on Wednesday (15th July), no-one expected the viral success of a very modern joke from the woman who became Bishop of Horsham.

As the Diocese of Chichester celebrated the arrival of The Revd Ruth Bushyager to look after the Chichester and Horsham archdeaconries (church areas), she combined an old joke about a bishop's traditional hat with social distancing rules.

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St. Leonards' Beach Lifeguards return already proving successful.

Lifeguards are already making an impact on a St Leonards beach as they return to service following its suspension during the lockdown.

Hastings Borough Council said it is pleased see the return of the RNLI lifeguards to St Leonards as the summer holidays begin.

Having the lifeguards in position on this popular section of beach ensures the safety of residents and visitors while they enjoy the warmer weather. 

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East Sussex County Council may be willing to compromise over Lewes parking changes.

After many Lewes traders reacted furiously to local authority plans to remove most on-street parking in shopping areas, the council might be willing to compromise.

East Sussex County Council said it's been obliged by post-Covid government rules to encourage safer walking and cycling.

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