OUT IN THE FIELD: Eastbourne Cineworld is closing but there are other cinemas to frequent

The news that Cineworld is closing temporarily – due to the wretched virus – 15 months after it first opened is a devastating blow to Eastbourne cinema-goers and The Beacon. It is also yet another kick in the shins to the restaurants upstairs in the shopping complex who rely so heavily on patrons nipping in for a bite to eat either before or after watching a movie. The eateries have already endured a rubbish few months during the coronavirus lockdown and had hoped things would pick up as restrictions were lifted. Hopefully people will continue to support Taylor’s Sports Bar, Nando’s and the Bok Shop at the top of the escalators. But as upsetting as it is that Cineworld will be in darkness until the foreseeable future, all is not lost however as it’s worth remembering that in Eastbourne we are lucky to have another cinema offering. The small but perfectly formed Towner Cinema re-opens this weekend and has some real delights coming up in the next few weeks including Hope Gap and Summerland, both filmed in and around Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters. Go further afield and there is also the Hailsham Old Pavilion which opened again for business on Wednesday and has a packed line up of mainstream and classic films, plus music shows and theatre productions. Both venues are operating with strict Covid-19 prevention measures in place and booking in advance via their respective websites is essential.

I really hope some serious questions are being asked within the corridors of power at Brighton & Hove City Council after the authority quite literally bussed more than 140 of its homeless and vulnerable population to stay in Eastbourne hotels – with no real welfare support or after care. Sadly, last month two residents in one of the hotels passed away. Both, say officials, died due to their lifestyle choices and the fact they had no support or care packages will undoubtedly be raised at inquests into their untimely deaths. These poor people have effectively been dumped by Brighton’s council and left helpless. Homeless charities, mental health teams, police officers and council officials locally are already under pressure helping those who hail from Eastbourne without the burden of more from along the coast where the infrastructure for support services is already established. Somebody needs to be held accountable for this abhorrent situation – and that somebody is sitting in Hove Town Hall.

It has also emerged this week that a question mark is hanging over this year’s Winter Night Shelter which operates across Eastbourne during the extreme winter months. The WNS is provided by several Eastbourne churches co-operating together and offers supervised overnight accommodation to homeless and vulnerable people who would otherwise be rough sleeping during December, January and February on the town’s streets. Officials say that due to the impact of Covid-19 and the government guidelines, they are currently reviewing the implications for operating a Winter Night Shelter during the winter of 2020-21. Hopefully some kind of solution will be found soon so everyone can keep warm and continue to stay safe.