SOUTHERN WATER’S NEW RIVERS & SEAS WATCH SERVICE
While we work hard to cut storm overflows across our region, as set out in our £1.5bn Clean Rivers and Seas Plan, it is key that communities can view information on all our storm overflow activity.
From 13 November 2024, our new Rivers and Seas Watch service replaced the Beachbuoy online monitoring tool.
Rivers and Seas Watch now includes all of our storm overflows including those inland, not just our coastal overflows.
Rivers and Seas Watch has been running in beta mode on our website since June. During this time, we collected feedback from users, including Beachbuoy subscribers, campaign groups and local stakeholders, to ensure Rivers and Seas Watch provides relevant information in an easy to read format. Technology experts also fed into our Beachbuoy Independent Review.
Key features of Rivers and Seas Watch include:
- Enhanced user experience across different devices (mobile, laptop, desktop), making it easier to find a location, and access and understand information
- Comprehensive and accessible information on how the service works
- An industry-leading mapping platform, presenting information in a clean and timely way
- Improved email notifications, including start times, impact times and the release status
- Integration with our overall plans to cut storm overflows, to help users understand what improvements are planned in each area
Improving how we communicate this important information to the public in a transparent, accurate and timely way is crucial. Rivers and Seas Watch has been created following a customer-first approach, engaging extensively with our community to understand their needs, wants and feedback from Beachbuoy.
Users can sign up for alerts for their local beaches on Rivers and Seas Watch, as data protection rules mean we cannot carry previous Beachbuoy users over.
Almond Field, Ringmer
We are delighted to announce the official opening of the Almond Field which took place on Tuesday 15th October 2024. The field was kindly donated by the late Bill Almond who lived in the village with his wife Anne for many years. Parish Cllr Duke has worked closely with Bill’s brother-in-law, Roger Catchpole, and Roger’s wife Michèle, for over a year to bring to life the vision of this space for the community. The field now has an access path, two newly installed benches and many wildflowers have been planted to increase the biodiversity and has been accepted by the Southdowns National Park Authority (SDNPA) as a ‘Call for Nature’ site. Michèle and Roger officially opened the field and were really pleased with the overall feeling of the field. Cllr Gordon Sims, Chair of Ringmer Parish Council, and Cllr Dave Duke, who is leading the project, also attended. It is hoped that the field will provide a quiet reflective space for local residents to enjoy.
The Council would like to thank the SDNPA for their support both in grant funding and Ranger Service and the Catchpoles were thrilled with the work undertaken by Tony Read who installed the access path and benches.
Report It (Love Clean Streets) smartphone app This app is the quickest and easiest way to report environmental problems to the councils when you are out and about.
In just a few taps you can report the problem, give the location and include a photo. Your report then goes straight through to the right team to deal with the issue.
The types of issue you can report include:
- Fly tipping
- Littering
- Litter bins that need to be cleaned or emptied
- Dog fouling
- Dog bins that need to be cleaned or emptied
- Street cleaning such as sweeping or removal of leaves and weeds
You can download the app for Android or iPhone:
COUNCIL OUTLINES VISION FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS
Message from Lewes District Council:
Cabinet councillors have approved a plan that sets out the council’s overarching priorities and aims for the next four years.
Reimagining Lewes District: Delivering the Vision 2024 – 2028 builds on the successes of the past four years, outlining council strategies and projects that will be delivered across the district.
The plan has five key areas:
- Delivering high quality, responsive services to local people
- Supporting local people through challenging times
- Providing leadership in tackling the climate and nature emergencies
- Creating sustainable community wealth
- Building genuinely affordable homes
Councillor Zoe Nicholson, Leader of Lewes District Council, said: “This plan presents our commitments to residents and businesses for the next four years, and provides us with a firm basis to work from as we continue to navigate through challenging times.
“At the top of the list is our continued support for vulnerable people in Lewes district who are struggling to make ends meet through the cost of living crisis. Alongside this we will be doubling down on our efforts to tackle the climate and nature emergencies, as well as maintaining high standards in our frontline services.”
Read the full story here
To download the draft plan and consultations report, visit
