The Argus • 20/06/2025

City council underspends by £1 million after making 'tough decisions'

Papers published by Brighton and Hove City Council on Wednesday show that it has managed its budget for the 2024/25 financial year without overspending. Councillor Jacob Taylor, cabinet member for finance and city regeneration, said that though the council has had to set “difficult budgets each year” due to the previous administrations overspending, the council is now in a good position. He told the Argus: “The Greens overspent the previous budget, and we made quite a fuss about it....

The Argus • 17/06/2025

McDonald's hits back at objections to 24/7 drive-through plans

Planware, a planning company which is acting on behalf the fast food giant, has responded to concerns raised by the director of public health for Brighton and Hove City Council on the proposed development in Old Shoreham Road, Hove. The public health expert took issue with the proposed restaurant being within “walking distance” of at least four local schools. This includes Goldstone Primary, Hove Park School Nevill Campus, Blatchington Mill School  and Aldrington CoE Primary School....

The Argus • 16/06/2025

'Offensive symbols' drawn and carved across park

Sussex Police are investigating, what they have dubbed, hate crime-related criminal damage, worth thousands of pounds, to wooden ornaments and bins in Hotham Park, Bognor. Since the beginning of June, "offensive symbols" have been drawn or carved into more than 50 items in the park, police said. Arun District Council is working closely with the police to address the graffiti.   The council has been cleaning the park and repairing the damage.  A council spokesman said: “We have ma...

The Argus • 16/06/2025

REVEALED: New vision for A259 through Hove with more cycle lanes and junction changes

Brighton and Hove City Council has launched a six-week consultation for proposals to provide accessible travel options between Fourth Avenue in Hove and Mill Road. Councillor Trevor Muten, cabinet member for transport and city infrastructure, said the “ambitious” plans will make a “huge difference” to people’s travel plans across the seafront. The council states the plans include a separated two-way cycle lane, new pavements and bus stops, "safer, better aligned crossings and junctions"...

The Argus • 11/06/2025

Health and transport experts object to new McDonald’s drive-through

The director of public health for Brighton and Hove City Council has recommended the refusal of a 24/7 McDonald’s in Old Shoreham Road, Hove, due to concerns around the levels of obesity in the city. The director said in his recommendation that the rejection is also due to concerns of the impact on air quality, and the commitment of the council, through planning and health policies, to improve access to healthy eating, support health and wellbeing. The proposed design and traffic layout...

The Argus • 09/06/2025

Brighton's longest-running food bank could be forced to scale back

Brighton Food Bank has issued a warning that immediate support is needed to ensure the city's demand is being met. The food bank is operated by Brighton and Hove City Mission and has been a "vital lifeline" for the community for 25 years. Lloyd Cummins, head of the mission, said: “We operate on an absolute shoestring and rely entirely on donations - both financial and food. "Our incredible team of volunteers keeps us going, but without urgent help, we may not be able to continue serv...

The Argus • 09/06/2025

Police and council to visit after caravans arrive at city park

Sussex Police was made aware of an "unauthorised encampment" of caravans in St Helen's Park on Sunday at 8pm. Police officers have engaged with the group and partners at Brighton and Hove City Council to arrange a joint visit to the site, the police force has said. Councillor Emma Daniel, cabinet member for children, families and youth services has said that Brighton and Hove City Council will be issuing a formal notice to the group of caravans to either vacate the site by tomorrow or re...

The Argus • 09/06/2025

Fuming families battle against new McDonald's drive-thru plan 'targeting children'

A Hove Against McDonald’s protest group is battling against the proposed site in Old Shoreham Road, Hove. Michelle Vogel, who lives just behind the proposed site, has been leading the campaign against the plans, saying that the fast-food company is “targeting our children”. She told The Argus: “The main reason we are all opposed is the proximity to all of our schools and all of our young people. The city already has a massive obesity problem. “You've got Hove Park, Blatchington Mill,...

The Argus • 08/06/2025

Dozens of disabled people protest in city against government welfare reforms

Supporters of Disability Action Brighton, a disabled-led pressure group, were demonstrating at the Clock Tower, Brighton, on Saturday. The demonstration aimed to raise awareness about the impacts of the welfare cut and "make people question the motives of the government". A representative of Disability Action Brighton who was at the demonstration and only gave the name 'Figgy', told The Argus: "This is a completely galvanized community protest. "There's a national movement going on a...

The Argus • 08/06/2025

Council resolves long-running social workers pay dispute

Brighton and Hove City Council and Unison have negotiated a resolution to a long-running dispute regarding pay for social  workers in the council's Adult Social Care services.  Councillor Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, said that she was delighted that the council and trade union had reached an agreement. She said: “Social workers provide a crucial service, supporting some of the most vulnerable people in Brighton & Hove.  “We’re determined to continue investing...

The Argus • 07/06/2025

Woman raped in city centre close to seafront

A member of the public reported to the police that the incident occurred in Manchester Street, Brighton at 11am this morning. The victim, a woman in her 20s, cannot be identified for legal reasons and is receiving support from specially-trained officers. Officers attended the scene, and a 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of rape. The police force has confirmed that he remains in custody at this time. READ MORE: Police release images after four teenagers assaulted at leis...

The Argus • 06/06/2025

Thousands of pupils across Sussex eligible for free school meals starting next year

Hundreds of thousands more children across the country will be able to access means-tested free school meals when the provision is extended from September 2026, the Department for Education (DfE) has said. Councillor Jacob Taylor, deputy council leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, welcomed the new and said that this is “really important” for families across the city. He told The Argus: "This is really great news - and what we need from a Labour government. A proper focus on support...

The Argus • 05/06/2025

Four men charged after police seize class A drugs in raid on city restaurant

Police officers from the tactical enforcement unit executed a warrant at Mediterranean restaurant E Thirty Nine in Western Road, Hove on Monday at 9.45am. A quantity of suspected class A drugs and cash were seized, the police force said. Officers made four arrests in connection with the investigation. Sussex Police confirmed that four men have been charged and appeared before Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. READ MORE: Police release image of man they want to speak to af...

The Argus • 05/06/2025

Police release image of man they want to speak to after Jewish memorial attacked

The incident of criminal damage to the Jewish memorial happened in Palmeira Square, Hove on May 14 at 3.30pm. The police force has said that the incident is being treated as a hate crime. A man with long brown hair, believed to be in his 30s and wearing a grey T-shirt, grey trousers and sunglasses, was seen to leave the area via Western Road, the force said. READ MORE: Jewish memorial in Palmeira Square in Hove attacked again Officers attended and completed a search of the area b...

The Argus • 05/06/2025

Former darts world champion banned as company director for five years

Rob Cross, who lived in Hastings, was banned after his company failed to pay a large tax bill. The 2018 world champion set up Rob Cross Darts Limited in May 2017 to receive prize money but it was liquidated in 2023. During that time he failed to pay more than £400,000 to HM Revenue and Customs while also withdrawing £300,000 in money which should have been paid to creditors. READ MORE: Campaigners to hold tug-of-war protest over plans for Brighton GP surgery The 34-ye...

The Argus • 04/06/2025

Council seeks court order to remove tents camped 'for months' near new seafront park

People have been camped in tents on the green off Hove Street, Hove near beach huts and the new multi-million pound Hove Beach Park. Councillor Gill Williams, cabinet member for housing, has said that the council are "aware of the tents" and in the process of obtaining a court order "for their removal". She said: “As always, we have also been engaging with the owners of the tents, checking on their welfare and attempting to support them into accommodation.” The tents are near the new...

The Argus • 03/06/2025

Drugs and cash seized as police raid popular restaurant

Police executed a warrant at E Thirty Nine in Western Road, Hove, on Monday at 9.45am. READ MORE: Man forced his way into woman's home and raped her An undisclosed quantity of cash and "suspected class A drugs" were seized at the premises, the police said. Four men aged 31, 33, 41, and 61 were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a class A drug, the police force has confirmed. They remain in custody at this time. Police executed a warrant at E Thirty Nine in...

The Argus • 02/06/2025

IN PICTURES: Police at 'stabbing incident' in new block of flats

Emergency services were on the scene of the incident in Clarendon Place, Portslade at around 8pm. A police car was at the scene when the reporter arrived and scenes of crime officers arrived shortly after and were seen entering the new flats. One passerby said that there had been a stabbing but this has not been confirmed by Sussex Police. Photo of large emergency response from the incident (Image: Supplied) One witness, who lives in the area, said: "I saw loads of police and armed o...

The Argus • 02/06/2025

Football club 'sorry' after players no-show at promotion and cup win celebration

Horsham Football Club issued a statement on Sunday to say that it was “overwhelmed with gratitude” as around 1,000 people came to celebrate securing a cup and league title at the Carfax Bandstand, Horsham on May 31. The club apologised for “the lack of players present” at the event as it has identified “communication lessons on our part”. Horsham Football Club shared the statement on Facebook (Image: Facebook) READ MORE: Albion star gets big welcome home as his village declares Jan Paul...

The Argus • 02/06/2025

Initial designs and proposed plans for new swimming pool unveiled

Designers had been chosen for the new pool at Withdean Sports Complex earlier this year ahead of plans being officially submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council. Today, the initial designs and plans for the 5-lane, 25m pool have been unveiled. Councillor Alan Robins, cabinet member for sports, recreation and libraries, said that the unveiling of the plans is “incredibly exciting”. He said: “I’m looking forward to seeing the plans and would encourage residents to get along to the d...