Latest News

Report of 2026 AGM...

24 September - Beachwork Update from the EA - Dear Resident, 
We would like to let you know more about upcoming coastal defence maintenance works taking place along the coastline between Sovereign Harbour and Cooden Beach. The annual shingle recharge programme is now underway, helping to maintain the beaches and coastal defences that protect local homes, businesses and infrastructure from coastal erosion and flooding.

The vessel Sospan Dau has started recharging and will be operating between Sovereign Harbour and Elmer Beach over the coming weeks. Subject to suitable weather conditions, the programme is expected to be completed by 5 November in Pevensey. 

From 28 September, shingle recycling operations will begin, resulting in increased activity on the beach, including heavy machinery operating on the foreshore, construction activity associated with moving and recycling shingle, and additional lorry movements in the local area. Beach haul routes are currently being prepared ahead of these works. 

For your safety, active work areas will be clearly marked with warning signs, beach marshals will be present, and all machinery is fitted with safety alarms. If you are visiting the beach, please keep well away from operating machinery, follow the instructions of beach marshals, keep dogs on leads when near work areas, machinery or marshals, and observe all warning signs and temporary diversions. 

Following a successful trial earlier this year, shingle will be transported from Hastings to Sovereign Harbour as part of an agreed recycling programme with Hastings Borough Council. Lorry movements associated with this work will operate from 28 September until the end of October. 

The first shingle bypass operation of the season, from Eastbourne to Sovereign Harbour is scheduled to take place between 12 and 16 October. Due to access restrictions and safety requirements associated with operating on a shingle beach, material will initially be stockpiled near Tower 64. It will then be transported to various locations along the frontage as part of the bypass programme.

A temporary footpath diversion at Pacific Drive will be in place while shingle transport operations are underway. Please follow the signed diversion route during this period. 

We appreciate that these works may result in some temporary disruption, due to increased plant and lorry movements. All vehicles are fitted with GPS tracking which we will be monitoring. We will continue to work closely with our contractors to help minimise disruption wherever possible. These essential works help maintain our coastal defences, reducing the risk of coastal erosion and flooding and helping to protect local homes, businesses and infrastructure for the future.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation while this essential work is carried out.
Amber Carr
Senior Advisor Beach Manager, 

17 September - WI Newsletter Published - The Harbour WI has published a report of its September meeting. Find it on the Harbour WI webpages here... 

15 September - Note of SHRA AGM. A note of last week's SHRA AGM along with the slides from the presentation by our MP, Josh Babarinde OBE, have been added to our AGM webpage. Click ye here to find them...

15 September - New Columbus Point Residents Association (CPRA) - Leaseholders and freeholders across South Harbour's Columbus Point are facing a difficult property market, stagnant or declining property values, and rising costs. In addition, our properties have been affected by questionable value for money from our maintenance services. 

Individually, we have very little influence over these issues, but we can have an impact on some of them if we come together. The law allows us to form a democratic and legally authoritative Recognised Tenants Association (RTA) to represent our interests with the development’s managing agent and landlord. 

Your voice can now be heard via the new Columbus Point Residents Association (CPRA), recently established to represent all Columbus Point leaseholders and freeholders. Please see this linked document  for further details and how to join, or visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/newcpra

04 September - Adopted Roads Map - as a quick reference we have cobbled together the PDF linked to below from the ESCC Adopted Roads online map. ESCC's interactive, online version is frequently updated and should always be consulted for up-to-date and further information.
Click here for the PDF Map.  
Please visit the following ESCC website for the latest data: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/roads-transport/roads/maintenance/road-adoption

01 September - Writing Competition Result  - SHRA and the Sovereign Harbour Book and Creative Writing Group are pleased to announce the winners of their 2026 Writing Competition in the following online document:  www.shra.co.uk/pdfs/winners.pdf 
SHRA and the Writing Group thank everyone who took part.

28 August - Letter to Premier about the slope  - In the past, pedestrians crossing the car park area beside the locks at the end of Key West to gain access to the curved outer harbour prom needed to negotiate one of two gravelled slopes. The only alternative was a steeper paved slope, which most people avoided. 

Premier Marinas recently fenced off the two slopes, so now the only access is the very steep paved slope. The slope forms part of the alternative route when the harbour bridge is out of action and is part of the King Charles III England Coast Path.  

The paved slope is wholly unsuitable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, and difficult for those with a pram, carrying shopping and anyone with mobility issues. There is no handrail, and in winter it will be extremely dangerous. 

SHRA has written to Premier and local councillors about this issue and awaits a response. Click to read our letter... 

31 July -  SHRA Newsletter Published - The August issue of Waterlines, our bi-monthly PDF newsletter, has been published online. Find it on the Waterlines page... 

10 February -  Foyer Notice for Couriers - Following thefts from the foyer of their apartment block, residents placed a notice to inform couriers that the foyer is not a "Safe Place" for deliveries. It has been partly successful, with one courier who used to leave parcels there now delivering them to the flat's front door. An A4, PDF version of the poster for printing can be viewed and downloaded by clicking here...  Before displaying it, you should check that other residents are OK with doing that.

Over time, some news items may migrate to the News Archive page or another relevant page of the SHRA website.