Author: James Anderson, FRSA, CMgr MCMI

Will Browne and his father Gary have taken on the lease of The Royal Oak in Newick, near Uckfield . Mr Browne said: “I’m very proud to say I’ve officially taken on The Royal Oak as the new landlord. “My aim is simple: to keep this a proper country pub – welcoming, friendly, and at the heart of the village – with good beer, eventually great food, and a place where everyone feels relaxed and at home. “On behalf of myself and my father, cheers to the next chapter. “We’re very excited!” The Royal Oak in Newick (Image: Wikimedia) The…

West Sussex County Council said it has been offered £11.34 million to expand SEND capacity within existing schools, following the Department for Education’s (DFE) decision to cancel two special free schools for West Sussex. The funding includes £7.02 million in lieu of the proposed Beckmead Wealden Academy and £4.32 million in lieu of the proposed Kithurst Academy. The Wealden Academy had been envisaged as a specialist school situated near Worthing, with space for 80 pupils in Key Stages 2 to 4. Plans for Kithurst Academy would have seen it built as an alternative provision in Crawley for 120 pupils in Key Stages 3…

A HUGE fire has broken out at a funfair prompting a massive emergency response. Plumes of smoke were spotted in South Shields as the police and fire brigade to rush to the scene. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The fire has been described as “large” A large scale fire broke out on Boxing Day tearing through the amusement parkCredit: NNP The roof of a building at Ocean Beach Pleasure Park Funfair in South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear became ablaze on Boxing day (December 26). This comes after the funfair, dating back to 1899, underwent a £1.2m investment…

The council said its ageing population and large rural areas were exacerbating its financial problems.The report, to be presented to cabinet, said: “It is clear that we continue to experience sustained higher demand for services, more complex needs amongst those seeking support, and increased costs, particularly in children’s services and adult social care, beyond our best estimates at the time of planning for the current year.”It said it believed that the government had failed to recognise these challenges and was sending more money to other local authorities.The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been contacted for comment. Read…

“It will feature a grey PPC metal roof with four rooflights and solar panels, rendered concrete lower walls, and metal cladding upper walls. Access includes a roller shutter garage door and two pedestrian doors. Internally, the layout includes an office, staff room, toilet, battery storage, and a workshop/store.” Read more here: Click Here

The Blue Cross centre on Willenhall Street submitted a full planning application to Newport City Council to convert some roof space into staff living and welfare areas. The centre said it needs the new areas in order to ensure continuous supervision, safety, and care at the facility, while also reducing travel times for employees, and their impact on the environment. With the application, Blue Cross detailed how there would be no increase in the building’s footprint, with all the work planned around the existing structure. The centre does not expect extra demand for parking as the new facilities are specifically…

“Got this for my bathroom that was always damp after showers, and the difference has been amazing. No steam running down walls, and my window is so much drier.”Rachel Pugh Fashion, beauty, shopping and affiliates editor 06:40, 27 Dec 2025This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreDehumidifier ‘amazing for winter bathroom condensation and mould’ goes on sale(Image: Shared Content Unit)With the temperatures in the UK feeling colder than ever, keeping an eye on condesnsation and damp is vital. Colder temperatures mean these issues are more likely to become rife…

Seven people have been convicted out of the 200 arrested during the annual Christmas crackdown on drink and drug driving, Sussex Police said. One of them was a builder who was caught in Brighton having had more than double the permitted amount of alcohol. SussexPolicesaid: “Linas Pikturna, 43, a builder, of Wick Farm Road, Littlehampton, was arrested in Ditchling Road, Brighton, on Friday 19 December and charged with driving with 80 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.” The legal limit is 35 micrograms. Sussex Police said: “At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 20 December, he was disqualified from…

Thefts of tools and equipment from building sites are increasingly being carried out by organised criminal groups, according to security bosses, amid warnings that the crimewave could accelerate during the Christmas construction shutdown.Copper cables, tools and even telehandlers and diggers costing tens of thousands of pounds have been stolen in recent months, according to the security firm Kingdom Systems.Now there are concerns that there could be a spate of thefts during the annual closure of construction sites, which sometimes last as long as two weeks over the festive period.Criminals often exploit long winter-nights as they look to break into sites,…

King Charles III and the Prince of Wales are expected to make separate trips to the US in 2026 as part of a campaign to revitalise a trade deal with Donald Trump, it has been reported.Advanced talks on a visit by the king are said to be under way, the Times reported. The paper suggested that Charles’s visit to the US was likely to take place in April.William is expected to make a separate visit to the US later in the year during the World Cup, which will be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to…