Queues started building on approaches to McDonald's restaurants as the fast food chain reopened its drive-throughs in the South East.

Lines of traffic were seen outside a Burgess Hill restaurant in footage taken shortly after it opened for the first time since lockdown begun.

And Brighton and Hove Buses reported on Twitter, external that it had had to divert one of its services because of a backlog of traffic caused by people trying to get into a drive-through.

The full list of restaurants reopening its drive-through outlets in Kent, Sussex and Surrey can be found here, external

Sarah Booker-Lewis
Local Democracy Reporter

The number of people turning up at accident and emergency (A&E) departments has started to increase again after falling sharply after the start of the coronavirus lockdown.

But the figures for Brighton remain significantly lower than three months ago as patients still appear to be staying away, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Image source, PA Media

This has prompted concerns that patients who genuinely need treatment may be unnecessarily worried about seeing a doctor or going to hospital.

Health chiefs have been keen to offer reassurance, with doctors’ surgeries, A&E departments and hospital wards adapted so that patients with Covid-19 symptoms are kept separate from everyone else.

At a Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) meeting, the governing body was told that A&E attendances across Sussex averaged 10,621 a week before the lockdown started in March. In the week to Sunday 10 May, the figure was 7,758.

From Sunday 16 February to Sunday 8 March, more than 2,000 people a week went to the A&E department at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

In the week to Sunday 29 March, the first week of the lockdown, the number fell by more than half to 976.

In April, one of Britain’s leading emergency consultants spoke out about the situation. Rob Galloway, who is currently the medical workforce lead for Covid-19 at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals (BSUH), said: “It’s still safe to attend A&E. If you need to come to A&E, you should.”

Dr Galloway told Brighton and Hove News: “We’re concerned that the public are coming to harm because patients who are unwell aren’t coming to A&E.”

And when they did come, he said, they were often in a much more serious condition, with a poorer chance of survival or of making a good recovery. Since he spoke out, A&E attendances have crept up again but the number was still fewer than 1,500 for the week to Sunday 10 May.

Joan Willett, 103, says she rewards herself with chocolate if she makes it up a hill four times.

East Sussex business want parking charge increases halted to help those struggling in the lockdown.

Sarah Booker-Lewis
Local Democracy Reporter

More pop-up cycle lanes and timed road closures could be rushed through in Brighton and Hove before more shops are due to open in two weeks’ time.

Councillors from all three parties agreed the need for speedy progress towards a “healthy” recovery at the first meeting of the city council’s Policy and Resources Recovery Committee.

Image source, Eddie Mitchell

At a virtual meeting on 29 May, Labour, Conservatives and the Greens agreed to prioritise a cycling and walking programme, including closing streets around schools at pick-up and drop-off times before they reopen on 15 June.

A Covid-19 walking and cycling plan is due to go before the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee on 23 June, with details published about a week before.

Huw Oxburgh
Local Democracy Reporter

Parking charges in East Sussex are set to increase in July, following a two-month delay intended to reduce the impact of the coronavirus lockdown.

From 1 July, East Sussex County Council is to increase both its permit and on-street pay and display parking charges throughout Eastbourne, Hastings and the Lewes district.

The increases had originally been set to come into force on 27 April, but were delayed the same month in the early days of the coronavirus lockdown.

The increase will see pay and display parking charges rise by between 20p and £1.90 for county council parking spaces in Eastbourne, Hastings and Lewes.

The cost of most parking permits will also be standardised across the three areas for the first time, with the cost to be tied to the vehicle’s CO2 emissions.

This will see the cost increase for many residents, but will have a particular impact on permit holders living in Eastbourne. Currently an Eastbourne resident would only pay £25 for an annual permit (providing it is the first for that address), while a Hastings resident would pay £75.

Both are charged at a flat rate no matter the vehicle. But under the new system, the cost of a first permit would be between £15 and £95 per year in all three areas, with lower emission vehicles to be charged less.

This scheme is already in place in Lewes. Some minor variations in the scheme will remain between the towns, with disabled permit holders in Eastbourne retaining a discounted rate, while some permit zones in Hastings will pay a lower rate.

The trust which took over Ashdown House after decades of abuse, says Covid-19 'changed everything'.

Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter

Nearly £12m has been handed to businesses in Crawley affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The borough council says the cash has been given to more than 800 companies.

Crawley, which is heavily reliant on the aviation industry, received one of the biggest handouts from the government to help ease problems caused by the lockdown.

It has now received just over £600,000 more, which can be used for smaller businesses.

Business Stream says the three-year deal includes the Home Office and the HM Prison Service in England.

The city council say the influx of visitors and drunken behaviour is making local people feel unsafe.

An Independent Cinema Office survey found only a quarter of venues planned to open before autumn.

Lisa Timmerman says she decided to paint 20 to reflect the year 2020 of the coronavirus pandemic.

Stuart Maisner
BBC Live reporter

Hastings remains closed to tourists, according to the town's borough council.

Residents of the East Sussex resort are being urged to stay home as much as possible, despite the government easing lockdown.

To back this message up the council’s public toilets and other amenities like tennis courts remain closed.  

Hastings Borough Council leader Kim Forward said her priority was keeping residents safe.

Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter

A local authority is increasing parking patrols in a Sussex coastal area, believing some drivers are accepting fines as part of the price of a day out.

Chichester District Council says since 22 May its officers have already issued more than 180 penalty charge notices around the Witterings and Manhood Peninsula.

The privately-run West Wittering Estate car park is still open, but with reduced capacity to enforce social distancing, so spots must be pre-booked.

The authority says drivers turning up without a reserved space are using residential roads, often parking on yellow lines, or blocking pavements and verges.

Lifeguard services are to restart in Eastbourne tomorrow, it has been announced.

Image source, Visit Eastbourne

Officials at Eastbourne Borough Council said the decision was made following a rise in the number of people flocking to its coastline due to the recent spell of warm weather.

Councillor Margaret Bannister, of Eastbourne Borough Council, said: “With this great weather forecast to continue, ensuring the safety of swimmers is paramount and being able to bring our fantastic team of lifeguards back on duty means the residents of Eastbourne can rest assured that they are being taken care of.

“Whilst the lifeguard service is resuming, we would like to encourage the public to remain vigilant of the tides and conditions whenever they are entering or swimming in the sea.”

Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter

Tourism bosses in Hastings are drawing up plans which they hope will bring more government cash into the town.

The transport secretary recently announced local authorities would receive a total of £250m to encourage cycling and walking as the lockdown is eased.

Hastings Borough Council said it was already working on a series of new cycle routes, and has presented its ideas to East Sussex District Council, in the hope that some of the new money can be used.

An East Sussex resort's seafront gardens have been hit by the Covid-19 crisis as suppliers are unable to provide plants for floral displays this summer.

Image source, Visit Eastbourne

The Carpet Gardens are the centrepiece of the town's seafront, with Eastbourne Borough Council using about 45,000 bedding plants every summer to create geometric patterns.

But due to the pandemic, suppliers have not been able to grow the plants as their work was considered non-essential under government guidance, and many staff were sent home.

Councillor Jonathan Dow, Eastbourne Borough Council’s Cabinet member for climate change, said: "These award-winning flower displays are a great source of pride for our town and year-upon-year people come to see the vibrant creations here.

"Whilst it is disappointing not to have our trademark Carpet Gardens to grace the seafront this summer, we will be using this opportunity to control a weed called Oxalis which has been prevalent in the beds for the last few years."

The weed will be allowed to grow for a time so that it can be then be dug out with the aim of permanently eliminating it.

Councillor Dow added: "We very much look forward to the return of our stunning Carpet Gardens displays next year for residents and visitors alike to enjoy."

Aerial shots show how the coronavirus pandemic changed the way we use public spaces.

Jennifer Johnson is alleged to have lied during the first trial of Russell Bishop in 1987.

Hundreds of vehicles are turned away from popular West Sussex beach as it re-opens to the public.