Council to seek views on air pollution solution

A public consultation on how to improve air quality in Eastbourne is to be launched after high levels of pollution were recorded, it was announced today. 

Eastbourne Borough Council says it has no plans to create a London-style Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) across Beachy Head as claimed by the opposition Conservative group.

Cllr Jim Murray, Cabinet member for Carbon Neutral 2023 and water champion, released a statement in response to online suggestions that a £10 toll charge for non-residents driving on Beachy Head Road might be introduced. 

He said: “Eastbourne Borough Council is set to launch a public consultation on how to improve air quality in our area, after high levels of air pollution have been recorded across our town.  

“While research has been undertaken into ideas to hear local people’s views ... as part of this process, EBC has no plans to create a ULEZ-style zone in Beachy Head and this is not a proposal that has council support.” 

Cllr David Small, the Conservative group’s finance lead and chair of the scrutiny committee, had released screenshots online showing parts of a document for a framework for the ‘Seven Sisters Clean Air Zone’. 

That 11-page discussion document can be seen on the Conservatives’ link to a petition on their website against the idea of a toll for private cars.

The research document was prepared by Liberal Democrat councillor Tom Nevill and dated August 2025. It states that among the reasons measures are needed are to ease environmental pressure from the volume of cars and to improve road safety.

The document also suggests Eastbourne residents would receive a digital pass for 30 trips a year to the area. 

It also proposes: 

:: Electric shuttle buses every 15 minutes from the town centre 

:: Discounted fares for bus passengers 

:: Safe footpaths and expanded cycle lanes 

It suggests that 40% of any toll revenue would be ring-fenced for the Beachy Head Chaplaincy team and suicide prevention charities. 

Cllr Small said in his online post: "A new Lib Dem policy document has revealed that the iconic Eastbourne Downlands could soon face a London-style ULEZ toll, making Beachy Head available only to those able to afford the new £10 access charge."

He added: "There’s no evidence to show any environmental benefit from these plans. In reality, it’s a revenue raiser."