'I have never seen such blatant misuse of public areas: you can hear the drug deals taking place'

Open drug dealing and bed bug-infested mattresses being set alight are among the disturbances reported by residents in a seaside square in Eastbourne. 

They say the practice of people being placed in temporary accommodation from outside the area has led to persistent anti-social behaviour in Wilmington Square, near the Towner gallery and Devonshire Park. 

One resident, who recently moved from London, said he had never seen such blatant misuse of public areas and drug deals which could be heard clearly by those living in the square. 

Two men died recently at The Ellesmere hotel in the square; both had been placed by Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) in Eastbourne. 

Wilmington Square is next to the prestigious Towner gallery, the £60 million Devonshire Quarter conference centre, the Congress Theatre and near Devonshire Park, where the Lawn Tennis Association’s Eastbourne Open tournament is currently taking place.

The Eastbourne Reporter spoke to three residents who are concerned about the anti-social behaviour centred on the hotel. They did not wish to be identified so names have been changed. 

Carol, in her 60s, said residents had started a gardening group to clear the unkempt flower beds in the square and plant them. They were mindful of the prominent position of the square next to visitor attractions in the town. 

She said: “There is a smell of weed everywhere. Most of us living here feel threatened: there are people screaming and the language is very unpleasant. 

“The people drop their drug paraphernalia by the bin: syringes, spoons and swabs, although the bins are emptied regularly. Once a place is neglected, it is going to attract other people. 

“It’s not completely The Ellesmere to blame but the owner must have some responsibility.' 

Carol said of BHCC: “If they are putting these people over here, they have a duty of care to them and the area they are in.” 

David, in his 40s, said that Fridays and Saturday nights were drug and alcohol-fuelled, with people sitting on the steps into the early hours. 

“I feel quite threatened. We are woken at 3am with people off their heads, drunk. No one tells them to go inside. 

“Sometimes they take a mattress out and spray them for bed bugs. Last year, a man set a mattress on fire.” David gave us some photos he took at the time. 

Dylan, who moved to the area from London, said: “I have never seen this behaviour so overtly on display. I have never seen such blatant misuse of public areas. 

“I watch drug deals taking place with all the paraphernalia: because of the acoustics and the talking echoing around, you can hear the deals taking place. 

“The owner is benefiting from year-round occupancy, but it is his guests who are contributing to the issues.” 

He said that emergency services were frequently called to disturbances at The Ellesmere. 

“There are many additional demands on services such as police, ambulance and the NHS. This is a disproportionate use of resources on a small group of people,” Dylan added. 

The Ellesmere’s owner Peter Jackson previously told the Eastbourne Reporter that the hotel has 16 bedrooms and “a mix of guests” including key workers, NHS staff and holidaymakers along with people temporarily needing accommodation. 

“We help out wherever we can,” Mr Jackson told us in May. 

We approached Mr Jackson again to put forward the residents’ concerns that, while the hotel has year-round occupancy and income from council placements, they did not know who should be responsible for the actions of the people staying there. 

We asked to what extent he felt responsible for the hotel residents, their living conditions and how they behaved in the vicinity. We also sent him the photos of the mattress we were given. We have not received a response. 

BHCC has said it uses accommodation in Eastbourne when no other options are available in its own area. Its accounts show payments totalling £2,744 to The Ellesmere in January this year.

Eastbourne Borough Council (EBC) leader Stephen Holt has stepped up his demands for BHCC to stop putting vulnerable people in the town, away from their support networks. 

However, EBC also placed people at The Ellesmere at a cost of £9,623 last summer, according to its accounts for Q2 2025/25. It said it was a temporary solution which reflected the huge demand for council housing.

A safeguarding review last year followed the death of a 25-year-old man in January 2023 who had been placed by BHCC in an Eastbourne hotel.  

The review noted that the young man, Oliver, had no contact with support workers for four weeks due to a shortage of staff. It said that the welfare team prior to September 2023 had an average caseload of 80 each. 

Oliver had also received a letter telling him that he was being discharged from the Brighton and Hove mental health support service due to being ‘out of area’, even though it was the council who had moved him, against his wishes. 

We have asked BHCC what measures have been put in place following this review but have not received a response to this question. 

In a previous statement to us, Cllr Gill Williams, the city council's Cabinet member for housing and new homes, said: "First and foremost our condolences go to the friends and family of the two people who sadly died.    

"It would not be appropriate for us to comment in detail over such a sensitive issue other than to say that, like other local authorities in Sussex, we do use Ellesmere Hotel for emergency, temporary accommodation when there are no suitable in-city options available.  

"This is booked on an ad hoc basis when needed and to make sure any residents we are supporting can urgently access safe accommodation." 

We asked Eastbourne Borough Council what measures it had in place for people placed in temporary accommodation.  

It issued the following statement: “We understand that being in temporary accommodation can be a challenging experience for individuals and families, and are committed to providing the necessary support to help them.   

“This type of housing is a temporary solution and its increased usage in Eastbourne reflects the huge demand for council housing locally, as well as nationally. 

“The council uses a multi-faceted approach to support residents in temporary accommodation, with key strategies including: 

•  Dedicated support workers who are experienced in working with households in temporary accommodation and supporting them to find move-on accommodation. 
• Clear tenancy or licence agreements, with terms and conditions / tenant and landlord responsibilities explained from the start  
• Access to community resources 
• Close liaison with specialist support agencies such as substance misuse, mental health, wellbeing and employment services to address any underlying needs 
• Clear channels to report concerns about anti-social behaviour 
• Mediating and conflict resolution if issues arise, including working closely with accommodation providers to ensure needs and risks are being managed and supported appropriately 
• Signposting to education and training 

 “We believe that a supportive environment, combined with clear expectations and access to relevant services, is the most effective way to empower individuals and prevent anti-social behaviour.  

“Our focus is always on working with residents to help them move towards settled, long-term housing solutions, which ultimately benefits the entire community.” 

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