Commerce chair appointed to oversee £20 million government investment in Eastbourne as new Town Board Chair

Sam Pole
By Sam Pole
Published 14th May 2024, 11:03 BST
Updated 14th May 2024, 14:32 BST
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The chair of Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce has been appointed to oversee a £20 million government investment in Eastbourne as the independent chair for the new Eastbourne Town Board.

Richard Garland has been appointed the independent chair for the new Eastbourne Town Board, which will oversee money to help ‘level up’ the town over the next ten years.

The town scooped a £20 million share of Government ‘levelling up’ money in 2021 to spend on local projects including pedestrianisng the sea end of Terminus Road and creating an art trail connecting the town centre, the seafront and the Downs.

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Richard is currently the chair of Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce and will be stepping away from that position later this month to concentrate on this newly created role.

Richard Garland has been appointed the Independent Chair for the new Eastbourne Town Board, which will oversee a £20 million government investment to help level up the town over the next ten years. Picture: Eastbourne Borough CouncilRichard Garland has been appointed the Independent Chair for the new Eastbourne Town Board, which will oversee a £20 million government investment to help level up the town over the next ten years. Picture: Eastbourne Borough Council
Richard Garland has been appointed the Independent Chair for the new Eastbourne Town Board, which will oversee a £20 million government investment to help level up the town over the next ten years. Picture: Eastbourne Borough Council

The appointment was made following an application process and interview panel that included the leader of the council, Cllr Stephen Holt, the MP for Eastbourne and Willingdon, Caroline Ansell, and the chief executive of Eastbourne Borough Council, Robert Cottrill.

Richard’s first task will be to recruit board members, for which expressions of interest are now being invited.

He said: “I am delighted to be appointed chair and looking forward to driving forward a range of exciting projects that will bring long term benefits for Eastbourne and people living here.

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