Welcome to the December 2025 edition of our Residents’ eNewsletter, featuring the latest news and updates from your county council.

Photo credit: Ambipar

Huge response to shipping container clean-up

A major clean-up operation has been taking place on the shoreline after shipping containers that had gone overboard from a cargo ship in the Solent on Saturday (6 December) started to wash up along the coast in West Sussex.

Several containers from the cargo ship Baltic Klipper have come ashore at locations including Selsey, Pagham Harbour, and Bognor Regis.

Environmental management company, Ambipar, has been appointed to lead on the clean-up and several agencies are working together and making good progress. We’d like to give special thanks to everyone who has helped so far, especially the local litter picking groups.

The next stage will be to recover the metal containers that remain on the beach. In the meantime we ask people to keep clear of them for their own safety.

We thank everyone for their patience while we continue with the clean-up.

Read the latest on the clean-up

Urgent safety notice - 85,000 tumble dryers still at risk of fire

A nationwide plea has gone out to householders with specific tumble dryers manufactured by Haier to check if their machine needs an urgent safety repair.

An internal short circuit can occur during normal use, causing your tumble dryer to ignite and start a fire in your home.

Affected brands include Candy, Baumatic, Caple, Haier, Hoover, Lamona, Iberna, Montpellier.

People are urged to find their model and serial number, and either check online or contact the manufacturer to see if their appliance needs a free repair.

Do not use your tumble dryer until the repair is complete and unplug it if possible.

More information

Book yourself on to this reading challenge!

In 2025, our Library Service celebrated 100 years of being at the heart of the community right across West Sussex by sharing a love of reading.

Libraries are now launching their 2026 reading challenge: My Year of Reading.

Throughout the year readers will explore 12 themes, each one encouraging them to build small, meaningful reading moments into their routine, and improve their wellbeing.

Everyone is welcome to join in - individuals, reading groups and families.

The challenge starts in January but you can register now.

To help you along the way, we’ve created booklets you can use to track your reading journey which you can pick up from your local library, and also included additional activities to either swap with the monthly themes or to do alongside.

Sign up now!

Flu vaccination – countdown to Christmas

The NHS has issued a flu SOS with cases rising rapidly and some predictions point to this shaping up to be the worst flu season in a decade.

So with the festive season just around the corner, get your flu vaccine now to make sure you and your loved ones are protected in time.

Once you get vaccinated, it usually takes 2 weeks for your body to build up protection against the flu virus.  

In light of the rising flu cases, the NHS is making it easier than ever to get your flu vaccine.

Check Winter vaccinations and winter health - NHS to see how you can get your vaccine today.

If you’re eligible you can book your vaccine online, via the NHS app, by calling 119, or contacting your GP practice or pharmacy.

If you are not eligible for the free NHS vaccination we still advise you to purchase a flu vaccination available from most pharmacies.

Book your NHS flu vaccination

Could you be there for a child in care?

We need more local people to befriend children in care by becoming an Independent Visitor.

They are volunteers who are matched with a child aged between 8 and 17 who are looked after by the county council.

The emphasis is on having fun and building a friendship, doing things together that the young person enjoys.

Find out more at 2 online information sessions on Monday 5 January at 1pm or Tuesday 6 January at 7pm.

Find out more

Green light for savings with new LED traffic signals 

We’ve just completed upgrades to our road traffic signals which will save money and reduce our carbon emissions by nearly 600 tonnes – the equivalent of taking 283 petrol cars off the road for a whole year. 

We’ve installed the latest LED technology which uses 84% less energy than halogen bulbs which, as well as reducing carbon emissions, will save us an estimated £594,000 in energy costs. 

The work became necessary because outdated halogen light bulbs are no longer manufactured.   

While working on the traffic signals, we also upgraded pedestrian crossings with the latest puffin crossing detectors that improve safety and reduce traffic delays by monitoring how the crossings are used in real time.

Other improvements to make the crossings more accessible included resurfaced footways, new tactile paving, and refreshed road markings. 

Find out more

Stay safe and well this winter

As the colder months set in, it’s important to be prepared.

For practical tips on winter wellbeing and details on where to find support if you need it, visit our Keeping safe this winter page.

In addition, a new guide from the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives provides advice on what to do if you fall this winter.

The guide covers what to do:

• if you feel able to get up safely
• if you cannot get up
• when to call 999 for an ambulance
• when to call NHS 111
• how to prevent falls.

Head to our Newsroom to find all the latest news.

• Our West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is urging all residents to take extra care with electrical items this winter after a plug sparked an emergency incident.

• People in West Sussex can now have their say on the future of local government in the county. We are urging interested parties, including residents, businesses and organisations, to take part in government-run consultations.

• Autistic school pupils and their allies came together to celebrate their unique strengths and talents at two inspiring roadshow events organised by the county council.

• A Crawley business and its director have been fined for selling illicit nicotine  for the unlawful sale of a nicotine-containing e-liquid to a minor.

• Help shape the future of the A22 and A264 in West Sussex and Surrey. We’re exploring opportunities to make travel in the area safer, more reliable and better connected – whether by car, bus, bike or on foot. Survey closes: 23 December 2025.

• Have your say on plans for new Chichester city centre bus service. The proposal combines the 46/47 service from Parklands and the 50 service from Graylingwell into one higher frequency bus route. Survey closes: 22 December 2025.

West Sussex Youth Cabinet and Parliament members work on real issues that matter to young people. They meet regularly with councillors, MPs and other professionals to make sure young voices are heard where it counts.

If you’re aged 11 to 18 years, why not stand for election?

Deadline: 19 January 2026.

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