The ferry, the mayor, and the Sussex Onions

🛳️ Why Newhaven–Dieppe could be a test case for Sussex devolution

In the latest episode of Sussex and the City, Richard Freeman is joined by Graham Precey, a social impact strategist and Sussex native now living in Normandy, to talk about a quietly radical mission: decarbonising the Newhaven–Dieppe ferry, and what it says about Sussex’s identity, economy and future leadership.

“Newhaven–Dieppe is a bridge,” says Graham. “It’s been in place for 200 years. It’s one of the longest continuous ferry services. A real economy connection between Sussex and Normandy.”

Did you know that the French affectionately call the people of Sussex... Sussex Onions (derived from the original old English 'Sussexonion' - meaning the Saxons of the South)?

Graham’s work is part community organising, part diplomacy — and deeply relevant as Sussex prepares for mayoral devolution. He and others are building momentum around three goals:

• Decarbonising the ferry, which currently emits over 40,000 tonnes of CO₂ a year

• Securing shared investment, so Sussex has a stake alongside the French authorities who currently fund the service

• Raising awareness, so more people and businesses in Sussex choose it for freight and travel

“368,000 tourists use that ferry every year,” says Graham. “They flow with their hopes and dreams and holiday plans in a four-hour trip between Sussex and Normandy. It’s £23 one way. I can’t get to London for £23.”

Through open space conferences with stakeholders from both sides of the Channel - including University of Brighton Business School, local councils, and port operators - the team is showing what grassroots-led international collaboration can look like.

“We always start with curiosity. No PowerPoints. No egos. We ask: what do you want to understand? That’s where the energy is.”

 

🧅 So what’s this got to do with devolution?

Plenty. If a Sussex Mayor is elected in 2026, they’ll gain powers over transport, infrastructure, economic development, and environment. The ferry is a ready-made test case. How will Sussex lead on low-carbon logistics, cross-border collaboration, and coastal investment?

“If I was the Mayor of Sussex, I’d be asking: what have I got here that generates real jobs and activity? You’ve got Shoreham, Gatwick and Newhaven. That’s your infrastructure spine — and you could build real resilience on it.”

The French fund the route. Sussex has never truly claimed it. That may be changing — local authorities, transport operators and South Downs National Park have now all written letters of support. And as Graham notes:

“They said: we need to know Sussex cares about this line in the same way it cares about Gatwick.”

There’s no question: whoever becomes mayor will need a position on the ferry — and the future of cross-Channel partnerships.

🎧 Listen to the episode here

🎙️ This episode has been created in partnership with Let’s Do Business Finance

As an accredited British Business Bank delivery partner, Hastings-based Let’s Do Business Finance provides startup and growth loans between £500 and £150,000 to hundreds of Sussex businesses. Since 2004, they’ve filled the finance gap left by high street lenders — helping new ventures launch, creating jobs, and supporting local growth.

👉 letsdobusinessfinance.co.uk

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