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Newsletter 161 - January 2001

In this issue:

• Regency Square Improvements
• Thanks to the Council...
• That's Blown It!
• Thanks to the Tree Team
• The Festive Season - Regency Style
• March 15th - a Date to Remember
• Time for Annual Subscriptions
• Member Injured in Preston Street
• A Record Month on the Web Site
• Rubbish - action at last?
• ...and More to Come
• Wooden Blocks in Clarence Square

Regency Square Improvements

Catherine Jenkins, the Council's landscape gardener, has prepared two alternative proposals for improvements to the top section of Regency Square. Details are shown in the enclosed leaflet. The leaflet also shows how the improvements could be extended to the other two sections of the square in the future, if funds were to become available.

The cost of the works to the top green would be £30,000, one third of which would have to be met from the Society's Improvement Fund.

Alternative ideas have been proposed by members of the committee:

• Gravel paths but no planting around the greens
• Replace the railings at the entrances to the car parks with a more sympathetic design
• A fountain
• A plaque outlining the history of the square

Thanks to the Council...

...for giving us a Christmas tree again this year. The department which has given us a tree previously could not afford one this year. However, the Brighton in Bloom department was able to provide one, though a little smaller than usual.

That's Blown It!

The tree went up at the beginning of December but after only a few days the lights blew a fuse. Rain water .had got into the connections. We needed an electrician to test the connections before SEEBOARD was able to re-connect the power.

Thanks to the Tree Team

It is quite surprising how much work is involved in organising the Christmas tree. So many thanks to:

• Andrew Walker for persuading the Council to give us a tree again this year;
• Suzanne Hinton for organising the electrician to test the lights;
• Clive Buxton for climbing up the ladder to put the lights on the tree;
• Roger Hinton for holding the ladder;
• Ros Boulden for arranging the power supply with SEEBOARD.
• Brian Smith for getting the insurance cover.
• And to those members who have given donations to help pay for the electricity.

The Festive Season - Regency Style

About 16 members, including most of the committee met for a drink before Christmas. Many thanks to the Regency Tavern for making us so welcome.

And on New year's Eve 13 members got together for breakfast at the Regency Restaurant. Again, many thanks to the staff for coping so well with a table full of hungry customers.

March 15th - a Date to Remember

The Society's annual general meeting will be held at the Metropole Hotel on Thursday 15 March. Put it in your diary now!

Time for Annual Subscriptions

Annual subscriptions run out at the end of February. Please help the Society by renewing your membership now. You can do this via the printable form on the website.

Member Injured in Preston Street

Society member Alice Smith was knocked off her bicycle recently by a car which didn't stop as it pulled out of Castle Street. It must surely be time to re-think the traffic arrangements in Preston Street. The wider pavements are used for little other than illegal parking. Is there a case for putting things back as they were and allowing two way traffic?

A Record Month on the Web Site

The number of visitors to our web site broke the 2,000 barrier for the first time in December - 2,020 "hits", an average of 65 a day.

The Society website has a great deal of information about the area we live in. There's no reason not to see what there is, even if you don't have a computer or access to the World Wide Web.

The Evening Argus provide free 15 minute Internet sessions at their Dyke Road office - you can use it for longer for a charge which is donated to a registered charity, The Argus Appeal.

The office is open 9.00 - 5.30 Monday - Friday and 9 - 12.30 on a Saturday morning. The staff will be happy to help you find www.regencybrighton.com.

Rubbish - action at last?

The committee has had a very useful meeting with Matt Easteal who is the Council's senior enforcement officer. His team have been searching through bags of rubbish dumped in the street.

When they find evidence of where it came from, they contact the people concerned and try to persuade them to use an off street rubbish store if possible. In some cases they also contact landlords and managing agents to ensure that off-street storage is made available and tenants are notified where it is.

Mr Easteal confirmed that bin men are required to collect from rubbish stores where they are available. If you know of a store which is not being emptied by the bin men, let Mr Easteal know on 07787 150137

...and More to Come

Over the next two months Mr Easteal's team will be targeting Regency, Russell and Clarence Squares even more.

But they need our help. If you see rubbish recently dumped on the street please contact Mr Easteal on his mobile phone. If you know which property it came from, so much the better.

A real effort is now being made to solve the problem of illegal dumping. It is important that we give all the help we can. Matt Easteal wants to hear from us!

Wooden Blocks in Clarence Square

The road surface in Clarence Square is covered in patches where piecemeal repairs have been done. We asked the Council if it could all be renewed when the gardens are improved.

You've guessed the answer - not enough money at the moment. It is on the list for when funds are available. Council maintenance engineer, Jeff Elliott told us that there are wooden blocks below the tarmac. It is the fact these break down that causes the need for patching.

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