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Newsletter 163 - April 2001

In this issue:

• Members Meet at the AGM
• What Happened at the AGM?
• Members' Concerns
• Preston Street
• Russell Mews
• No Exit from Clarence Square
• Neighbourhood Research
• Regeneration in the Squares
• Public Consultation
• What Should the Society Do?
• Your New Committee
• Web Site Future Secure

Members Meet at the AGM

Over 30 members came to the Metropole Hotel on 15 March for the Society's 22nd Annual Meeting.

Many thanks to the hotel and its staff for their support. Also to those members who donated prizes for the raffle. And a special thanks to Steve Geddes, manager of the BHS Foodstore who ended the evening by giving us a fascinating insight into food retailing.

What Happened at the AGM?

The committee report for the year was accepted, as were the annual accounts showing a surplus of £185.

New officers and committee were elected (see below). A proposal to increase membership rates by 50p was discussed; the final decision was to leave the rates the as they are.

The chairman gave special thanks to retiring Treasurer, Paul Stanford for his work in managing the Society's money, and also his contribution to the Society's efforts to deal with the rubbish problems. Paul has agreed to continue as an ordinary committee member for the time being.

Members' Concerns

After the formal business of the meeting members raised issues that they would like to see the Society try to deal with.

Preston Street

The chaotic conditions in Preston Street are now even more a matter of concern because a cyclist (who is a society member) was injured when she was knocked off her bike in the cycle lane.

Members felt that the contra flow cycle lane was dangerous and that some drivers were persistently parking illegally. One member had seen cars driving along the widened pavement to get past a lorry which was unloading!

The Council is aware of the concerns about the cycle lane and there are plans to change the road surface colour and provide improved signs. In the summer we should see improved parking enforcement when the Council takes over responsibility from the police.

Russell Mews

Members living in Russell Square are still being disturbed by traffic visiting the BUPA building in Russell Mews. Cars wait outside the entrance with their engines running while waiting to collect members of BUPA staff.

The problem of deliveries seemed to have been solved, with drivers taking their vehicles in from Preston Street rather than Russell Square. However, recently delivery vehicles have been re-appearing at the Russell Mews entrance again. This may be because of increased parking in Regency Mews which makes it more difficult to use the Preston Street access.

No Exit from Clarence Square

Drivers often go from Clarence Square into Western Road in spite of "No entry" signs. Members were worried that this is dangerous for pedestrians. Last year the Society successfully objected to proposals to allow taxis to exit from Clarence Square by this route.

Action is needed now to discourage all drivers from breaking this particular law.

Neighbourhood Research

Research workers from the Hangleton and Knowle Project recently visited our area as part of a research project sponsored by the Brighton and Hove Regeneration Partnership.

Their report has now been published. It identifies four top issues for the Regency area:

• Increase recycling and improve refuse collection;
• Resolve parking problems;
• Improve public transport to reduce parking pressures;
• High rents place a heavy strain on a vulnerable population.

Regeneration in the Squares

Work has started on the regeneration of Clarence Square. Russell square will follow in a few weeks time.

Plans for Regency Square have still to be finalised. The Council has the relatively small sum of £20,000 to spend on this, the biggest of the three squares. The Society has its Improvement Fund of £10,000.

We have been talking to the Council about how best to use this money. The situation is complicated by repairs needed to the roof of the underground car park.

The section of the roof below the top green is being repaired at present but the remaining two sections will not be done for some time. The Society committee was keen to see the regeneration money applied to a scheme for the whole square rather than just one third of it.

We have now been told that unless the work in Regency Square is completed by the end of 2001, all the money, including that for Clarence and Russell Squares, will be lost! Regeneration money cannot be spent on the lower two squares because they will need to be dug up in the future for roof repairs.

Public Consultation

So the Council is now carrying out a public consultation to establish what should be done to the top square only. Leaflets have been distributed listing five possible improvements and asking you to rank them in order of preference:

• Low to medium height planting around the edge of the garden with an irrigation system;
• Hard surfaced footpath across the garden;
• Low level lighting at night directed at foot path and/or planting;
• Display panel with historical information;
• New seating.

What Should the Society Do?

The Society must now decide whether to contribute any of its Improvement Fund towards the work on the top square, or hold it back in the hope of using it later for improvements to benefit the whole square.

Your New Committee

Chairman: Roger Hinton, Regency Square
Secretary: Andrew Walker, Chartwell Court
Treasurer: vacant (Roger Hinton acting)

Other members:

Ros Boulden, Abbotts
Clive Buxton, Dean Street
Diana Dunn, Clarence Gardens
Tony Lowery, Metropole Court
Sue Paskins, Marlborough Street
Paul Stanford, Regency Square
Traude Tappin, Abbotts

Web Site Future Secure

Many thanks to those members and local businesses who have sponsored the web site. We now have enough funds to meet the running cost for at least the next year. A full list of sponsors will be appearing on the site shortly.

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