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Newsletter 188 - September 2003

In this issue:

• Meet your Councillors!
• Glorious
• Off yer bike!
• Local History gets a Boost
• Come into the garden!
• Calling Time on Pavement bins
• Let's talk strategy
• Still not obviating enough!
• The Society Autumn Meeting
• Last Chance to Renew

Meet your Councillors!

Here is your opportunity to talk to your local councillors about whatever you want. Tell them what you think about the state of the pavements or the plans for communal rubbish bins; ask them what is going to happen to the West Pier or when the new library will be open.

Dawn Davidson (Liberal Democrat) and Roy Pennington (Labour) will both be at our autumn get together on 22 October at the Metropole Hotel. They have kindly agreed to put themselves on the spot and respond to our members' questions and comments.

We will start at 7:30 and all members and guests are very welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Put it in your diary now!

Glorious

That's the only word to describe the weather on the evening of the last Saturday in August, when a group of Society members and friends set sail from Jackson's Wharf at Brighton Marina.

We were on board the Aquamanda, a powerful motor boat which took us at a gentle pace westward along the coast. We had panoramic views of the splendid terraces and squares that make up Brighton and Hove seafront. As we complain yet again to the Council to the Council about uncollected rubbish or graffitied walls, it is so easy to forget what an architectural gem we live in.

We sailed close to the ends of both of Brighton's piers: the contrast was striking, one looking smart and bustling with activity; the other literally a skeleton of its former self. When you look closely at the remains of the theatre on the end of the West Pier you realise just what nonsense it is to talk about "restoring" it. There is nothing to restore!

It took us about 45 minutes of leisurely sailing to reach the King Alfred and speculate what the view of that site might be in two or three years time.

Then an exhilarating ride back at full throttle with foam and spray flying away behind us.

Many thanks to committee member Ros Boulden for organising such an enjoyable trip.

Off yer bike!

If you find yourself walking along the pavement from the Regency Tavern into Regency Square, watch out! It has become a favourite route for cyclists.

They ride through the twitten from Russell Square, between the bollards by the pub, and then down the slight slope into Regency Square, gathering speed as they go. It surely won't be long before someone steps off a doorstep into the path of a speeding bike, too late for the cyclist to avoid them,

That is why we have taken the problem up with the police. At our AGM last March Inspector Steve Barry told us that pavement cycling was not a priority for police action. However, a black spot like the one in Regency Square surely deserves some attention.

So we have been in touch with our local police contact. Matt Ebeling and he has passed details of the problem on to the community support officers (a new brand of police person) who will be able to spend some time in the area dealing with the problem.

Of course it is unrealistic to expect the police to solve the problem alone. If everyone who disapproves of pavement cycling were to make their feelings known to passing cyclists, most would soon get the message and stick to the roads and cycle paths where they belong.

At the end of the day it is a social problem and the solution lies with society - that's us folks!

Local History gets a Boost

The end of this month sees the opening of a local history centre in the new Brighton Museum. Members of the Society have been involved in researching the history of our area and three of them will be attending the opening ceremony of the new centre.

Come into the garden!

The gardens in our squares are looking quite good these days, but with a bit of extra work they could look even better.

Committee member Ron Bakere has been talking to the Council about how local people could get involved in looking after our own public gardens.

If you have green fingers, or might like to develop some, contact Ron for more information (01273-321310).

Calling Time on Pavement bins

A new restaurant called Time has opened on the comer of the seafront and Queensbury Mews. Their back door is in the Mews near the Queensbury Arms. They have placed several waste bins on the pavement opposite the French church. The bins block the footpath, forcing pedestrians to walk in the road on a dangerous blind corner.

Local council enforcement officer. Lisa White has said that the bins should not be on the pavement. She has told us that if the restaurant does not remove them, the Council will.

Let's talk strategy

Tim Moore is Brighton and Hove's Waste Strategy Manager. He is one of the people behind the forthcoming trial of communal waste bins, reported in our August newsletter.

We have invited him to the next meeting of the Society committee. The purpose of meeting him will be primarily to find out more about his ideas for improving waste collection.

We will however, make sure he understands our worries about communal bins.

If you have any questions or comments you would like us to raise with him, please contact Roger Hinton.

Still not obviating enough!

"... your committee cannot however, close their report without pointing out to the Commissioners the very dirty and filthy state ... of the town and they trust that proper methods will be adopted to obviate this evil in the future."

From the report of the committee appointed to audit the accounts of the Treasurer to Brighton town commissioners for the year 1814.

The Society Autumn Meeting

Meet your local councillors - Dawn Davidson and Roy Pennington

... will be at our meeting next month to hear to members' views about local issues.

7:30 pm Wednesday 22 October

Hilton Metropole Hotel

Refreshments

Last Chance to Renew

Most members have now paid their subscriptions for 2003/4 so this is the last newsletter in which we will be publishing a renewal form until next year.

There are still a few members who have not yet renewed, we hope you will want to continue supporting the society by renewing your membership.

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