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Newsletter 205 - July 2005

In this issue:

• Let's meet on the green!
• The Prince of Wales tries it on
• "Think Inside the Box"
• And what about the rubbish bins?
• What does "very positive" mean?
• The Council's Reply
• Buses don't stop here any more
• What a mess!
• From Ringo to Bingo
• What Next?
• No News is Bad News
• Meet on the Green!

Let's meet on the green!

Each Thursday evening during July and August, members of the Society committee will be on the top green in Regency Square between 6pm and 7pm.

We will hopefully be enjoying the balmy summer evenings.

Please join us.

Perhaps you have an idea about something that the Society could do; or a comment on something we have done. But even if there isn't anything specific you want to say, just come to say "Hello" and share some local gossip.

Our first evening will be Thursday 7 July, weather permitting! See you there!

The Prince of Wales tries it on

Recent changes in licensing law mean that all pubs and bars have to renew their licenses in the next few weeks. It also allows premises to apply for longer hours if they wish.

The Prince of Wales pub has applied for a license to stay open until after 1 am most nights and to have karaoke and disco until midnight or live music (with a maximum of two musicians) until 11:30 pm. They also want live music up to 1:30 am on 19 separate "holidays" throughout the year.

We have objected to the application. The pub is close to residential property, with some flats in the immediately adjacent building.

We believe that music after 11pm is unreasonable in this kind of area.

The new legislation means that the decision now rests with a committee of local councillors. Let's hope they think about what it would be like to live with loud music next door until after midnight!

"Think Inside the Box"

This is the slogan the Council is using for its latest idea on re-cycling.

The original idea had been to place large re-cycling units in the street, taking up parking spaces.

Local people rejected this so there has been a re-think. The new plan is "kerbside re-cycling".

The details of this scheme are still to be announced but the basic idea is that each household will be given a box to keep their re-cyclable waste in. Once a week this box this be placed on the pavement for emptying by the Council. (Outside the city centre the collections will only be fortnightly.)

We do not think this is a sensible approach in our area. The density of housing makes it unlikely that many people will want to keep a rubbish box in their home. The frequent turnover of population means that lots of people will not be aware of the arrangements.

There is already too much rubbish on the pavements. The Council is now encouraging us to add to it.

We have asked the Council to re-think their plans.

And what about the rubbish bins?

A decision has been made not to put re-cycling units in the street but communal rubbish bins are still on the agenda.
Residents in Clarence Square, Russell Square, Castle Street and Stone Street have been sent a map showing where the bins are to be in their streets.

The same map was also sent to people in Queensbury Mews but unfortunately it did not include the whole of the street and no bin was shown. We have discovered that the plan is for one bin on the east side. We have asked for a corrected map to be sent to Queensbury Mews addresses.

Residents in Regency Square will be getting a letter shortly outlining plans for their refuse collections.

What does "very positive" mean?

According to the letters accompanying these maps there has been a "Very positive" response to these communal bins.

We wrote to the Council back in December expressing our worries about these bins.

At our AGM in March there was strong opposition. Is this what is meant by a "very positive response"?

We have written again to re-enforce our views and ask for evidence of this positive response.

The Council's Reply

Gillian Marston, the Council's assistant director of "Cityclean" has replied. She says that the Council has to "provide a re-cycling service for all residents to reduce the amount of waste discarded and landfilled."

Her reply fails to answer our question about evidence for "positive support" for communal rubbish bins.

Buses don't stop here any more

There used to be a bus route along the seafront from the west with a stop by the war memorial at the bottom of Regency Square.

Although it was discontinued some time ago the words "Bus Stop" remained painted on the road in large letters. As a result, occasional visitors would stand on the pavement waiting for a bus, only to be disappointed. Having realised this was happening committee member, Ros Boulden contacted the Council who immediately came and painted out the words in the road.

What a mess!

The bin holder for dog mess in Regency Square has no bin in it. When responsible dog owners lift the lid and drop in carefully collected waste, it falls through onto the ground! We have asked the Council to provide a bin with a bottom.

From Ringo to Bingo

Eleven members met up outside the Mecca Bingo Hall in Middle Street on a pleasant Saturday morning last month. The aim was not to take our chance with the numbers but to have a look round a marvellous old listed building.

The Hippodrome Theatre has played host to some of the worlds greatest entertainers, Harry Lauder, Max Miller, Grade Fields, Laurel and Hardy, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. At one time it was used for circus acts and we saw the doors through which the elephants used to come in.

In 1967 it was converted for Bingo. Mecca is the company which now looks after it and has preserved many of the original features. As we wandered around, keen bingo players were starting to take their seats at the tables beneath a splendidly decorated roof in the main auditorium.

We went back stage and climbed up narrow staircases. We found dressing rooms where the stars used to get ready for the show. Right at the top was the chorus room complete with long mirrors and dressing tables each with its own light fittings. In one room there were still some old posters advertising a show starring pianist Russ Conway.

Let's hope this fine building can be preserved. Who knows, perhaps one day it will once again ring to the sound of live music and comedy rather than the callers' shouts of "Legs eleven" and "Clickety click".

Many thanks to Maggie from Mecca (well Glasgow actually!) for showing us round.

What Next?

We are looking at various possibilities for future outings. Suggestions include the local history centre at Brighton Museum, a trip to the races, the old police cells under Brighton Town Hall and dinner at the City College training restaurant in Pelham Street.

If you have any other ideas please let us know.

No News is Bad News

Many local people are still not receiving a copy of the Council's paper, City News through their doors. We have once again asked the distributors to include us.

Meet on the Green!

Every Thursday in July and August 6-7pm

Top green in Regency Square Your chance to chat with other members

(Weather permitting!)

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