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Newsletter 221 - June 2007

In this issue:

• Thanks Roy!
• A Green Sweep
• Why No Ball Games?
• How we voted
• Regency Square Disappears Again!
• Digging for Power
• Café Clutter
• New Kit on the Block
• Rooftop Wife-Swap Shock
• Hoe Hoe Hoe
• Pétanque

Thanks Roy!

Since the election last month, Roy Pennington is no longer our representative on the Council.

He was first elected as a councillor for this ward back in 1994. His first meeting with our Society was on December 1st that year when he shared a platform with the late Martin Boggon, a Tory councillor for the same ward.

They were both subjected to a barrage of questions from about 40 members. Roy must have enjoyed it because he kept coming back for more!

The Society is of course non-party political. However, we can still say that Roy Pennington has worked long and hard for the people of this ward.

He has also actively supported our Society and has been a regular attender at our events. Whether it was an AGM, a New Year breakfast, a meeting to discuss the West Pier, or a social evening, Roy was usually there, listening to what people were saying, expressing his own views or providing some useful background information.

Equally important, he always responded when our committee approached him with a problem or an idea.

Of course, we didn't always agree with his response, but we much appreciated the fact that he was involved.

For that reason the Regency Square Area Society says, many thanks Roy for all your efforts ... and we hope to see you at our future events, even if we can't put you on the spot any more!

A Green Sweep

Following the election we now have two new councillors. They are Hermione Roy and Sven Rufus, both of the Green Party. Congratulations to them on winning a clear victory over other candidates.

The committee had a very useful meeting with Hermione Roy at the end of May. We were able to let her know the sorts of issues that the Society gets involved with. She has already promised to try to get action on some of our current concerns.

She also gave us an idea of her own objectives as a councillor. In particular she is concerned that Regency ward, while containing many successful businesses and smart residential properties, also suffers from high levels of deprivation. She is keen to support local initiatives to help the least fortunate members of our community.

Why No Ball Games?

One issue that Hermione is going to investigate for us is the notices banning ball games in Regency Square.

There is plenty of room on the lower two greens to kick a ball around and people often do so, in spite of the notices. The smaller, top green, which is fenced and has bushes, offers a good place for people to sit and for small children to run around. We would like to see the notices removed from the lower greens and reinforced on the top green.

How we voted

These are the election results for Regency ward.

Candidate's name - Description - Votes

Corinne Attwood - Brighton & Hove Independents - 218
Sue Bucknall - Liberal Democrat - 454
Tony Davenport - Brighton & Hove Independents - 57
Kevin Donnelly - Liberal Democrat - 425
Michael Macfarlane - Conservative - 525
Robert Nemeth - Conservative - 516
Roy Pennington - Labour - 565
Hermione Roy - Green - 781
Sven Rufus - Green - 863
Daniel Jonathan Yates - Labour - 447

Regency Square Disappears Again!

It seems to be almost an annual event. The "Regency Square" name sign has been removed again from the corner with Preston Street. This sign is vital for anyone coming up Preston Street looking for the entrance to the Square.

We have told the Council of the sign's disappearance and have been assured it will be replaced shortly.

Digging for Power

Many properties in Regency Square have suffered power cuts recently. We contacted EDF about this and they have advised us that the fault has now been rectified, following some excavations at the top of the square.

Café Clutter

A smart new coffee bar has opened on the corner of Clarence Square and Western Road, where Sussex Stationers used to be.

Unfortunately it has leaked onto the pavement, with tables and chairs that clearly block the footway. They would make it impossible to someone with a pram or using a wheelchair to get by without going into the road.

We are contacting the Council to ask whether Coffee Republic has permission to use the pavement in this way.

New Kit on the Block

Solar powered pay and display ticket machines are popping up all over our area. This one is in Cannon Place.

What do you think of them? Let us know if you think any pose a problem, such as blocking the footway, or if you have any other concerns about the new parking arrangements.

Rooftop Wife-Swap Shock

Society committee member Brian Smith was on top of Sussex Heights at the end of last month, helping to put rings on the new peregrine falcon chicks. Unfortunately two of the original four eggs have failed to hatch. However, the two chicks that did make it are looking very healthy.

Brian came back from his visit with news that the male falcon, who has been our neighbour for several years, now has a new female partner. As is often the case with gossip of this kind, no one is quite sure what is going on.

Hoe Hoe Hoe

Road sweepers in our area have been issued with hoes so that they can clear away any weeds growing between the paving stones.

Pétanque

You can often see a game of boules down on the seafront between the West Pier and the Alfresco Restaurant. The local Pétanque Club meets there and have invited us to a beginners' session at 11 am on Saturday 23 June.

The session will last around an hour and club members will be on hand to explain how the game works. Boules will be available, or you can bring your own if you have them.

The cost will be £3 per person, as a contribution to the Pétanque Club funds, to thank them for giving up their time. If you get hooked and decide to join the club, the £3 will count towards your membership fee.

We need to let the club know how many to expect, so if you would like to come please send your name, telephone number and £3 to Lucho Zuidema at the Brighton House Hotel, 52 Regency Square, Brighton BN1 2FF (323282). You can pay by cash (preferred), or a cheque payable to the Regency Square Area Society.

It's important that we have your telephone number so we can let you know final details nearer the date, or just in case we have to postpone it because of bad weather.

You can find out more about the Pétanque Club at www.bhpetanque.org.

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