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Newsletter 232 - May 2008

In this issue:

• Don't forget breakfast!
• Bike stands are on the way
• Pictures from the past
• Immovable bollards
• Make sure it's offensive!
• Thanks to Mail Boxes etc.
• Not in front of the pier!
• Bring Back the Litter Bins
• i360 maybe ... bandstand yes
• Plastic Benches

Don't forget breakfast!

Join your neighbours for breakfast next Bank Holiday Monday (26 May). It's in the Regency Restaurant and starts at 10am.

Just take a seat at the long table. You order and pay for your own meal so you can have anything from a "full English" to just a cup of coffee.

Guests are welcome so bring your friends!

Bike stands are on the way

The bike stands that we have requested in Regency Square are now on the list for installation later in the current financial year. Many thanks to Councillor Sven Rufus and Council officer Abby Hone for their help in getting this organised.

Pictures from the past

At the AGM last month members supported the idea that the Society should sponsor the publication on-line of one volume of James Gray's collection of historic photographs of Brighton and Hove. So we have done it; the result can be seen on the Regency Society web site at http://regencysociety-jamesgray.com/volume29/

There are 228 pictures, including many in our immediate area and the Russell Street area, which is where Churchill Square now stands.

You can see pictures of both Sussex Heights and Chartwell Court under construction. You can also see the wonderful facade of St Margaret's church before it was pulled down to make way for Sussex Heights.

These are not just professional photographs taken from post cards and tourist brochures. They come from all kinds of sources and show many little-known corners of the town, as they were at different times over the past century or more.

Have a look and let us know what you think!

Immovable bollards

We have been trying to persuade the Council to move the bollards that stand outside the Regency Tavern back to the original position they were in before the pipe laying work disturbed them. The reason is because they look wrong now, with one very close to the northern wall, and they no longer prevent motor cycles using the twitten.

Although the bollards are listed structures, meaning they should have protection similar to that for listed buildings, we have been told by the highways department that they will be left where they are because the gap between them is only 91 cms. The recommended minimum gap for disabled access is 100 cms.

Council conservation officer, Roger Dowty, will be looking at them shortly to see if there has been any breach of conservation rules.

Make sure it's offensive!

That's our message to graffiti artists. If you include something racist, or obscene then the Council will clean it off. Otherwise they will leave it for individual property owners to remove, or ignore, as is so often the case.

Two separate bits of graffiti appeared in the short road between Clarence and Russell Squares. They looked a mess, but contained nothing legible. Someone then added a brief racist comment next to one of them in small red letters. This was reported to the Council and the whole lot was painted out on both sides of the street.

Thanks to Mail Boxes etc.

Mail Boxes etc. is a small business on the south side of Western Road, roughtly opposite Waitrose. They are members of the Society and have now generously offered to sponsor the newsletter. This means the Society will no longer have to pay for printing.

The services offered by MBE are detailed on their web site and include mail box rental, copying, printing, packaging, post, and stationery supplies. Many thanks MBE!

Not in front of the pier!

You have probably noticed that the cycle path along the sea front between the Peace Statue and West Street is being widened. This is one of the projects funded by money allocated to Brighton by an organisation called Cycling England, with the aim of encouraging cycling.

You may also have seen that the part of the path which runs past the end of Regency Square is not being touched. This section will be completed later, after the building of the i360 tower. The reason is that this section of pavement will provide access for heavy vehicles during the construction work, so the new path would quickly be ruined.

By the way .... does anyone know when the i360 work will be finished ... or start?

Bring Back the Litter Bins

We are planning to ask the Council if they can replace some of the litter bins in Regency Square. People have been seen conscientiously pushing their litter into the small dogs bins, which are still in place. This is not what they are intended for - in fact it's probably not at all healthy to poke around inside them!

i360 maybe ... bandstand yes

The Council has applied to itself for permission to restore the old bandstand on the seafront just west of Regency Square.

The lower part will become a small cafe with outside seating. The upper deck will be connected to the promenade by a bridge, as it was originally, and will be open to the public.

One of the problems with this plan is the railings around the upper deck, which do not meet modern safety standards. The Council wants to solve this by fixing strong glass panels inside, and higher than the existing railings.

Some conservationists are worried that these will trap rain and damage the original structure. They are arguing in favour of an additional rail fitting to the top of the existing ones.

Either way, if things go according to plan you should be able to walk onto the bandstand by the end of next year - bring your trombone!

Plastic Benches

At least two benches belonging to the Society have disappeared from Regency Square in recent years. One was purchased to commemorate the late Eddie Edwards, founding chairman of the Society. More recently a bench, purchased by a Society member in memory of his wife has also disappeared.

Following a request from the Society, the Council has said that they will replace two of these benches, complete with their commemorative plaques.

The new benches will be similar in design to the existing ones, but less elaborate. The bench ends will be metal, but the seat planks will be made of re-constituted plastic, rather than wood. This means they will not need maintenance and should last longer. They will also be bolted to the ground to prevent any further thefts.

There is an example of a plastic bench on the seafront opposite Regency Square.

We are also asking the Council if they can clean up and repair the existing benches.

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