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Newsletter 241 - April 2009

In this issue:

• Policing Priorities
• Joined Up Societies
• Banging Bin Lids
• Broken Benches
• What does a new bench cost?
• And how long does it last?
• Is something happening on the pier?
• Birds in rooftop punch-up
• The New Committee
• Q. when is a consultation not a consultation? A. when you use the Freedom of Information Act
• Joining Forces with the Traders
• The Haunting of Hill House ...

Policing Priorities

We have been asked by the police to identify three priority issues that we would like them to give attention to in our area.

We have suggested (in no particular order):

• Pavement cycling, particularly in the twitten by the Regency Tavern where there is even the occasional motorcycle;
• Security in the Regency Square car park, to reduce thefts from cars and also to make it a safer environment for users;
• Anti-social behaviour by young people, particularly in Clarence Square.

Let us know if you are aware of any other issues and whether they should take higher priority.

Joined Up Societies

For many years Martin Foster has been organising coach outings for the Montpelier and Clifton Hill Association. He has now joined up with Brighton city guide Michael Robins to organise joint outings for a number of local societies.

The tours are being run on a non-profit basis and members of all the societies involved will have a chance to suggest possible future destinations.

Our society is joining this new scheme. There will be four outings this year, hopefully rising to seven in future years. Details of each outing will be circulated with our newsletter; if you want to go, all you need to do is return the form and a cheque.

The first outing will be on 10 May to Oakhurst Cottage and Winkworth Arboretum, both National Trust properties, so if you're an NT member you pay a reduced price. See the leaflet for full details.

Future outings already planned are:

• Sunday 5 July: Cowdray House and Historic Midhurst
• Sunday 23 Aug: Wrest Park and De Grey Mausoleum
• Sunday 4 Oct: Dorney Court and Eton College

Full details of these outings nearer the date.

Banging Bin Lids

If you live near a communal bin you've probably heard the joyful sound of the lid banging as people struggle to open it and (sometimes) close it again. We have asked Cityclean if something can be fitted to dampen the noise when the lid is dropped.

One member has also complained about being woken at 6:40 am on a Sunday morning by the noise of the collection lorry outside her window. We have raised this with Cityclean and asked them to let us know what their policy is about collection times.

Broken Benches

The bench on the east side of the bottom green in Regency Square is in a sorry shape. We asked the Council to repair it but they told us that old benches are generally not painted or maintained.

We then asked if the old bench could be replaced by a new one, paid for from our "Regency Square Improvement Fund". They said that only benches that are hazardous are removed.

So we sent them photos, with close ups of the broken bits. They then agreed that this bench is hazardous and will be removed.

What does a new bench cost?

The Society will be paying about £550 to sponsor a new bench. This includes a plaque with the Society's name on it.

It costs the Council £740 to supply and install a new bench. This goes up to £850 if a new concrete plinth is needed.

And how long does it last?

The Council says that the new type of benches now being purchased are made from recycled materials, with cast iron ends; they have a very long life-span and are vandal resistant.

Meanwhile, down on the seafront, one which was installed only last year already has a long split in the seat.

Is something happening on the pier?

There was great excitement (interest?, concern?, indifference? - choose your preferred word) when the root end of the West Pier was fenced off and a hoarding was erected around the old Rock Shop.

Was this the start of work for the new Brighton Tower (i360? viewing column? doughnut? abomination? -choose your preferred word)?

No. Things are still much as they were. In other words: work is due to start any time now / work will start as soon as the final tranche of finance is in place / it'll never happen - choose your own prediction.

The reason for the fence and the hoarding is that elements of the root end have become unsafe. Given that the tourist season is about to start, the West Pier Trust decided that the whole area should be closed in the interest of public safety.

The hoarding around the Rock Shop is to discourage squatters or break-ins. At least the kiosk hasn't been dismantled (removed for safekeeping? stored at a secret location somewhere in Sussex? sold to the highest bidder - choose your own story).

But seriously, how long are we going to have this ugly mess at the bottom of Regency Square. Since the season is about to start it would be nice if visitors to this part of the town had something a little less unsightly to look at. We asked the West Pier Trust if there is anything they can do to make the site look a bit better. They said they will soon be putting up an attractive information board.

Birds in rooftop punch-up

Following a fight between two of the adult peregrine falcons on the roof of Sussex Heights, there were fears that no eggs would be produced this year. But on 2nd April the first one appeared.

The New Committee

Fotlowing the AGM last month the Society committee is now as follows:

Roger Hinton (Chair)
Lisa Williams (Secretary)
Sue Paskins (Treasurer)
Ros Boulden
Margaret Brisley
Diana Dunn
Rhidian Hughes
Tom Mackillop
Paul Michaelson
Brian Smith
Warden Swinfen

Q. when is a consultation not a consultation? A. when you use the Freedom of Information Act

The communal bins in our area are not the same as the ones used in the pilot schemes or illustrated on the consultation literature circulated by the Council.

Speaking at the Society AGM last month, councillor Jason Kitkat told us that, when he queried this, he was told that a separate consultation had been carried out on this new style of bin. His request for details of the consultation was ignored so he made a formal enquiry under the Freedom of Information Act. The answer that finally came was: there is no information on this subject.

Joining Forces with the Traders

Last month Angelo Martinoli of the Preston Street Traders Association organised a public meeting to look at ways of re-generating our area.

The two main ideas to come out of the meeting would involve improvements to the Regency Square car park and a scheme to make Preston Street more attractive. Our Society and the Traders' Association will be making a joint approach to the Council to pursue these ideas.

The Haunting of Hill House ...

...is the next Little Theatre production. It is based on a classic horror novel by Shirley Jackson, twice filmed as "The Haunting". A group from the Society will be going to see it at 7:45pm on Wednesday 13 May.

Tickets are £7.50 each. If you'd like to come please send your name, telephone number and money to Ros Boulden, 8 Abbotts, 129 Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2FA, by 22 April.

The June production will be "Hay Fever" by Noel Coward, which we plan to see on Wednesday 24 June.

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