Madeira Terrace Fund soars through target.

In a last minute surge of donations the fund has reached £466,114, exceeding the original target figure by £44,231. 

Well done Brighton & Hove.

'Save Madeira Terrace' Fund

The fund to start the restoration of the Madiera Terrace has reached 94% of its target with only 3 days left. 

It's not too late. Donate at:- https://www.spacehive.com/madeira-terrace

New restaurant for Hanningtons Lane

Surprise, surprise, the new Hanningtons Lane will include a new restaurant. It is shown above adjacent to Puget's Cottage giving views towards Brighton Place in one direction and along the new lane in another. From this picture it appears that a 'green wall' is being considered for the south elevation of Puget's Cottage; perhaps to foil so-called graffiti artists.

Talks are underway with prospective operators of the restaurant.

Site of the restaurant - no.7 (light green)

Economy, Environment & Culture - an upbeat report.

A Christmas Carol

The Brighton & Hove Way Association

The Chattri would be at the approximate mid-point of the route.

A new group has been formed in the city with the exciting aim of establishing a waymarked trail around the whole perimeter of the city, a distance of about 17 miles.

Further aims are:

• To assist with the monitoring, upkeep and improvement of the Brighton & Hove Way and any access and alternative routes.
• To promote and encourage the responsible access, use and enjoyment of the Brighton & Hove Way and the wider network of Rights of Way and Access Land.
• To promote and celebrate the cultural, historical, wildlife and landscape features found along the trail and context within the City Downland Estate, The Living Coast UN Biosphere and the South Downs National Park.
• To promote the recreational, social, economic, educational, health & well-being, and sustainability benefits of the Brighton and Hove Way and it's setting.
• To promote access, use and enjoyment of the Brighton & Hove Way by all people, without discrimination, especially encouraging use by those from under-represented groups and marginalised communities.

Volunteers are needed to keep an eye on sections of the trail, checking every 3 months if all is ok. You can find a leaflet describing what is involved here.  If you would like join the Volunteer Path Warden Scheme email brightonandway@gmail.com.

You can follow the progress of the scheme on facebook.

Provisional Saltdean to Stanmer section 

Provisional Stanmer to Portslade section.

Fatboy Slim & the Madeira Terraces Appeal.

Valley Gardens latest.

 Looking south along Marlborough Place

Detailed designs for the city’s Valley Gardens project go before the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee on 28 November for what could be final approval.

If approved these plans would see around 3000 square metres of highway space turned over to open space – a seven per cent increase equivalent to the area of  11 tennis courts.  New public squares would be created south of St Peter’s and opposite the Richmond pub.

At the same time, the road layout would be radically simplified, making it easier to navigate. New improved routes would be created for sustainable transport including walking, cycling, buses and taxi

Traffic lights will be modernised – using MOVA technology which can detect vehicles and change lights to optimise throughput at junctions.

Local contractors have been appointed to plan how to minimise traffic disruption caused by roadworks as the scheme is built. The aim is to keep both northbound and southbound traffic flowing throughout the works, except for short periods of resurfacing.

The main changes to roads involve putting both north- and southbound traffic on the east side of the Valley. Buses, taxis and traffic bound for the North Laine area would use a quieter road on the west side, which would form much less of barrier between the city and the green space.

Nearly all of the £11m cost is funded by government money which, by law, can only be spent on Valley Gardens.

If approved works should start next spring and be completed around spring 2020. 

Christmas 2107 at the Royal Pavilion

Experience a magical Christmas at the Royal Pavilion. The fires are lit, the candles are flickering, the spectacular Banqueting Room table is laid with after dinner treats and the building is transformed with festive decorations and glittering trees. Pavilion-inspired decorations including butterflies, birds and flowers bring sparkle, glamour and Christmas cheer for all the family. 

Drop-in activities and spotting  George the playful Cat on a family trail:

• 21- 30 November 2017 at 10:00 am until 4:30 pm.
• 1 - 5 December 2017 at 10:00 am until 4:30 pm

Activities at the weekends 2 & 3, 9 &10 & 16– 24 December

• Storytelling in the Music Room between 12-4pm (on the hour, lasting 25 minutes). Free with admission
• Make your own tree decorations, 12-4pm. Free with admission, drop-in.

(On 24 December activities will end at 2pm as the Palace closes at 2.30pm.)

Street Lighting goes LED

See: https://lightenup.1010uk.org/

Toads Hole Valley exhibition

In 2016 the City’s Development Plan designated Toads Hole Valley and Court Farm for development as ‘a modern, high quality and sustainable mixed use development to help meet the future needs of the city, improve accessibility and provide new community facilities to share with adjacent neighbourhoods’.

The Plan calls for the following to be delivered by 2030:

• A minimum of 700 residential units
• Office employment space (3.5 – 4.5 hectares)
• Site reserved for a new secondary school – (5 hectares)
• Public open space with children’s play space and informal sports facilities (2 hectares)
• Shops, cafes and a multi-use community building
• Food growing space (0.5 hectare)
• Green infrastructure integrated through the site to deliver Biosphere objectives and contribute to Biodiversity Action Plan targets

Holding Company St Congar is in the early stages of developing proposals for the site in line with the aspirations.

St. Congar are now hosting a Public Exhibition to allow residents to view their proposals for Toads Hole Valley. The details of the Public Exhibition are:

• Saturday 2nd December, 10am-2pm at St Peter’s Church Hall, Court Farm Road, West Blatchington, BN3 7LQ
• Tuesday 5th December, 4.30pm-8.30pm at Hall 2, Hangleton and Knoll Project Harmsworth Crescent, Hove, BN3 8BW

Welcome back HMV

The new HMV store on the lower mall of Churchill Square is like a welcoming cave of treasures. Evidently the pleasure of browsing for physical objects hasn't yet been displaced by cyberspace.

Brownfield Land

The Church Street/Portland Street site. 2017

The council has opened a consultation on its Brownfield Site Register. They are inviting developers, landowners, agents and the general public to submit brownfield sites which they wish the council to consider for inclusion on the Register. For inclusion on the final Register sites must meet the following criteria:

• 0.25 hectares or more in size or capable of accommodating at least 5 dwellings;
• Suitable for residential development: this means the land has planning permission for housing or housing-led development; or has been allocated for such development in a Local Plan; or is considered appropriate for such development by the council;
• Available for residential development: this means that there is no impediment to development in terms of either ownership issues or legal constraints on the land;
• Residential development of the land is achievable: the land is likely to be developed within 15 years of being entered on the register.

One would think that the first priority should be getting the existing  sites developed before adding to them. The Church Street/ Portland Street corner has lain derelict for at least 10 years. An application for mixed use development submitted in 2011 is still under consideration. The council can't force an owner to develop a site but there is such a thing as compulsory purchase still on the statute book. Even the threat of it might work wonders.

Burning the Clocks 2017 - volunteers wanted

Christmas Lights switch-on '17

 This year’s big switch-on event will take place on Thursday 16th November from 5:15pm

From 5pm on Thursday 16th November, Brighton city centre will burst into festive spirit with a FREE party in East Street. The event, organised by Brilliant Brighton is in association with 107.2 Juice FM and Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice, while the Christmas lights are being sponsored by Southern Water.

This year’s event showcases the enchanting 40-strong all-female Brighton choir, We Bop, along with the angelic young voices from Hove’s Singing’s Cool and performers from renowned The Theatre Workshop, starting the feel-good family festivities.

Comedic group AFOUR will also be performing their fun, tongue-in-cheek Christmas song Four Kings.

There will also be a raffle with fantastic prizes from Brilliant Brighton businesses, with all donations going directly to children’s hospice, Chestnut Tree House.

Googlebox stars Chris Butland-Steed and Stephen Webb (who live locally) will have the all-important task of counting down and flicking the switch to unveil Brighton’s festive lights. These will  include the new "Ho Ho Ho", voted for by the public, in September.

The event is staged by Brilliant Brighton,  an organisation formed of 517 businesses who put on the switch-on event and collectively pay the £75,000 per year fee to ensure the city is lit up at Christmas, and sponsored by Southern Water.

Queer Looks 2018

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"Dyke Road Tavern" knocks "Odeon Cinema parking" off top place.

All time views.

Burning the Clocks 2017.

'Burning the Clocks 2017, East' by Graham Carter.

Help make it happen from just £5.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/burning-the-clocks-2017

Extra funding for City Parks

In the current year BHCC will be diverting almost £102,000 from a general budget underspend to parks and open spaces.

£82,000 will be spent on the play facilities in Victoria Recreation Ground, Hangleton Park, Dyke Road park and replacement or repair to surfacing and new gates at a number of play areas.

A further £20,000 has been allocated for planting in the Green Flag parks Easthill Memorial Garden, Preston Park, The Level, Stoneham Park, Kipling Gardens, St Ann’s Well Gardens and Hove Park, as well as improving bins in the city centre parks and signage in Kipling Gardens.

The council has also increased security in city centre parks where there has been antisocial behaviour, currently targeting Norfolk Square, St Nicholas Rest Garden, Dorset gardens, The Level and Queens Park.