Stanmer Parking Proposals

Larger view here.

Further details:

Notice

Statement of Reasons
Response Form

A carbon neutral city in 10 years

BHCC have committed us to becoming carbon neutral by 2030, 20 years ahead of the UK government’s target of 2050. As only 2.5% of the city’s emissions come from the council, this can only be achieved if everyone plays their part to reduce emissions.

A Climate Assembly will be set up and details of how this will be organised will be circulated in the next week. This assembly will bring together 50 residents to help shape how the city can address the climate crisis and recommend and prioritise actions for the city to take forward.

Following best practice, the members of the Climate Assembly will be randomly selected and will broadly represent the demographics of the city’s population. The assembly will involve people from across the whole city. Transport will be the subject of the first meeting.

Full council article.

Petition - Re-wild Hollingbury & Waterhall golf courses.

The leases of both golf courses expire in March 2020. The Tourism, Equalities and Culture Committee (TECC) will meet on 16 January 2020 to review tenders with a view to granting a 25 year lease. Extinction Rebellion Brighton urge TECC to take this unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ensure that the internationally endangered, wildlife-rich and diverse chalk grassland ecosystems of the two sites can re-generate and flourish, and that eco-friendly community food production and public health, wellbeing and recreational activities are promoted.

Read more & sign petition.

Valley Gardens - one year on.

Brighton bumble

At 11 Hanningtons Lane the restored Hanningtons 3-train turret clock is on display. 

A large central portion of Brighton Square has been portioned off leaving little room for passing pedestrians, especially when other shops have tables and chairs outside.

The emergent Shelter Hall due for completion later this year.

View looking east.

In Kellie Miller's art gallery, eye-catching surrealism by Steve Fricker, oil-on-canvas, £2800.

Talking about St. James' Street.

Brighton & Hove Police are inviting members of the local St James' Street community to work with us and @BrightonHoveCC We want to work more closely with people who live and work in the area to help enable us to develop ideas and ambitions for the neighbourhood

Valley Gardens update.

Toad's Hole Valley - FoE objections

Toad's Hole Valley proposals

Illustrative master plan

An outline planning application BH2018/03633 for the development of Toad's Hole Valley has been filed. It proposes: 880 much-needed dwellings; a secondary school; office/research/light industry units; a doctors' surgery community building, and public open space (including for food growing and play space).

It also includes  enhancements and alterations to the Site of Nature Conservation Interest to the east of the site and associated landscaping.

The most controversial proposal seems likely to be  the suburbanisation of King George VI Avenue.  Nearly all A23, A27 traffic destined for Hove and Portslade funnels down this road.  The 3 light-controlled vehicular accesses is a welcome reduction from the 7 suggested earlier for the development. This will still result in some rush hour delays but in the search for new housing maybe this is just one of the trade-offs the city has to accept.

Comments can be filed up until the application goes before the planning committee in the spring.

New bus shelters.

The city is to get 5 new bus shelters at sites prioritised  according to the exposure to weather, distance from any other shelter, and number of requests from the public.

Warren Road, top of Bear Rd.

Warren Road, top of Wilson Av.

Grand Avenue, Kings House

Stanley Deason Leisure Centre, Wilson Avenue

New England Rise.

The estimated cost is £550,000 which is over £100,000 each. It seems on the high side for a fairly basic, largely refabricated, structure, but I suppose there are reasons . . .

A Comment on Valley Gardens Scheme Phase 3

West side of memorial garden

As shown in the initial proposals one wonders if enough thought has been put into maximising  green space. There is certainly no point in putting grass in areas likely to be much trodden or in isolated areas which would increase the maintenance costs, but in areas such as that shown above the existing grassed area could simply be extended outwards at lower cost than for paving and the cost of the extra mowing needed would be minor.

Grass is easier on the eye, better for the environment and reduces run-off to the sewers.

Valley Gardens phase 3 consultation.

Have your say on the design options for the third phase of the Valley Gardens improvement scheme which covers the area around the Old Steine down to the Palace Pier roundabout. 

Brighton Bits thinks that there is too much hard surface in the amenity areas. Why not increase the width of the grassy areas in some places? The extra cost of mowing an extra 500 square yards or so would be negligible.

Consultation at: http://consult.brighton-hove.gov.uk/portal/bhcc/env/proposed_design_old_steine_to_palace_pier

The Message of the Trees

North Street is known to have high levels of pollution.  

The two trees above have been struggling for years. The furthest one has been replaced at least once. Perhaps, once they have managed to lift their crowns above the worst pollution, which we have to breathe, they will do better.

The Clock Tower. 

Trees of shorter habit do not have the option of growing out of the worst pollution and eventually succumb. The nearest one, arguably in the worst pollution died last year. It looks as if the furthest one is suffering the same fate.

Western Road

Wider, traffic-restricted Western Road has smoother traffic flow and all the trees are doing better. The specimen illustrated has been heavily pruned at least once.

Tree canopy

Although some parts of the city are leafy Brighton's overall tree canopy cover is only 14.4%. This is below the national average for England at 16% and  compares very unfavourably with the best, Farnham, at 45%. London has 21.9% tree cover.

Brighton & Hove has lost many mature trees to disease and development over the last few years. It would be interesting to know if young trees are being planted at a sufficient rate to improve on the 14.4% figure.

See also: Trees in Brighton - and earlier opinion.

Harmful algae in Falmer pond

Tests have shown that Falmer pond, is contaminated with blue-green algae which can be very harmful to the public and animals.

Brighton & Hove City Council has erected warning signs and is working closely with the Environment Agency to resolve the situation, while contacting the public.

Although algae occur naturally in inland waters, one of the main reasons for algae developing in the pond is visitors feeding the birds and fish. This maintains high levels of nutrients in the pond which can result in algae blooms.

The blooms produce toxins that can kill wild animals, livestock and pets. They can also harm people, producing rashes after skin contact and illnesses if swallowed.

The algae also uses up oxygen in the water at night which can suffocate fish and other creatures.

Although the pond is situated in Lewes, the land is owned by the city council which is responsible for its upkeep.

The Ovingdean development

View of site looking west from Falmer Rd.

View of site looking south from Ovingdean Rd.

Aerial view

Outline planning application BH2016/05530 for the construction of 45 dwellings on greenfield land was refused permission on 23 May last year but the applicant appealed. The appeal was due to commence on 24 April but at a meeting on 7th February the planning committee decided not to defend its refusal at the appeal.

Based on legal advice the council has withdrawn two of its reasons for refusal. These are:

• Harm caused to setting of Ovingdean and Rottingdean Conservation areas and loss of gap between the villages. 
• Increase in traffic would have a harmful impact on the Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).

This leaves:

• Harmful impact on ecology and biodiversity.
• Overdevelopment and loss of local landscape character.      

as the only standing reasons for refusal. Weighing up the planning benefits the scheme would bring against these remaining reasons  they agreed that the Local Planning Authority should no longer defend the planning appeal. Unreasonably defending a planning appeal can lead to an award of costs.

A superseded plan showed the development clustered on the western edge of the site.

City gets more cycle stands

Last autumn 74 stands were installed in the Hanover/Elm Grove zone

The city council has just started a last phase for 2017/18 which will see stands installed for 124 bikes, mainly in central Brighton & Hove. Among 10 locations are Western Road, West Street, The Level and Palmeira Square. Two hundred new cycle parking spaces will have been installed in central Brighton & Hove by the end of this financial year.

Since 2006 the council has installed parking for almost 2000 cycles.

Anyone can submit suggestions for locations for cycle stands using a form on the council website www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/cycleparking. New requests will be considered for the 2018/19 financial year.

Abandoned bikes occupying racks – or anywhere else - can be reported on 01273 292929.

Cycling to work across the city doubled between 2001 and 2011 according to the census. Just under five per cent of its population cycle to work. Nine per cent of adult residents cycle at least once a week.

The local BTN Bikeshare scheme, launched last September, is reportedly the UK's most-used outside London.

Litter-picking opportunities

Tidy Up Team member Judy Richardson with litter collected by 11 volunteers in Stanmer Park.

BHCC is setting up the Tidy Up Team - trained volunteers who pledge to spend some of their free time picking up litter in their local park. All Tidy Up Team will be  provided with equipment, materials and tools to collect and dispose of litter safely.

They will be supported by the council’s grounds maintenance and City Clean staff who work hard to keep the city’s green spaces and parks litter free.

The project is being co-ordinated by the council’s Rangers who came up with the idea after residents came out in force to support Great British Spring Clean events last year.

Around 70 volunteers have already signed up for the scheme and are undergoing training. They are asked to spend at least 15 minutes each week picking up litter – there is no maximum time limit and they are encouraged to spend as long as they like! They should also own a mobile phone and have access to email and the internet.

As well as carrying out their own litter picks in their local green spaces, volunteers can join organised monthly litter picks in some of the city’s most problematic areas. Forthcoming events include:

East Brighton Park – BIG Tidy Up Sunday February 4th from 11am
Three Cornered Copse - Great British Spring Clean Saturday March 3rd from 10am
Brighton & Hove Way BIG Tidy Up - Stanmer Woods/Upper Lodges, Sunday March 4th, 10am to 12 noon
Preston Park – #StreetsAhead/Tidy Up Team launch event Sunday March 4th 11am
Victoria Park, Portslade – BIG Tidy Up 14th April

Tidy Up Team volunteers are also encouraged to set up their own litter pick events.

Anyone interested in becoming a Tidy Up Team volunteer can visit the council website and fill in an online form. They will then be added to the waiting list for a training course.

Any questions should be emailed to city parks Cityparks.volunteers@brighton-hove.gov.uk  or telephone 01273 292929.

Stanmer Woods Plan

BHCC Parks Projects Team have put out a draft Stanmer Woodland Management Plan for consultation. The plan will strive to bring the woodland in the Stanmer estate back into active economic management with the aim of sustainable production of timber and woodfuel through the application of sound woodland management practices. This plan will also aim to ensure that the nature conservation, landscape and historic features of the woodland are protected and where practical enhanced. Public access provision will be maintained and the woodland will continue to provide a peaceful and pleasant setting for informal recreational activities.

The draft plan sets out how the woodland can be managed over the next 10 years to:

• Maintain and preserve open access.
• Build resilience against Ash Dieback and other diseases and ensure existing woodland cover is maintained.
• Increase biodiversity and protect nationally and locally rare flora and fauna.
• Produce semi commercial timber extraction of coppice products, wood fuel and timber. 

The plan is also supporting the Stanmer Restoration Project HLF application by:

• Protecting historical, archaeological, and environmental elements on the estate.
• Providing related activities such as rural skills, forest schools and wood based produce.
• Increase the city’s offer for volunteering work such as coppicing, pollarding, scrub clearing and general woodland management practices.

The Stanmer Park Restoration project is a joint initiative between Brighton & Hove City Council, Plumpton College and South Downs National Park Authority and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) .

Ancient woodland

Find out more and make comments.

Public information sessions will be held on Thursday February 1 and Saturday 3 February 2018 at Stanmer Tea Rooms from 9am to midday.

The plan can also be viewed in full on request at Hollingdean Depot Learning and Resource Centre (please contact the parks projects team 01273 294737 to arrange) and will be available at the Stanmer Tea rooms sessions.

The consultation closes on 12th February 2018.

BHCC - Review of 2017