Housing Land in Brighton

The City Council is updating its Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) in order to  identify sites with potential for housing development, assess their housing potential and estimate when development is likely. The study is intended to provide important information that will help inform the council’s planning documents - the Local Development Framework.

The Council is asking for suggestions for any sites, able to accommodate 6+ residential units, either as solely residential or as part of a mixed use scheme, that could be considered by the study. Suggestions can be made on an SHLAA form which can be found on the Council's website here.

The site that immediately jumps to mind of course, is the prime vacant lot on the corner of Portland and Church Streets which has remained undeveloped for decades and is now being advertised for car-parking. I believe some plans, which included housing along Portland Street, were submitted a few years ago but came to nothing. I am sure this hasn't escaped the Council's attention but do not know what they can do about it if the owner of a plot has, for reasons of their own, just decided to sit on it.

"Why I am not a Christian"

Brighton & Hove Humanists first meeting after the summer break is on Wednesday, 1st  Sept. at 8pm at the Lord Nelson, Trafalgar St.

Speaker: Denis Cobell (Former president, National Secular Society) on 

"Why I Am Not a Christian. "

Martha Gunn's house

As well as being a well-known local name, Martha Gunn's fame has obviously spread,  no doubt because of the royal connection, to the extent that a visitor stopped me in East Street the other day to enquire the whereabouts of Martha Gunn's house. It is, of course, no. 36 tucked away in the north-east  corner of the "wide-bit" of the street. The house does have a plaque but, because this is Brighton, it is well hidden away in a modern conservatory and behind a hanging basket. The conservatory is part of a fish restaurant. At least that is appropriate, bearing in mind the Gunn family's main profession then and since.  

A fine portrait of Martha in later life has recently returned from the Antipodes courtesy of family descendants and now has a permanent pride of place in the museum, adjacent to the bottom of the staircase. She died in 1815 at the good old age (in those days) of 88, predeceased by 4 of her many children but not her husband Stephen who lived just a few months longer and died aged 79.

The family grave has a conspicuous position in St. Nicholas churchyard close to the path and the main entrance to the church. There is also some related material at the Fishing Museum in Kings Road Arches.

Martha has many widespread descendants. 

Sussex Uni Film Show

Facing Faith by Daisy Whicheloe  is one of the films being premiered on Wednesday 8th September by students on the MA in Digital Documentary degree. It follows a born-again Christian rapper on a 21st-century evangelising mission in Brighton. (Photo above)
Daisy said: "MC Tempo's Christian beliefs are very extreme... born again in his early twenties, he now raps strictly for God.

"The documentary explores 21st-century evangelism in Brighton, its boundaries, obstacles and disciples."

It is one of two films exploring religion in Brighton and Hove, which, according to national census data, is statistically the 'UK's most Godless city'. The other Chinese Missionary in UK, by Cheng Wang, tells the story of a Chinese missionary who preaches in Brighton. Cheng said: "After watching the documentary you will know more about young Chinese Christians in the UK."

There are nine films in all covering an eclectic mix of topics which capture the stories of real people and communities in Brighton and locations around the world. A full list of films can be seen on the University of Sussex Student News. The Film Show is free and open to the public.

Thoughts while pondering Steve Ovett's foot . . .

One of the last acts of plunder in Preston Park, the removal in 2007 of the bronze statue of Olympic 800m champion Steve Ovett by sawing it off at the foot. It was well reported at the time, but has an interesting link with an earlier act of vandalism, namely the illegal felling of mature trees just across the London Road on the vacant Anston House site. The unnecessary loss of these trees caused much indignation among local residents, but certain denizens of the alternative, unwaged society took it upon themselves to move in and set up a "Protest the Trees" camp. This involved decrepit caravans, makeshift tents, bonfires and much miscellaneous rubbish.

After the statue disappeared,  the police visited the Anston House site, recovered most of the statue in pieces, and charged a 44 year-old female person, of no fixed address, with possession.  One of the pieces nestled in the remains of  a bonfire, where attempts had apparently been made to melt it down, this neatly demonstrating perhaps why the miscreant was unwaged.

The pieces of the statue were returned to local sculptor Tim Webster whose work it was. Mr Webster  estimated it would cost £30,000 to recreate it. The illegal felling eventually came to court and the owners were fined £30,000 (+£4,000 costs). The female miscreant was simply cautioned.