Cooksbridge Way playground
The sandpit on the playground off Cooksbridge Way next to St Cuthman's has been removed. Although Cityclean staff cleaned it daily there were regularly shards of glass deliberately concealed in the sand so it was too much of a risk to leave the sandpit in place. It is hoped that a new playground, perhaps combining both play areas near the Crew Club, can be put in next year.
Housing debate in Whitehawk
This afternoon I joined tenants, leaseholders, members of the negotiating board and the independant tenants advisor at a debate held in North Whitehawk on the proposed transfer of the council's housing stock to a new, independent, tenant-led, not-for-profit housing association. There were speakers both for and against in what was a vigorous debate, and there was an opportunity for tenants present to ask questions. The "offer document" - basically a list of what tenants and leaseholders want from the new association if it is voted for - will be published soon. This will give tenants more detail on what the new organisation would offer them as tenant and how they would have their say in how it, and their homes, are run should there be a "yes" vote in the ballot expected later this year.
Tenants can get more information from the council's transfer team on 0800 013 0494, or by e-mailing transferteam@brighton-hove.gov.uk. The independent tenant's advisor can be contacted on 0800 731 1315, or by e-mailing info@tpas.org.uk.
The New Alex
For many months now the New Alex children's hospital has been taking shape, rising above the skyline like an ocean liner. The views of it from Craven Vale or from the seafront are quite stunning.
I've been working with the Trust, developers and residents of Upper Abbey Road and Whitehawk Hill Road during construction to try to help minimise the disruption, but I am sure all will agree that the finished project in terms of a state-of-the-art new children's hospital will be well worth it.
I would urge everyone to back the Rockinghorse New Alex appeal as promoted in The Argus.
Meeting residents in East Brighton
This morning I was out and about with council leader Simon Burgess in some of the streets behind Whitehawk bus garage and Wilson Avenue, talking about the proposed new parking scheme in the area and other issues.
This afternoon I am meeting with our local MP Des Turner, and later I will be at the meeting of the Southawk Tenants Association at Robert Lodge at 7.30, while my colleague Councillor Gill Mitchell attends the meeting of the Craven Vale Community Association in The Shed, Hadlow Close at 7pm.
Making Marine Square better
Ward colleagues have been liaising with resident representatives in Marine Square to see if they would be interested in tackling the litter problems in their square and its' gardens by putting in communal bins. Cityclean staff have taken an initial look and the bins would be sited on double yellow lines away from homes so that no parking spaces would need to be used. All residents will be written to if the resident representatives decide to go ahead.
Meanwhile ward councillors and the council will be working with the residents to re-plant their gardens with help from Plumpton College students, so all in all Marine Square should be looking better soon!
Children's Centre in East Brighton and new child seat laws
I've been in touch with Brighton and Hove Buses over the past few days to follow up on getting low floor buses on routes serving our new Children's Centre in East Brighton which opens officially on October 19th. In the meantime there is a fancy dress party at the centre organised by eb4U coming up, for more details contact them.
Today sees new laws on car seats for children come into force, which is welcome. I would urge anyone who is not sure of the new laws to take a look at the useful guide on the BBC website which should answer any questions.
Keep crossings clear!
I've asked council officers today to see if action can be taken to keep crossing points in the Whitehawk Road/Broadway and Arundel Road area clear. Constituents who use wheelchairs and electric vehicles have complained that too often the dropped kerbs are blocked by inconsiderate drivers parked on double yellow lines.
At best this forces them to make a long detour, at worst it puts them in danger if they have to cross between parked cars. Drivers should think of the consequences of blocking safe crossing points, even if they are stopping "just for a minute".
Casework, committees and film shoots
A busy week this week with both Adult Social Care and Health Committee (of which I am Deputy Chair) on Monday, and Housing Committee today. Both had some interesting items and discussions and of course there is a good deal of overlap between the two when you take into account the sheltered and extra care housing the city council runs.
I've also had one of the busiest weeks I can remember of casework, just yesterday I dealt with matters including a licence application in Kemp Town, a noise complaint near the racecourse, parking issues in Whitehawk and concerns over a feature film shoot in a block of flats!
Licencing, a broken gate and new age discrimination laws
Have had further discussions today with constituents and local MP Des Turner regarding a licencing application in my ward. For details about the whole licencing process, take a look at this page on the council site.
A broken gate in Henfield Close in south Whitehawk was causing concern to local residents last night, as brickwork supporting it looked unsafe. I got in touch with the relevant council staff today and the whole thing should now have been made safe pending repair.
I've also been taking an interest in the new age discrimination laws which come into effect on the 1st October, as it is relevant to my role on the Adult Social Care and Health Committee. As ever the BBC has a very user-friendly guide to the new laws and who will benefit.
The week ahead - resident meetings and events
No, I'm not in Manchester, a great city but I always found it a bit wet!
This week I hope to be attending the following resident meetings and events:
Monday: Royal Sussex County Hospital Residents Liaison Committee, 5.30pm in Sussex House, Abbey Road (opposite St George's Church) - for all residents who live near the hospital.
Tuesday: Carer's Forum, 10.30am Brighthelm Centre - for carers citywide.
Wednesday: Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum, 10.30am Valley Social Centre, Whitehawk Way - for all Whitehawk and Manor Farm residents.
Thursday: Children's fancy dress event to mark the completion of Whitehawk Children's Centre, 4pm Whitehawk Road.
Friday: North Whitehawk Tenant and Resident Association, 7pm Kingfisher Court Community Room - for all residents of the tall and small blocks at the very top end of Whitehawk.
What it's like to have a hospital as your neighbour...
Made it to the first of this weeks' meetings this evening, and there is certainly a lot to talk about when it comes to current and future developments at the city's main hospital. There can't be many places - even in London - where a major hospital sits right in the middle of a residential area.
Though it has been added to over the years (and I remember there being a lot more space on the site visiting my grandfather in the RSCH 25 years ago) the pace of development has really picked up over the past few years. There is the Millennium wing, the new renal unit, the Audrey Emerton medical school, new operating theatres and now the new Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital. It means having some state of the art NHS facilities on our doorstep, but for those who actually live on the hospital's doorstep there can be problems with noise, building work, deliveries, vehicle access, traffic and even light pollution.
The Liaison Group met for the 86th time today, and tackled issues ranging from litter to parking permits to the new gas cylinders to the Chadborn Close side that have been causing disturbance to some residents whilst they have been filled for the first time. But we also discussed the long term future of the site, being consulted on by the Strategic Trust and two local Primary Care Trusts. One of the things that is likely to come out of this is more non-acute work - like scans, minor procedures, consultations and so on - being moved out to clinics within local communities. I think this is not only better for the patients - less daunting than a walk through the corridors of a busy hospital - but better for local residents, as fewer people coming to the site for short appointments will undoubtedly ease the pressure on traffic and parking around Eastern Road and the streets around our city hospital.
Carer's Forum
I was very pleased to be able to attend the latest forum for Carer's, run by the Carer's Centre, at Brighthelm Church and Community Centre this morning. I listened to David Lepper MP speak about a new support worker for people living with Alzheimers and their carers, and attended a workshop on the draft Working Age Mental Health strategy from the Sussex Partnership NHS Trust, which goes out to consultation soon.
There were stalls around the hall run by the Daily Living Centre (296132), which has hundreds of useful gadgets and devices to make life easier for people who have varying disabilities or health problems, and the Council's Carelink service offering a monitored alarm system for vulnerable people in the city. Other social care services run by the council were very well represented, and you can find out anything you need to know about these services by calling the Social Care Information Line on 01273 295555 or by e-mailing infoline@brighton-hove.gov.uk.
Forum faces up to motorcycle dangers
Yesterday's Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum pledged to face up to the dangers faced by families in Whitehawk and dog walkers in Sheepcote Valley and Whitehawk Hill from irresponsible motorcycle users.
Around forty residents, youth and community workers, senior police officers and a representative from the Home Office Respect taskforce met at the Valley Social Centre yesterday to hear a ten-point action plan put forward by the neighbourhood team from eb4U. It is based on the first meeting of a sub-group of the Forum who identified the main issues and areas where youths on mini-motos, scramble bikes and other motorcycles race through areas where they can - and have - come into contact with children and dogs.
The Forum also discussed travellers, proxy purchasing of alcohol by adults for under-age drinkers, and domestic violence, which as Chair of the Forum I am making a priority.
Completion event at the new Children's Centre
I've just got back from an event organised by eb4U to mark the completion of the new Children's Centre for Whitehawk and East Brighton. It's a fantastic building, with maximised natural light, grassed roof and wind turbine making it very environmentally friendly. It was good to be there with members of local history group Brighton Bygones, who were there when we said goodbye to the old school block, the site of which now plays host to this new centre.
I can't believe it's not even eighteen months ago since I attended to the Children's Centre steering group to hear the council's architect (who won the commission in open competition) show us the plans, and there we were today in the very nearly finished article. Congratulations to all those involved in making this great new community resource happen, and to the smallest punk rocker in the world who won the fancy dress competition!
I look forward to the formal opening event on the 19th October.
Cleanup needed in North Whitehawk
Completing this week's round of meetings and events, I had a late night in north Whitehawk last night hearing from tenants about a deterioration in their block cleaning, and explaining what actions the council is taking to reduce the nuisance from travellers around the racecourse. I was shown photos of the latest incident of flytipping, bags of builders waste dumped by someone - often unscrupulous builders or waste clearance people dump rubbish near travellers sites - which last night was set on fire.
I've asked for this waste to be cleared as soon as possible, and the blocks are being "deep cleaned" this weekend with an inspection on Tuesday morning which I will attend.