New communal bins in East Brighton ward

The council has announced that communal refuse containers will be introduced to all streets south of Eastern Road - and some north of it* - later this year without the normal consultation with residents.

Along with my three ward colleagues this week I will be writing to all residents affected seeking their views on how this will affect their roads and parking locally. We will then make the views of residents known to the council's Conservative adminsitration at the Environment Committee meeting on 13th September when this issue will be decided.

For more information on communal refuse containers follow this link to the council's main site. Whilst I believe communal bins are a good solution to refuse problems including split bags and storage in multi-occupancy flats, they need to be implemented carefully with full consultation with residents. This has been done in areas of my ward where the bins have been put in; Marine Square, Craven Vale and the Bristol Estate.

*Bristol Gate, Upper Abbey Road, Whitehawk Hill Road, Madehurst Close, Slinfold Close, Walpole Road and Belle View Gardens.

Bins, shopping and electric cars

Have been receiving many e-mails and responses following the East Brighton ward councillors survey on communal bins, which comes before the Environment Committee this week.

I have also intervened in the row over Asda suspending home shopping deliveries to parts of Whitehawk, and asked the store to send a representative to the next Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum to see what can be done to resolve the situation.

Last week's Sustainability Forum heard about plans to install recharging points for electric/hybrid cars in the city, an exciting development and one which would certainly make me consider switching to an electric powed car if I could.

I've also attended Major Projects Sub-Committee to contribute to the debate on the Preston Barracks development, and a briefing on important changes to the Code of Conduct for councillors. Tonight and tomorrow I have resident group meetings in Craven Vale and Whitehawk, the first after the summer break.

Return of the Madeira Lift Dolphin

I'm pleased that, after its' return by an anonymous donor, the copper Dolphin stolen from the Madeira Lift some time ago is now being replaced. It is an attractive and important part of our seafront heritage, and along with fellow ward councillors I have been discussing with officers the best way to replace it, securely, without drawing the attention of those who might seek to steal it again. Now that it has been featured in the newspaper we will be asking the council to provide funds to install an alarm to prevent this historic item from disappearing again. 

Resolving a community issue

No issue has attracted more media attention in my ward in recent years than the decision by Asda Marina to withdraw home shopping delivery services to Whitehawk following a number of incidents shortly after the service began in July.

I invited the store manager to attend Wednesdays' Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum (which attracted a record attendance of around sixty people) where he explained the background to the decision, and police and residents were able to comment on events and the actions taken.

I'm pleased that Asda have now restored deliveries to the whole estate and that police, residents and the store will be working together to help avoid the kind of headlines which have disguised the very real progress made on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in the are in recent years.

I'm grateful to the store manager for attending and to residents for the way they conducted the discussion today which reflected the strength of community feeling without becoming hostile, and to the senior local police who came along to support the community and help us resolve the situation to the benefit of all concerned.

The BBC filmed the meeting and interviewed those who took part for the "Inside Out" programme (Wednesdays, 7.30 BBC2) and I was interviewed for BBC Southern Counties Radio Drivetime with Richard Lindfield and BBC South Today.