Kemp Town and Manor Farm advice surgeries
In addition to our advice surgeries in Craven Vale (see below) we will be holding advice surgeries in Manor Farm and Kemp Town over the coming months.
The Kemp Town surgeries will be held in the community centre below St George's Church between 6pm and 7.30pm on the 21st March, 18th April, 16th May and 20th June. They are timed to co-incide with advice surgeries for the local MP.
The Manor Farm surgeries will be held in the Manor Farm Shop from 11m to 12 noon on the 5th April, 3rd May, and 7th June.
Claim four free energy saving lightbulbs
Energy saving light bulbs save you money on your electricity bill and help protect the environment. You can receive 4 low energy lightbulbs free if you are in receipt of one of the following benefits or credits:
- income support
- housing benefit
- council tax benefit
- income based JSA
- DLA
- War disablement pension
- industrial injuries disablement benefit
- working families tax credit
- disabled persons tax credit
- child tax credit
- pension credit
- working tax credit
To claim four free bulbs send your name, address, and details of which of the above benefits you receive to:
Disability Now (Powergen)
FREEPOST
PO Box 7
Manchester
M19 2HD
The offer is limited to one pack of lightbulbs per household
Hospital liaison group
The latest Kemptown Rag has a front page story about the winding up of the liaison group that brought together residents and staff from the estates department of Sussex County hospital trust.
This group was set up by my predecessors several years ago to help resolve issues around the redevelopment of the hospital. I have attended this group over the past five years, and it has been useful particularly during the development of the new children's hospital.
However attendance has been very low in recent months, and many of the issues raised are individual ones which are better dealt with directly rather than at the meetings which might be up to two months away.
I will be writing to residents around the hospital with the assurance that when further major redevelopment is proposed then I will seek the re-establishment of this group to consult and liaise with those who live close to the Sussex County. In the meantime if residents have any issues which they cannot resolve directly with the Trust I am happy to take them up.
Madeira Lift closure
This week I and my ward colleagues Councillor Craig Turton and Councillor Gill Mitchell learned that the historic and popular Madeira Lift on the seafront will not be opening this year. It was due to open this week but mechanical faults mean that it will not now be brought into use for the summer season.
This is bad news for businesses on Madeira Drive, people with disabilities trying to get to the beach, and parents making their way to the Peter Pans playground. We have raised this issue at full council and will work with officers to see what alternative arrangements can be put in place and to ensure repairs are done so that the lift is returned to working order as soon as possible.
Advice surgery in Kemp Town
I will be holding an advice surgery in the Kemp Town community centre under St George's Church at 6pm this Friday.
Convent for sale
The Benedictine convent on Manor Road has been put up for sale. These lovely period convent buildings, set in their own grounds, are situated on the corner of Manor Road and Bristol Gardens. Local people are understandably worried about losing these graceful buildings that add so much to the character of this part of Kemp Town.
My ward colleague Councillor Gill Mitchell is seeking to establish whether the convent has any listed status or if the buildings are of any architectural merit. and from a planning point of view what would be considered suitable in terms of a new development for this sensitive and historic site, or what alternative uses may be permitted.
The buildings are at the entrance to what was the Marquis of Bristol's Estate of Manor Farm with the old Manor House having been sited just along from the convent. Many of the old flint and brick walls relating to that part of the estate and farm remain, and opposite the convent is a wonderful flint wall that formed the boundary wall of the old gatehouse to the estate.