Interviews, articles and a meetings dilemma
Was up very early on Monday morning for a breakfast show radio interview about bins, but the snow intervened! I'm also expecting to be featured in the Local Government Association's weekly "first" magazine talking about this blog.
Later in the day I have a bit of a dilemma as I have three different community meetings - North Whitehawk Tenants, Bristol Estate Community Association and Manor trustees - all at the same time. It's not unusual to have two at once - there are so many tenant and community groups in my ward - but a clash of three happens fairly rarely. It's likely the snow will cause the cancellation of all three which is wise as no-one should be travelling today.
Council services and snow
The Manor Place Housing Office in Whitehawk is closed due to the weather, but emergency repairs can be phoned through on 0800 052 6140.
The advice to all should be to stay at home unless absolutely necessary.
Highways advise that "Brighton & Hove winter service has been pre-salting (gritting) since the start of this cold spell. Salt has been laid on the roads during Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Gritters were out yesterday afternoon in preparation for the snowfall, and all main routes were gritted by Sunday evening. In addition, localised gritting has taken place from 11pm to 3 am over Sunday night in the worst affected areas. So the road networks has been well salted and none of this has washed away as it has not rained.
However, like all counties in the South East, we have suffered from a heavier than predicted snowfall with more predicted to come in. Salt is most effective at a certain temperature; below -2 it becomes much less effective. Salt also works best when vehicles track it into the road. A combination of freezing road temperatures and very little traffic on the roads during Sunday has meant that the salt is not very effective.
Highways have therefore switched to ploughing operations and currently gritters are out ploughing main routes to make them more accessible. However, there is more snow coming in and as a small authority, we are working overtime to deal with the situation but people need to take care on the roads and to be aware that ice and snow will affect most routes."
For up to date information see www.brighton-hove.gov.uk
New police and repairs base in Whitehawk
Last week I attended the official opening of the new police and council housing repairs base at
The opening was attended by the new police commander for Brighton & Hove and the crime writer Peter James, as well as media and tv crews, a large number of residents and pupils from Whitehawk and St Marks Primary schools. The team from Mears who are dedicated solely to Whitehawk & Manor Farm will be based in the office and can be approached directly by residents who have a repair they need doing. The police will have a local base so they do not need to return to their Hollingbury office during their shifts.
Older people and community safety
The Environment & Community Safety Committee, which I chair, has set up a cross-party scrutiny panel to look at older peoples concerns about community safety and suggest changes in response to those concerns. The first stage is to gather information from organisations, services, carers supporting older people and from older people themselves.
If you or anyone you know would like to contribute to the panel’s investigations, please call 291062 or e-mail scrutiny@brighton-hove.gov.uk.
High-rise hospital helipad?
As reported in this blog last August, the NHS Trust which runs the
I am working very closely with my colleague Councillor Craig Turton on this issue, and he has been in discussions with the Trust and this week attended a Bristol Estate Community Association meeting to hear residents concerns.
The Trust have emphasised that plans are at an early stage and will be consulting residents. Plans will be put on display at the hospital but as yet we don’t know any definitive timescale. Cllr Turton has asked the Trust to consider a display at the Bristol Estate community centre. The Trust have agreed to hold a public meeting on the plans and the local councillors will be holding them to that pledge.
The Trust say that the helipad must go on top of the hospital as the nearest point to A&E due to clinical concerns over the need to treat trauma victims swiftly.
The new development will also put further strain on parking in the area. The Trust are looking at providing 200 additional car parking spaces through excavating part of the existing site as a 'half in the open and half enclosed' parking facility. This will be a major issue for the
Upcoming community meetings
Here are details of just some of the forthcoming tenant and resident meetings in East Brighton ward. If you are a resident of any of the areas listed you are welcome to attend.
Thursday 19th February - Central Whitehawk TA, 7pm Valley Social Centre
Wednesday 25th February - Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum (including Manor Farm), 10.30am, Valley Social Centre
Thursday 26th February - Manor Farm South TA, 6.30pm Robert Lodge.
Monday 2nd March - Bristol Estate Community Association, 7pm Community Room, Chadborn Close.
Wednesday 4th March - Southawk TRA AGM, 7pm Robert Lodge.
Wednesday 11th March - Craven Vale Community Association, 7pm The Vale Community Centre, Hadlow Close.
Wednesday 25th March - North Whitehawk TRA AGM, 7.30pm the Community oom, Kingfisher Court.
There are other associations covering East Whitehawk low rise blocks and Whitehawk South Central. If you are a tenant and don't know which assoiation you are part of, contact the Manor Place housing office.
Operation Calling Time, and a High Sherrif award
Our local PCSOs today highlighted a page on the Sussex Police website where you can tell the police about stores, pubs or off licences who sell alcohol to under age drinkers under their "Operation Calling Time".
Also at the Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum today we heard that one of our excellent PCSOs has been nominated for a High Sherrifs award for tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. Well done Jacqui, very well deserved!