Whitehawk Playgrounds Set For Revamp
Two play areas in Whitehawk are set to be completely renovated as part of a munlti-million pound Government scheme. A new play area will be established near the tall blocks off Swanbourough Drive/Whitehawk Way, and the exisiting play area off Coolham Dive near the Crew Club will be refurbished.
The Government money has been given to the city to encourage children and young people to lead healthier and more active outdoor lives. The play areas will focus on activity rather than sport, and be accessible for adults as well as children. The play spaces have worked well in London boroughs.
Residents will be fully consulted on the plans ahead of work being done next year.
Hospital redevelopment update
Today's Argus carries news of the proposed redevelopment of the Royal Sussex County Hospital site, where the Barry and Jubilee Buildings, along with some of the temporary units along Eastern Road, are to be replaced.
All three East Brighton councillors have met with representatives for the NHS Trust and we are in regular touch with them over how best to consult and inviolve local people as the process moves forward. My colleague Councillor Craig Turton is leading on this issue but please do contact any or all of us if there are issues you want to raise. We have already passed on comments and concerns from over fifty households which are helping to shape how the Trust communicates with local residents on the progress of their plans.
East Brighton update
The consultation on the proposed extension to the Area H controlled parking zone has ended and the results are in. Councillors Gill Mitchell, Craig Turton and myself met with officers last week to look at the results and decide how best to proceed. Some residents wanted to be part of the permit scheme, others did not. Hopefully the wishes of the majority will be respected in most cases if partial extension of the Area H scheme goes ahead.
The three East Brighton ward councillors continue to get complaints regarding the new communal bins in Kemp Town. All concerns re the siting of bins, and collection issues, are being passed to officers.
I have asked for an update on the monitoring of traffic speeds along Manor Hill, which was promised at an Environment Cabinet Member Meeting in June when I presented a petition signed by fifty local residents concerned about speeding cars.
Kickz - success in reducing youth crime and disorder
Back in November I blogged about the launch of the "Kickz" scheme, which involves the Albion, Sussex Police, the Football Foundation and others in getting young people involved in sport and other activities as a diversion from crime and anti-social behaviour.
In the first six months this scheme has been hugely successful, with youth crime and disorder falling by 40%. On a regular basis over 40 young people are involved in the street league on Friday evenings, with those taking part coming from Bevendean, the Pankhurst estate, Bristol estate and Phoenix areas as well as Whitehawk and Manor Farm.
Police officers and PCSOs give up their free time to help with the coaching at the Kickz sessions which take place on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at the Crew Club on Coolham Drive. They are now looking for projects, not necessarily sport related, that will involve the wider community, particularly those in the B&ME communities. If you have any ideas get in touch and I will pass them on.
Find out more about Kickz via their national website here.