Hove Business Association

Local businesses may be interested to know that the Hove Business Association are currently expanding the range of support they provide to members. This includes improvements to their administration and communications. For example, they will be doing regular postings on Linkedin and Twitter to keep businesses informed about activities and opportunities in the area and a Chairman's blog will be launched shortly! They have also introduced regular monthly breakfast meetings featuring inspiring presentations from some of the best known local entrepreneurs such as Darren Fell and Nick Gully. If you would like more information you can find it on their website

My other blog!

Just a reminder that I also have an external blog on the 'blogspot' site. To see my latest posts please follow this link: http://brianoxleyblog.blogspot.com/

Strategic Commissioning

The new Chief Executive of the council, John Barradell, has put forward his proposals for the future structure of the organisation, with particular emphasis on a new "strategic commissioning" role.  He has some really interesting ideas and I would recommend a read of it.  If you have any further queries, please don't hesitate to get in touch - brian.oxley1@mac.com

City Toilets

I thought it would be useful to publicise this map that the Council has produced of where all the public toilets are located in the city.  If you have any queries, please don't hesitate to get in touch - brian.oxley1@mac.com

Free English Classes

If English is your second language then you can get help to improve.

Where: At the Vallance Centre, Sackville Road, Hove

When: 1.15pm - 3.15pm Wednesday 24th Feb, 3rd March, 10th March, 17th March, 24th March and 31st March

What: Improve general confidence with English; help with speaking, listening, reading and writing; understanding forms and letters; help with talking to teachers and doctors.

If you would like further information please contact Georgina on 293583. There is also a free creche.

King Alfred Update

The main works contract is coming along well with the vast majority of the work now complete.

The contractors have returned from their Christmas break and are completing the following works:

·       Installation of safety rails on the roof

·       Seal the roof over the concourse and officers to stop water penetration.

·       Complete the electrical works (this will involve the closure of the pool for a day on 13th January)

·       Finish the painting work

·       Fit the new panels at the entrance to the centre.

·       Finish repairs to the stone work where the new Ballroom windows have been installed.

Additional work to be undertaken outside the main contract includes

·       New external lighting adjacent to the ballroom

·       New floor in the male dry side changing room

·       Additional lighting in the concourse area.

Work completed just before Christmas includes:

·       The re-commissioning of the air conditioning system

·       Repairs and decoration of the multi-purpose room

·       All external building works.

·       Installation off emergency lighting in the two sports halls

·       Installation of some new fire doors

·       Fitting new door furniture on doors on the concourse.

Snow update!

The met office has issued a weather warning of snow and freezing temperatures between now and Friday 8 January.
Although we are on the very eastern edge of the predicted affected area, we have been advised to be prepared. The council is working hard to make sure that we are ready to deal with the impact.

Gritters will be out in force, treating all the main highways. Street cleaners are being diverted today to pre-grit pavements and gritting bins are being refilled.

We have a significant amount of grit/salt out on the pavements already but we are going back over city centre pavements now. In the event of snow, we will place piles of grit at strategic locations and all sweepers and gardeners will grit.

Pavements will be prioritised generally according to usage and need. Staff will pay particular attention to gritting pavements on hilltops, outside hospitals and shop fronts.

Drivers and pedestrians should remain vigilant and take care during the cold snap as it is not possible to grit all 3,000 of the city’s roads. Even a high level of gritting service on roads and pavements that can be treated cannot guarantee they will always be completely clear of ice or snow.

If the weather is particularly bad, our out of hours service will collect gritter drivers in our four wheel drive vehicle. Four wheel drive vehicles will also be made available to ensure home care teams, district nurses and Meals on Wheels are able to visit vulnerable people.

At this stage, we hope to keep the refuse and recycling service going if at all possible.

Westbourne Ward Surgery Dates

Council's response to the big freeze

Due to the mass of coverage in the local press on this issue I thought it might be useful to post the Leader of the Council's latest statement on our response to the recent cold snap. If you have any queries about this, or any other matter, please don't hesitate to contact me - brian.oxley1@mac.com

We will listen to city, says council leader

Brighton & Hove City Council is to bring forward extra measures to tackle future severe weather following the recent cold snap.

Council leader Mary Mears has been reviewing the service after visiting the city's Hollingdean depot today (Tues) to talk to the gritting crews, bin men and women and gardeners involved in the operation.

She said: "I was impressed by the helpful suggestions that came forward from the staff on the ground who are closest to the residents. As a result I will be announcing several key improvements before the New Year.

"As well as making changes in the way we grit the roads and pavements, I believe we must work even better with our partners to make sure that the city keeps moving when temperatures fall.

"We must remember that this was a particularly severe and prolonged cold snap of the type that comes along only once every few years. From the day before the snow we had our gritting and street clearing teams, gardeners, arborists, drivers, bin men and women and managers out and about in the city implementing our severe weather plan.

“However, it is clear to me that many concerns have been raised by residents and they think that we could have done things differently. I want us to address those concerns."

The council has also confirmed that there will be an independent review into the council's handling of the recent winter weather.  An Environment and Community Safety Overview & Scrutiny committee early next year will be tasked with investigating the planning and processes, establishing whether any improvements can be made.

New out of hours mental health helpline

Ths Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust have just set up a new out of hours mental health helpline for service users and carers. The new number is 03005000101 and is available from 5pm to 9am Mon-Fri and 24 hours over weekends, bank holidays and holiday periods.

King Alfred update

Please find below the latest update on works at the King Alfred.  The recent appalling weather has not helped the works but progress is still being made.

·       The new stainless steel handrail and safety screens have been installed in the pool hall balcony area.

·       Work to replace the coping stones is on-going

·       A further area of wall requiring wall tie work has been identified and work is underway

·       Painting of the render is now 75% complete. This has been delayed by the weather.

·       Work on the roof and safety railings is still ongoing.

·       The rewiring of the lights in the main hall and small halls is now complete and we have 100% lights working for the first time in many months.

·       A suitable time to carry out the installation of a new heat exchanger unit is being identified. This will involve turning off the heating and hot water to the old part of the building. This work will mean disruption to the heating and will be programmed to minimise the inevitable disruption to the users as much as possible.

·       The entrance canopy roof panels have been replaced and the delivery of the coloured screens has been delayed.

·       Steelwork has now been installed in the ballroom lift shaft

·       The Ballroom widows have been replaced

·       Work to replace damaged lintels has been completed.

Feedback from Get Involved

The Council's Get Involved Day launch event went really well at the weekend. Around 500 people came through the doors and everyone seemed to be pleased that we had put it on.

If you missed the Question Time session, chaired by Nicholas Owen, you can watch it here on a special webcast.

One of the groups I chatted to who had a stand at Get Involved were RISE. They are a local charity who work to ensure that individuals and communities understand, support and act to end abuse against women, children and young people. If you would like more information on the services that they offer I would encourage you to visit their website - www.riseuk.org.uk I think they do a fantastic job in the City.

Roadworks update - Church Road

I have been given the following update by officers on the roadworks situation at Church Road/Sackville Road/Hove Street:

From November 8th, for approximately one month, temporary traffic lights will be in operation on the junction of Church Road, Sackville Road & Hove Street. A contraflow for traffic through the works has also been introduced by May Gurney, the works Traffic Management Company to allow traffic to continue to access all routes in and around the works site.

A series of gas leaks have resulted in more time being required to complete the essential repairs. May Gurney have been on site each morning and evening during rush hours to manually control the traffic signals and although this has helped with traffic flow, delays are being experienced. Engineers are working 12 hour shifts from 7am – 7pm daily to complete the works as soon as possible. Without introducing the existing traffic management measures road closures would have had to have been introduced. The gas company have apologised for all the inconvenience caused by this work but hope residents will appreciate the long-term benefits their work will have for the gas supplies in this area of the City.

Get Involved in Brighton & Hove!

Just a reminder that the Council's 'Get Involved' campaign is being launched tomorrow (Saturday). This is a nine month campaign designed to try and encourage residents to take an active part in local politics, democratic processes and community work.

It takes place at Hove Town Hall from 10am - 5pm and I would encourage everyone to come along. More details of what's on can be found at www.getinvolvedinthecity.org.uk

Emergency road works - Pembrokes

I have just been told that some emergency road works will be taking place up until 27th November in Pembroke Avenue. The works are to repair a collapsed sewer. During the works, traffic control will be by priority signs.

If you have any problems please get in touch - brian.oxley1@mac.com

King Alfred works - further update

Work continues to progress on the improvements to the King Alfred Leisure Centre. Here is the latest update I have received from officers:

• Work is now almost complete in the staff changing area

• The work on the Parapet is now complete

• The brick access stairs have been rebuilt

• Work on reseating the coping stones and repairing brick work and concrete is almost complete

• Some additional wall tie work is underway

• Painting of the concrete areas has started

• Part of the scaffolding is being taken down

• Repairs have been carried out to the slabs in the play park area

• The work on the roof is still ongoing

• Orders are to be placed shortly to fit safety rails onto the roof

• The Electrical work is progressing with the main hall lights being rewired during the week commencing 2nd Nov and the small hall lights rewired the following week

• The Asbestos removal is likely to take place in approx two weeks once the appropriate licences have been obtained

• The entrance canopy and screens are being replaced next week and the entrance matting installed. During next week the centre will operate with a temporary entrance

• The programme to replace fire doors and to fit new ironmongery is underway

As always, if you would like further information, or would like to get in touch on another issue, please e-mail me: brian.oxley1@mac.com

Sackville Road Works postponed

I have just been told that the Sackville Road roadworks have been postponed with a new date to be agreed in early 2010. I will keep you posted when I hear any more.

Please feel free to contact me on this or any other issue - brian.oxley1@mac.com or www.brianoxleyblog.blogspot.com

Reflections Bathroom Shop - Portland Road

There are rumours circulating that this shop may be in the process of being converted to a supermarket. Please follow the link below to see the action I am taking about the matter. www.brianoxleyblog.blogspot.com

Further King Alfred update

Here is the latest update I have received on the King Alfred:

• The redecoration of the concourse area is now almost complete, the vending machines have been moved back and signage / posters are due to be replaced later this week. You can really notice the difference with the bright colours!

• The sports hall corridor has been repainted.  

• Roof repairs are continuing and the programme to replace the old skylights is well underway

• The outer brick course of the ‘bulging’ East wall has been taken down and is being rebuilt.

• Work is underway replacing the coping stones, repairing brickwork and concrete.  

• Components to allow the repair / refurbishment of the lights in both sports halls have been ordered.  

• Lights have been replaced in the Indoor Bowls hall.

• Work is continuing on the Centre’s electrical circuits.  

• New air-conditioning units are being ordered to replace the badly corroded old units.

King Alfred maintenance update

Work on the King Alfred is progressing well, with a lot of the jobs continuing “behind the scenes”:

• The redecoration of the concourse area is continuing.

• Air conditioning units have been removed from the roof and the roof has been cleaned prior to repair.

• Scaffolding is now up around much of the building so that external work on the parapets can be done and in preparation for the external decoration of the building and the removal of old signage.

• A number of further electrical problems have been identified including problems with the mains feed to the lights in both sports halls. This will require the circuits to be rewired.

• A way to refurbish the existing lights in both sports halls has been identified and parts have been ordered. (The failure of the lights and the mains wiring is due to the prolonged exposure of the wiring and insulation materials to the heat generated by the lights.)

• The battery operated emergency lighting system servicing the Pool area has been repaired.

If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail me at brian.oxley1@mac.com

King Alfred works - update

I have received the following update from officers on the improvement works at the King Alfred Leisure Centre:

The work at the Centre is progressing well and staff are striving to keep the disruption of the service to a minimum. Customers have been very positive about the changes and despite some disruption to their regular routines have been very supportive of what we are doing.

Some of the main points to note;

• The centre opened on time on Monday morning after a very hectic week

• Both sports halls are now back in use as of lunchtime today following the temporary closures while the external wall was ‘secured’ with scaffold and props.

• The carpeting of the foyer / reception area and the painting of the ceiling is complete. The decoration of the walls in the entrance foyer and reception area has started.

• The work to the replace the drain covers in the wet changing area was completed early on Tuesday morning and the drains have been cleared.

• The pool hall lighting repairs have been finished and the carpeting and flooring work completed.

• A large proportion of the identified electrical works has been completed.

• The pool filters have been refurbished.

Castleham - supported employment

On Tuesday, I went with the Leader of the Council - Mary Mears - to visit the Council's supported employment business - Castleham Hove. They employ people with learning disabilities undertaking digital, foil block and pad printing; machine embroidery; mail out, assembly and packing. I was extremely impressed with the work that they are doing and am delighted that the Council is able to support the enterprise. Click here for more information.

To see my latest blog posts please follow this link: http://brianoxleyblog.blogspot.com/

I should point out that this personal site is not operated or sponsored by Brighton & Hove City Council and any views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the Council. I will continue to use this blog to talk about Council matters.

Wild West Show at Stoneham Park!

This Saturday the 19th September a Wild West Show will be taking place at Stoneham Park between 12 and 4pm. There will be a fancy dress competition, a gunfight at 'Stoneham Corral' with the Stunt Action Team, Stoneham Saloon (a beer tent), American Hoedown and line dancing, childrens' entertainers and much more!

I would encourage everyone to come along and join in the fun!

Update on works to the King Alfred

The extent of the renovation works to the King Alfred is such that it will be necessary to have a full closure of the Leisure Centre (both wet and dry sports areas) with the exception of the Ballroom. The closure is scheduled to take place from 6th September to 13th September inclusive. But a further 7 weeks of work will then follow on and take place while the Centre is open. A closure is never ideal but the beginning of September is timed for the end of the school holidays and before the start of school/other swimming lessons.

These works include a whole range of improvements that will be noticed by users (as well as a huge amount behind the scenes) such as:

·      Carpet throughout reception area and concourse

·      Floor covering in main pool balcony

·      Ceiling replacement in reception area, main pool changing

·      External repairs to walls, handrails, paving etc.

 I will provide further updates as the work progresses.

Seafront litter

When I was walking along the seafront a couple of days ago I happened to notice that there was a large amount of litter by the brick-built beach huts, which the council owns, across the road from the Fairlawns block of flats.

Westbourne Ward Advice Surgery

Denise and I will be holding our usual two ward surgeries during the month of September.  The first one is at The Talk Shop on the 5 September between 10am and 11am on Tamworth Road.  No appointment is necessary.

The second ward surgery will be held on 9 September between 5pm and 6.30pm at Hove Museum again, no appointment is necessary.  However, if you wish to contact me in the meantime please don’t hesitate to do so.  My email address is brian.oxley1@mac.com.

To see my latest blog posts please follow this link: http://brianoxleyblog.blogspot.com/

Updates from Westbourne Ward

The site of the Sackville Hotel is being regularly monitored and there are plans to improve the look of the site. No sign yet of any re-development.

The Museum gates are away for repair and are due back in the Autumn.

I am speaking to Council officers and the Cabinet member about the problem of a lack of primary school places in Hove. If you want to contact me on this please email brian.oxley1@mac.com

My ward colleague, Denise, is working with residents to help deal with refuse collection issues in both the north and south of the Ward.

Follow me on Blogspot by typing in this link:

http://brianoxleyblog.blogspot.com/

Ward surgery dates

Latest blog posts

To see my latest blog posts please follow this link: http://brianoxleyblog.blogspot.com/

Sackville/Blatchington Road traffic lights

Just a quick update on traffic issues in the Ward following the Parking Summit which Denise and I organised on 7th February. I know that some residents still have concerns about the Sackville Road traffic lights at the junction with Blatchington Road. I have been advised by officers that a monitoring study has now been commissioned and hopefully a report will be ready in about a month's time (sometime during May). I will keep you informed of the outcome of this but in the meantime if you have any other queries, please do let me know - brian.oxley1@mac.com

JourneyOn - making travelling easier!

As the Easter holidays are now upon us and people will be wanting to get around the City to visit friends/family or take in some of the excellent local attractions, I thought it might be useful to flag up the Council’s JourneyOn website.

JourneyOn has real time bus and traffic information and shows the best routes for all modes of transport in the City, including walking and cycling. It even works out the cost, time, carbon dioxide emissions and calories burned for your journey! I would encourage you all to have a look.

I hope that everyone has a fantastic Easter break, whatever you are doing!

Springwatch at Stoneham Park

The Poets Corner Community Society, the Friends of Stoneham Park and the City’s Park Rangers have been busy organising an event called ‘Springwatch’. Springwatch will take place on Saturday 4th April between 11am - 4pm in Stoneham Park, Hove. The event will be the official launch of the Friends of Stoneham Park and there will also be lots of activities for all the family including: kite making, bouncy castle, community allotments stall and puppet shows to name but a few. They are also looking for help finishing off the planting, mulching and building the new obstacle course in the toddlers’ area.

I hope as many of you as possible are able to get involved. Stall booking forms can be obtained from the Café in the park.

Zippo's Circus - change of date

I have been told by council officers that there has been a change in dates for this year’s Zippo’s Circus. Due to unforeseen circumstances, they have had to move their visiting dates forward. The Circus will now be on Hove No 1 Lawn from Monday 10th August until Monday 24th August 2009.

Portland and Clarendon Forum

Last week at the Portland & Clarendon Forum there were a number of interesting community groups and organisations exhibiting and I thought that it might be useful if I listed some of them and their contact details:

• Cookado – a not-for-profit voluntary organisation who run cooking and nutrition sessions – www.cookado.org
• Honeycroft Extended Schools Services – a charity providing various services for children including a breakfast club, lunch time pick up, an after school club and a holiday club. For more info. phone 01273 220323
• Brighton & Hove Drug and Alcohol Action Team – who work with local communities to identify and address drug-related problems which have a negative impact on residents’ lives. Contact Becky Wilkinson, the Neighbourhood Liaison Officer – becky.wilkinson@brighton-hove.gov.uk
• Hove Naturally – A collective of healthy lifestyle therapists in Poet’s Corner – www.hovenaturally.com

As always, if I can be of any help at all, please get in touch - brian.oxley1@mac.com

Groyne update!

You may recall me posting back in December that there was going to have to be quite extensive rebuilding work on a section of the damaged groyne opposite Berriedale Ave.

I am pleased to say that officers have now fully investigated the extent of the necessary repairs and they do not need to be as extensive as first thought.

It is now intended to rebuild the end of the concrete groyne in timber. However it was pointed out that this would look rather odd so concrete will now be used to underpin and support the groyne so that its appearance will change very little.

Officers have also been successful in securing money from the Environment Agency for this work which it is hoped will be carried out on the next spring tide.

Thanks to all concerned!

New Report a Problem page

Although I normally add my email address to the end of my blog posts, I thought I would include a 'Report a Problem' page on my Council web pages.

To access this new facility, follow this link: Report a Problem

My email address is: brian.oxley1@mac.com

Pembroke Gardens/New Church Road

Denise and I recently undertook a door-to-door consultation with residents in the Pembroke Crescent, Gardens and Avenue area of Westbourne Ward to gauge their opinion on Council plans to narrow the junction of Pembroke Gardens and New Church Road. One proposal had a pedestrian refuge and one did not.

On balance residents mainly felt that road narrowing was not appropriate for this junction but would welcome a refuge. I have passed these comments on to Council officers and I am awaiting confirmation that the refuge only option can be actioned.

If you want to contact me about this or any other issue, please email me by following this link: brian.oxley1@mac.com

Sackville Hotel Site

The site where the Sackville Hotel collapsed some years ago still remains untouched and with the credit crunch and recession seemingly worsening, I believe it is likely to remain that way for a while.

However, residents have complained to me that litter, including some large objects, are starting to appear on the site, even though it is fenced.

Therefore, I have asked that the site is cleared to keep it clean and tidy.

Sticks and Stonehams!

The Council has organised an event in Stoneham Park this Saturday (28th Feb.) called Sticks and Stonehams. Gardeners and park rangers will be organising a range of activities including: shrub planting around the park, erecting a natural fence to protect young plants and repairing the existing "dead hedge".

The activities are being tailored for both adults and children so all are welcome. Just bring yourselves, tough footwear and warm clothing. Further information can be obtained from Cityparks - parks@brighton-hove.gov.uk or 01273 292929

Fly-tipping in St. Patrick's Road

Whilst walking in Poet’s Corner recently I noticed that there was a large amount of Fly-tipping around the parking meter, near Hove Methodist Church.

I have immediately taken this up and have asked the council to clear it as soon as possible.

If I can be of any further assistance on this any other issue please don’t hesitate to email me on by following this link – brian.oxley1@mac.com

Older People's Council Meets In Westbourne Ward

I had the opportunity on Wednesday to attend a meeting of the Older People's Council (OPC) which was meeting at St Philips Church Hall in Westbourne Ward.

This body, which is directly elected and takes up issues on behalf of older people in Brighton and Hove, is holding a series of meetings around the city so that people can observe its deliberations and make comments.

Because of other commitments, I arrived after the coffee break but was able to take part in discussions about licensing, refuse collection and housing.

The body discussed its future work programme, which will include health issues affecting older people, the availability of wardens in sheltered housing schemes, the need for "green" waste collections and the impact of communal bins on older people.

I wish the OPC well in its future work.

Sackville Place, Hove

Some months ago the Council’s Planning Applications Committee rejected propsals to re-develop the Sackville Trading Estate at the northern end of Sackville Road.  Homes, business units and a supermarket were planned along with a new public square and underground car parking.

Although not in Westbourne Ward, I have taken an interest in the development proposals as they may have an impact on the Ward as the site is so close.

The plans for the site have now been revised in the light of the Planning Committee’s comments and these can be reviewed by the following this link: http://www.sackvilleplace.co.uk/

If you follow the ‘contact’ link you can comment on the changes.

If you want to contact me on this or any other issue, please email me as follows: brian.oxley1@mac.com

Ward Action Day - Thank you!

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who helped out at the Westbourne Ward action day on Saturday.

Denise and I plus a good turnout of residents joined with the City Council Graffiti Team and City Clean Street Cleansing crews to clean up the Ward.

The Graffiti Team painted out all of the graffiti which we identified in a ward walk last December, and we also promoted the Council’s ‘adopt a box’ scheme which aims to get residents involved in keeping communications boxes outside their homes free of graffiti. Residents accompanied City Clean staff clearing litter and flytipping from the ward, and the councils Environment Improvement Team worked with volunteers to carry out Street Audits in the area to pick up on any other problems.

Additionally Network Rail cleared an area of land adjacent to Aldrington Station, and Police and PCSO’s joined forces with the Seafront Team to patrol the seafront addressing issues of antisocial behaviour and cycling on the promenade.

All concerned thought that it was a huge success and we hope that this is something we will be able to repeat in the future.

Works to Hove Museum

I have been informed by officers at the Council that a project to repair and redecorate the windows and surrounds at the front of Hove Museum is to start soon.  Scaffolding has been put up in readiness for the work which will also include the side windows around the tea room.

Some of the ground floor window frames and surrounds will need to be replaced as they are beyond repair.  Until investigatory work can been carried out it is not known exactly how bad the windows on the first floor and above are.  The contractors are now waiting for an improvement in the weather before the work can begin.

I will keep you updated on any further developments.

Ward surgery - this Wednesday!

Just a quick reminder that Denise and I will be holding the second of our monthly ward surgeries this Wednesday 11th February between 5-6.30pm at Hove Museum.

No appointments necessary.

Ward Action Day reminder - this Saturday!

Just a quick last minute reminder that the Westbourne Ward Action Day is taking place this Saturday (7th Feb.) and we are still looking for volunteers!

The Action Day is all about the local community and public services coming together to try and make a real difference to the appearance and smooth running of the neighbourhood. As well as having a general clear up on the day, we will also be seeking to recruit local volunteers to act as the eyes and ears of the community.

There will also be a meeting taking place (11am at St. Phillips Church) to try to resolve some of the issues around church parking. I am pleased to confirm that a council parking officer and a representative from N.C.P. will now be attending this meeting to answer queries.

If you would like more information, or if you would like to help out on the day then please get in touch - brian.oxley1@mac.com   or 01273 728955

February Ward Surgery Dates

Denise and I will be holding our regular two advice surgeries in February.  The first is on Saturday 7th and will be held at the TalkShop in Stoneham Park.  The time for this surgery is from 10am until 11am.

The second date is Wednesday 11th February at Hove Museum from 5pm until 6.30pm.  No appointments are necessary at either surgery.

In the meantime, if you want to contact me on this or any other matter, my email address is: brian.oxley1@mac.com

How can Portland Road be improved?

A joint project between residents, the City Council and local businesses has been set up to establish what environmental improvements are needed in the Portland Road area.

We are asking local businesses to get in touch and let us know if there are problems such as too much graffiti, too few bins, neglect of trees and plants or cracked and crumbling pavements.

If you have anything you wish to raise please let me know - brian.oxley1@mac.com

Volunteers needed!

We are looking for volunteers to help out on the ward action day that is being organised for Westbourne on 7th February 2009. The action day is all about the local community and public services coming together to try and make a real difference to the appearance and smooth running of the neighbourhood. The Fire and Police services have already confirmed that they will be attending and we are hoping that many others will join them.

As well as having a general clear up on the day, we will also be seeking to recruit local volunteers to act as the eyes and ears of the community. The idea is that they will pick up on anything that the Council has missed, such as graffiti and street litter and report them directly to the Council to deal with.

If you would like more information about the day or how you can become a volunteer, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch – brian.oxley1@mac.com or phone 01273 728955

New one-stop shop for accessing adult social services

Shortly before Christmas I was lucky enough to be shown around the Council’s new Adult Social Care Access Point in Bartholomew Square, Brighton. This is an excellent new facility which provides a single point of contact for new and existing users of the Council’s social care services, such as home care, day care and provision of daily living equipment.

The Access Point team provide advice and information to enable people to get the support they need and they also carry out basic initial assessments over the phone. People whose needs prove to be more complex may then be referred to a specialist team who will carry out a more detailed assessment, usually face-to-face in the home.

I know that trying to get help from the whole network of organisations that operate in this area can often be a daunting experience for people who are often in a vulnerable and frightening situation. I’m confident that this new facility will take a lot of the stress and worry out of the process.

Access Point can be contacted on 01273 295555 or accesspoint@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Westbourne Ward surgery dates - January

Denise and I will be holding our regular two advice surgeries in January.  The first is on Saturday 3rd and will be held at the TalkShop in Stoneham Park.  The time for this surgery is from 10am until 11am.

The second date is Wednesday 14th January at Hove Museum from 5pm until 6.30pm.  No appointments are necessary at either surgery.

In the meantime, if you want to contact me on this or any other matter, my email address is: brian.oxley1@mac.com

Maintaining Hove seafront

Following a complaint from a local resident about the state of the seafront in the Ward I have had a response from a council officer about some of the actions they are taking to remedy the situation. The officer raises the following points:

·      Since the seafront shelters were refurbished a couple of months ago, they have experienced an unusually high level of vandalism. Many of the panes of glass have had to be replaced with Perspex and even this has been damaged. The seafront officers who patrol the area every day and carry out daily inspections have informed me that the broken panels have had to be removed and that they are currently investigating alternative materials to see if there is another option as the cost of ongoing repair and replacement is very expensive.

·      A bid for funding to repaint the shelters next season is now being given due consideration. Although these shelters were only refurbished very recently the harsh sea elements and the very exposed location means that the rust from the caste iron ‘bleeds’ through the paint work and makes them look as if they are in a far worse condition than they actually are.

·      Each year a section of the seafront railings are thoroughly stripped back to the metal, treated and repainted but the budget allocation to do this is limited so there is also a team of people whose job it is to just paint the railings. This team has been working their way along the seafront in Brighton in an effort to improve the appearance of the area until such time as the next section is due for a more thorough make over. The council is looking to increase the amount of work carried out to railings as part of next seasons planned maintenance programme for the seafront.

I will make sure residents are kept informed of any developments as and when I hear from officers again.

Talk the Talk and Walk the Ward

Last Thursday, Denise and I, with a number of council officers and the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Team, walked around Westbourne Ward as part of the preparations for the Ward Action Day (on the 7 February) which I have written about previously on this blog.

During the walkabout, which took around 90 minutes the following issues were identified: 

·      Graffiti on street boxes and private property

·      The poor state of some elements of the seafront

·      blocked drains which flood during heavy rain

·      the problem of tree roots disrupting pavement surfaces

·      the need for a new approach to Portland Road

·      the need to clear railway land to the south of Aldington Halt Station

Officers of the Council will now go way to consider these issues and will come up with a programme of works ready for the Action Day and beyond.

In addition, to the walk around the Ward, I also spoke, that afternoon, to the Environment Cabinet Member Meeting to discuss the need for resurfacing of the pavement and road in Portland Road.  The road is patched in numerous places, the pavement is quite uneven and no real public sector expenditure has taken place in this major east west corridor at the western end of  Hove for many years.  In addition, there is also a lot of support for a remarketing or re-branding of Portland Road to attract shoppers from not only the nearby neighbourhood but also from further afield.  Portland Road has a number of speciality shops which cater for people both within the West Hove area and beyond. 

I also said at the Cabinet Member Meeting that in fact the road has two main sets of users - not only local people using it for shopping etc. but also as a major artery to the western end of the city. 

In response, I received the following message from the Cabinet Member, Councillor Theobald:

I understand that you have been contacted by residents who feel that the area would benefit from Portland Road being resurfaced and as you have already discussed the potential of improvements with officers.

I have asked officers to consider Portland Road for inclusion in a future Highways Maintenance Programme if funding can be identified for these works.  I have also asked officers to contact you in order to address the detailed sites and the areas that are currently of concern to you.

I shall be discussing this issue further with officers and representatives of the Portland and Clarendon Forum and will report back in due course.

As part of the Ward Action Day, I am also hoping to arrange a “Parking Surgery” for local churches who are experiencing problems during their services with the parking arrangements that are now in place.

If you would like to get involved with the Westbourne Action Day, on the 7 February, please don’t hesitate to email me on brian.oxley1@mac.com. 

I look forward to hearing from you!

Groyne trouble!

During recent maintenance work, council officers discovered that the concrete groyne opposite Berriedale Avenue has been undermined and is in need of partial replacement. To fix it, the last 20 metres of the groyne will need to be removed and replaced with a timber groyne. They are hoping that the work will be able to be carried out in March next year but it is reliant on a successful application for funding to the Environment Agency. I will keep you posted on any developments.

Westbourne Ward Action Day

I am pleased to announce that a ward action day is being organised for Westbourne on 7th February 2009. This is all about the local community and public services coming together to try and make a real difference to the appearance and smooth running of the neighbourhood. The Fire and Police services have already confirmed that they will be attending and we are hoping that many others will join them.

As well as having a general clear up on the day, we will also be seeking to recruit local residents to act as the eyes and ears of the community. The idea is that local people will pick up on anything that the Council has missed, such as graffiti and street litter and report them directly to the Council to deal with or to me and Denise, my Ward colleague.

I will post further details of the day closer to the time but in the meantime, if you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch – brian.oxley1@mac.com

Ward surgery 10th December

Denise and I will be holding an Advice Surgery on Wednesday 10th December at Hove Museum from 5pm until 6.30pm.  As always, no appointments are necessary. We are hoping that the local Police Community Support Officer will be able to attend to offer advice.

In the meantime, if you want to contact me on this or any other matter, my email address is: brian.oxley1@mac.com

Contact friends and family around the world!

I have been forwarded details of the following event which I thought residents might find interesting:

OPEN DAY AT FAMILY INVESTMENTS - Sat. 6th December at 17 West Street, Brighton. 10 am until 3pm

Family Investments is offering older people the opportunity to contact family, relatives and friends anywhere in the world from their premises in West Street. You are also invited to bring your Christmas cards to be posted courtesy of Family. You can also enjoy mince pie and refreshments whilst you are there. Age Concern will endeavour to provide transport if you have mobility difficulties.

Contact Age Concern on 01273 720603

Coordinating roadworks in the City

I was recently contacted by a local resident asking me how the Council coordinates roadworks across the City. I have received an extremely helpful reply from the Councils Head of Sustainable Transport which I think is worthwhile reproducing here, more or less in full, as it explains what the Council can and can't do in this regard:

"Many of the roadworks within the city are carried out by statutory undertakers replacing or upgrading their plant, rather than being directly carried out by the City Council. All these statutory undertakers have a right to work in the public highway to maintain their plant and equipment.  We have a duty under the Traffic Management Act to manage our highway network and we therefore work closely with these statutory undertakers and their contractors to minimise disruption and delays. However, ultimately we have no powers to direct when or how the companies carry out their works.
For larger schemes and more long-term works, the City Council holds quarterly coordination meetings with representatives from all the utility companies. This meeting takes into account all the works to be carried out  and resolves any potential clashes.  It also identifies opportunities for joint working (when two or more works required in the same location can be carried out at the same time, thus reducing the number of disruptions).  The Council is keen to promote such joint working and there have been several successful projects carried out in the last couple of years, particularly in the city centre where Southern Water and Southern Gas Networks have worked together to replace their mains. 
For any works to be carried out on the highway, the works promoter must submit a notice to the Council, which is to a standard format and in most cases is submitted electronically. The length of notice which has to be given depends on the type and duration of the works.  From these notices the Council's Streetworks Team are able to coordinate works across the network.  In addition to the roads where the works are to be carried out, the effects on any roads used as a diversion route also have to be taken into account.
The Traffic Management Act has recently extended the length of notice required for 'major works' to three months. This has greatly improved the scope for coordinating such works and compliments the coordination meeting process outlined above. Other types of works still require notices to be submitted but have shorter lead-in times, for instance Minor Works (works of not more than three days duration) require three days' notice.  Whilst planned works can be coordinated, there are inevitably occasions when emergency works have to be undertaken, for example to repair leaks on water mains."

Future of the King Alfred

Councillor Denise Cobb and I will be sending out the following letter to Westbourne residents regarding the future of the King Alfred Leisure Centre site. If you have any queries, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us:

"We wanted to write to you to let you know that now we have passed the 9th November, the Council’s responsibilities, entered into by the previous Administration of the Council, regarding the proposed redevelopment of the King Alfred have lapsed.

This means the scheme as proposed with high-rise towers etc will not now go ahead.

As this watershed has passed, the Council will be undertaking some works which are needed in order to ensure the present sports centre can remain open. The Council Leader, our colleague, Councillor Mary Mears, will be taking a report about the long-term future of the sports centre to the Cabinet meeting on the 20th November.

We want to assure you that, as your ward Councillors, we will do everything within our powers to ensure that any future proposals that come forward are in-keeping with the area and the site.

As soon as we have any further information, we will be in touch again."

PCSO to attend Westbourne Ward surgeries

I am delighted to say that the new Police Community Support Officer for Westbourne – Alvin Lee – has kindly agreed to attend Ward surgeries with Denise and I to help with any problems you may have in respect of crime and anti-social behaviour in the community. This is a real step forward and shows the importance of the council and the police working together to tackle crime and disorder at a local level. Alvin is also happy to be contacted directly – his details are on the Sussex Police website

Ward Surgery Dates

Denise and I will be holding an Advice Surgery on Wednesday 12th November at Hove Museum from 5pm until 6.30pm.  No appointments are necessary.

In the meantime, if you want to contact me on this or any other matter, my email address is: brian.oxley1@mac.com

Western Bandstand Restoration Update

Installation of the solid hoarding has now been completed, with viewing windows positioned at strategic places around the perimter.  Excavation of the cafe seating area to the south of the Bandstand and the public realm areas to the east and west has started, and soil testing is currently being carried out to ensure no contamination is present.

Scaffolding has been erected around the Bandstand to enable safe access to the structure.  Timber work within the ceiling of the Bandstand has been removed which allowed the roofing contractor unrestricted views and access to the copper roof.  The roof and cast iron specialists have now dismantled the Bandstand piece by piece.  This process took 2 weeks. 

The roof and balustrades have been taken away to be restored under factory conditions.  On removing the columns it was discovered that the base of the Bandstand was constructed of concrete and steel and not timber as had first been assumed.  Due to the design of the steel frame which was found to be resting on the columns it was necessary to remove the entire floor slab which will be replaced with a new lightweight timber structure.  Work is now underway to replace the floor and following which the internal conversion works can commence.

A dedicated "Bandstand" website on the Brighton & Hove Council website is now up and running and regular updates and photographs will be posted there to ensure everyone is kept informed of progress.

Take the train and bus with Plusbus!

Do you ever wish that you could buy just one ticket when taking a journey by public transport which involves both train and bus? Well, if you or your friends and family are travelling to Brighton & Hove you can now do just that courtesy of a new nationwide integrated ticketing system called Plusbus. Plusbus is a non-profit making partnership established and funded by Britain’s bus and train operating companies and Brighton & Hove Bus Company are taking part. For £2 per day you can add unlimited bus travel in the City to your train ticket. This sounds like a really good development to me and is something I shall certainly be making use of in future!

Join the children's Playbus!

I am happy to publicise the excellent (and free!) Playbus activity afternoons for children aged 8-11 which are being run by run by Brighton & Hove City Council’s Children & Young People’s Trust. The activities available (which are chosen by the kids themselves on the day) include games, toys, using play equipment, balls, parachutes, art materials and music.

Sessions in this area will be taking place at Stoneham Park on 21st October, 4th November, 18th November and 2nd December between 3.30 and 5pm.

Repairing ceramic street name tiles

I have written to the Council’s Environment Director asking if it is possible for some action to be taken over the poor state of repair of many of the distinctive ceramic street name tiles in Poet’s Corner.

These tiles adorn many street corner private residences in the area and, over the years, have become damaged, painted over or generally neglected. It would be a great shame, in my view, if these attractive features were simply left to deteriorate further, as they make a unique contribution to the heritage of the City.

I will keep you informed of any progress I make with this.

Action on telecomms. box graffiti

Walking around the Ward last weekend I came across some more graffiti problems, again, mainly on street boxes. This time it is on the western end of Suffolk Street, the northern side of New Church Road (near Richardson Road) and at Aldrington Halt Station. I have been assured by council officers that these will be cleared within the next couple of days and I will be checking to make sure this has been done.

On the subject of graffiti, I was pleased to see that the Council has teamed up with Virgin Media, who own 2,000 boxes in the City, to try and crack this problem once and for all. Community groups, organisations and individuals are being encouraged to ‘adopt’ their local boxes and keep them free from graffiti, thanks to Virgin Media providing the paint. Brighton & Hove Albion have already pledged their support by adopting 4 boxes near the Withdean Stadium and I hope many others will follow suit. This is exactly the sort of innovative scheme that we need if we are going to get to grips with this seemingly intractable problem.

Hove Museum temporary closure

I have received an e-mail from council officers informing me that Southern Water will be carrying out essential maintenance works at Hove Museum on Tuesday 14 October which will entail turning off the water supply between 10am -3.30pm. Unfortunately, this will mean that the museum will have to be closed the for the day.

Westbourne ward surgery dates

Denise and I will be holding our regular two Advice Surgeries in October.  The first is on Saturday 4th and will be held at the TalkShop in Stoneham Park.  The time for this surgery is from 10am until 11am.

The second date is Wednesday 8th October at Hove Museum from 5pm until 6.30pm.  No appointments are necessary at either surgery.

In the meantime, if you want to contact me on this or any other matter, my email address is: brian.oxley1@mac.com

Improved bus services in Westbourne

I am delighted to report that from September 28th there will be increased frequency of some bus services run by Brighton & Hove Bus Company serving the ward. These are:

• No. 1 & 6 routes, which serve New Church Road;
• No. 2 & 49 routes, which serve Portland Road;
• No. 5, which travels along the Sackville Road boundary of the ward.

Further details can be found on the Brighton & Hove Bus Company website.

Furthermore, I met recently with the manager of the Bus Company, Roger French, and I raised with him the concerns that have been expressed to me by residents over the lack of a convenient bus route serving all parts of Hove and east-west along the seafront. Roger pointed out to me that the 11x service travels this route, leaving from Hove Town Hall and terminating at the Thistle Hotel on the seafront. The 11x operates Monday to Friday every half hour. Please do make use of this service!

Tree problems update

Further to my blog entry on 21st August on the various tree issues in Pembroke Crescent, I have received the following information from officers:

1) The Council's arboriculturalists will shortly be reinspecting the offending trees and will tend to any sucker growth that is obstructing the public highways.

2) The Council's street cleaners have recently swept up the fallen leaves

3) The elm tree that had to be felled in the grounds of Hove Museum is to be replaced during the next planting season - i.e. autumn/winter.

If anyone has any other problems with trees please get in touch and I will ask council officers to look into it - brian.oxley1@mac.com

Gala Bingo Hall site - GP relocation proposals

Brighton & Hove Primary Care Trust are holding a public meeting on Tuesday 16th September to obtain views from patients and the wider public on their proposals to relocate the Sackville Road and Central Hove GP surgeries to the Gala Bingo Hall site on Portland Road, Hove. The meeting will take place between 6.30-8pm at West Hove Junior School. I would urge anyone who has an interest in this proposal to go along and make their views known.

Ward Surgery Dates

Denise and I will be holding our regular two Advice Surgeries in September.  The first is on Saturday 6th and will be held at the TalkShop in Stoneham Park.  The time for this surgery is from 10am until 11am.

The second date is Wednesday 10th September at the Hove Museum from 5pm until 6.30pm.  No appointments are necessary at either surgery.

In the meantime, if you want to contact me on this or any other matter, my email address is: brian.oxley1@mac.com

Progress on Malvern Garage Site

As many readers may remember, in January a planning application for the Malvern Garage site in Montgomergy Street was turned down by Brighton & Hove City Council’s planning committee, on the grounds that the proposed flats would have been an overdevelopment of the site. There was no appeal against this decision by the applicants and, to date, no new applications have been received.

However, I understand from council officers that a new application is currently being put together by the owners. Whilst Council officers have received no details at this stage, I am hoping that it will be submitted very soon

Until the site is developed it is very important that it isn’t allowed to deteriorate visually with rubbish dumping as happened when it first became vacant. Council officers I have spoken to are happy that this is not happening now and that it is all properly secured. The importance of keeping it this way has also been stressed to the site owners.

Tree problems

Whilst walking around Westbourne Ward over the weekend, I noticed that in Pembroke Crescent there were a number of street trees that were awaiting pruning. These trees have a lot of growth around the base and coming from the trunks, which needs to be trimmed back to keep the pavements clear.

There were also a number of fallen leaves (presumably due to the unseasonably strong winds we have been experiencing recently), which have not been cleared. These can lead to blocked drains and slippery pavements which we should try and avoid if at all possible.

I have asked officers in the Council’s Environment Directorate if they can attend to these matters as soon as possible.

And finally, I also noticed that a tree had been cut down in the grounds of Hove Museum. I think it is always a great shame when we lose a tree and so I have asked officers if there is any budget for replacing it.

Kingsway planning application - let the Council know what you think

The Council has received a planning application for 149-151 Kingsway (ref. BH2008/02107) which, if approved, would result in the demolition of the existing dwellings and the erection of 8 new apartments with associated parking and gardens.

The deadline for comments is Tuesday 26th August so, if you have an opinion either way, I would urge you to let the Council’s planners know. The plans can be viewed at Hove Town Hall between 8.45am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday or online (where you can also submit comments).

If you have any queries about the application or if you would like any advice on commenting, please e-mail me: brian.oxley1@mac.com

New traffic signals at Portland, Sackville and Blatchington Roads - what do you think?

I would be interested if you could let me know what you think regarding the new traffic signals at the junction of Portland, Sackville and Blatchington Roads.

The scheme has been designed by Council engineers to improve traffic flows and pedestrian safety. Under the previous traffic light phasing, when traffic was turning right out of Blatchington Road into Sackville Road they were stopped on a red signal. The new phasing should result in the full green light out of Blatchington Road continuing for traffic moving north in Sackville Road and turning left into Portland Road. Pedestrians should also benefit from the new set up as crossing will be made safer and easier.

I would be very grateful for your views on how you think it is working. If there are any problems, I can take them up with council officers at an early stage. Please e-mail on this, or any other issue at: brian.oxley1@mac.com

Poet's Corner Problems

I was in Poets’ Corner over the weekend and I came across a couple of problems:

1) The street sign on the south side of Montgomery Street, near its junction with Rutland Road is worn out.

2) There is quite extensive graffiti on a green box on the south side of Mortimer Road and also on the south approach to Aldrington Halt station.

I have asked officers in the Environment Directorate of the Council if these two issues can be sorted out.

Graffiti seems to be an ever-present issue on our streets even though the Council actively removes it from street furniture, signs and council-owned bus shelters. Unfortunately, there aren’t the resources to remove it from private property but racist or offensive graffiti is removed within one hour wherever possible. You can find further information on all of this on the Council’s web site.

Update:- I have now been assured by officers that an order has been raised for the street name plate on Montgomery Street and that the work will be completed by 8th September.

Update:- I have also been assured that the graffiti will be removed in the next couple of days. Many thanks to officers for a swift response to both of these.

Langdale Gardens Street Party

At the weekend I was lucky enough to be invited to attend a street party in Langdale Gardens. These parties are becoming something of a tradition for the residents and have helped to foster a great community spirit in the road. The day itself was a great success with activities including a quiz, craft stalls and a live band. There must have been over 100 people in the street when I attended and the children appeared to be having a wonderful time! The Mayor of Brighton & Hove – Garry Peltzer Dunn – was also able to attend and had lunch with the residents.

I would like to thank all the organisers for their hard work in putting on this event and for being kind enough to ask me to attend.

Green box telecoms. wires exposed

Whilst I was walking in the Ward over the weekend I discovered a couple of green boxes (which house telecommunication wires), that have had their fronts removed exposing all the wires inside. One was on New Church Road near Westbourne Gardens and the other was in Pembroke Gardens. I have contacted the appropriate authorities and now hopefully this potential hazard will be sorted out. I also came across a street sign for New Church Road that had been detached by vandals. Again, I have asked that this be sorted out as a matter of urgency.

Do you have feedback on my blog?

I have been writing this blog for approximately 18 months now and I try to include non-political information which draws attention to issues that I am either dealing with within the Westbourne Ward or matters that I have recently been involved with e.g. the 100th Birthday of Hove Library.

I don't get a great deal of feedback from the blog directly to me and I wondered whether, if you do read the blog regularly, you could let me know what information you might find useful or whether the mix of surgery dates, ward issues, and other issues is the right mix.

Please email me at brian.oxley1@mac.com.  I look forward to hearing from you. 

Conway Court and West Hove Childrens' Centre

I recently attended a meeting of the Portland and Clarendon Forum and an item was raised drawing attention to all the services that are being provided at the Conway Court and West Hove Childrens' Centre.  I hope this information is helpful.

If you wish to contact me on this or any other issue, please email me at: brian.oxley1@mac.com

Hove Library 100th birthday

I had the opportunity this past Tuesday to attend one of the events to mark the 100th Anniversary of the opening of Hove Library.

The Library is important to so many people and I use it most weeks to have a look through the periodicals section and to borrow CDs.

The event took place in the morning and the Mayor and Mayoress were in attendance.  A large number of library users were present and all the staff took part in costume from the early 20th Century.  At 11am, following a speech from the Mayor, a magnificent cake was brought forward, it depicted two books, one on top of the other.

The Mayor was ceremoniously presented with a knife to cut the cake and pieces were handed round to those present.

A further ceremony was to take place in the evening.

Happy Birthday Hove Library!