Brighton & Hove News in Brief
TWO BRIGHTON STREETS GIVEN BOOST WITH £130K INJECTION OF CASH
Improvements are promised for two Brighton streets – London Road and Preston Street. A joint bid by the London Road Local Action Team, traders, City College, the Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses and the council has been rewarded with £83,000.
The road is to become a Portas Pilot – named after retail guru Mary Portas – and was one of just 15 to be chosen for regeneration funding out of more than 400 applications. The London Road bid’s organisers said that the money would help tackle issues including empty shops, low wages and anti-social behaviour.
Among the early ideas for London Road are finding creative ways to fill empty shops such as an indoor market for new entrepreneurs and students to test their business plans and products. A subsidised security radio scheme could link shops to help them tackle shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. And training for retail staff could be made available, covering window dressing, shop displays or negotiating rent reviews.
In Preston Street work started last week to try to improve the road’s appearance and pedestrian links. The changes to the southern and northern ends of the street have been costed at £50,000. The council said that street lighting would be improved and the area would be decluttered and made more accessible for pedestrians.
VETS SPONSOR YOUNG FOOTBALLERS FOR THE FORTHCOMING SEASON
Grove Lodge Vets are the new shirt sponsors for Shoreham FC Under-8s. The Sussex-based veterinary group said that most children love animals or even look after their own pets so it made sense for the vets to want to support their local youngsters.
The independent veterinary group said that the deal for the coming season was to sponsor the Mussels’ Under-8s, who plays home games at the 120-year-old club’s Middle Road ground. It is the first time they have had a shirt sponsor.
Marc Abraham, a vet at Grove Lodge’s Southwick clinic and author of the children’s book Pets in Need, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be supporting our local community and sponsoring Shoreham FC’s Under-8s. Most local families own a pet, and educating pet owners is essential, so it’s an obvious and fun partnership.”
BLUE PETER GARDENER VISITS PUPILS TO HAND OUT ‘IN BLOOM’ AWARD
Chris Collins, the Blue Peter gardener, visited Ferring Church of England School before term ended to see what the children had been growing and to hand out awards. He presented them with their South and South East In Bloom award after they excelled in the Blooming Schools category sponsored by Southern Water. The children showed the TV presenter around the school grounds where he saw their vegetable patch. The school’s gardening club grows mainly vegetables, including tomatoes, pumpkins, chillies and potatoes, which they harvest and cook.
