In Brief
SKATE PARK FOR THE LEVEL GIVEN BACKING BY PLANNING OFFICIALS
A planning application for a sunken concrete skate park at The Level is due to be decided by Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee tomorrow (Wednesday 8 August). A report to councillors backs the plan for a skate park and associated landscaping, which would be to the north of Rose Walk.
The report says: “The existing skate park, which is sited to the south of Rose Walk, comprises high wooden structures which date from the 1970s, is an unsightly and poorly maintained element of The Level which detracts from the open space and harms the setting of the listed buildings in Richmond Terrace.”
The plans have attracted 70 letters of objection and 157 in support as well as a petition in favour signed by 182 people. The report addresses concerns about the loss of green space by saying more grass will be laid than lost if the skate park
is built.
The report goes on to say: “The proposed skate park would provide improved and enhanced skating facilities within the city while providing a better balance overall to the northern half of the park. The proposal, by virtue of design through use of sunken levels and low boundaries, would preserve the historic layout of The Level and would ensure that the traditional open space character is retained.”
INVENTOR TO HELP TEDx BRIGHTON CONFERENCE RETURN THIS AUTUMN
Marc Koska, the Sussex inventor of the non-reusable syringe, is to organise the second TEDx Brighton conference. The free conference will be held on Friday 26 October at the Corn Exchange when 300 people are expected to attend. Last year 100 people attended the first TEDx Brighton at the Sallis
Benney Theatre.
The all-day independently organised event is intended to offer a series of thought-provoking talks lasting from six to 18 minutes on the theme of the generation gap. It has been licensed by TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design), the organisation behind the global webcast conferences set up to share ideas worth spreading.
Mr Koska, who also set up the Safepoint Trust to educate health workers and the public about safe needle use, said: “TED is a very contemporary and unique forum and to bring it to Brighton in the form of a TEDx is a wonderful challenge. I am looking forward to help curate an amazing day on the theme of the ‘generation gap’ that will set a new standard in Brighton for vital conversations.”
STUDENTS LEAVE GEAR WORTH £4K TO HELP FUND WORK OF YMCA
Sussex University students left clothes and electrical goods worth more than £4,000 when they moved out of their campus rooms at the end of the summer term. The university and the Students’ Union have been working together to ensure as much is reused or recycled as possible, minimising the amount destined for landfill.
They gave 25 bags of clothes to Sussex Central YMCA as well as 60 electrical items. The charity aims to sell the goods in its charity shops. It said that the money could fund a week’s emergency accommodation for up to 24 homeless young people or training to help up to eight young people find jobs.
Students packing up for the summer holiday were asked to take their reusable items to designated areas. Becca Melhuish, from the Students’ Union, and Rachael Adari, the university’s support services manager, co-ordinated staff, students and other volunteers as they sorted the donations. Items that may be suitable for new students, such as books, CDs, DVDs and kitchenware, have been kept for a free shop for freshers in September.
