7 Days of Headlines with Phil Mills
Brighton Station plans, litter on the beach, crime news, and Russell Brand’s run in with the police
Fat dogs and lazy people – the news has been dominated by bad behaviour.
Lazy sunbathers turned Brighton and Hove beaches into a “landfill rubbish dump”, and the mess has angered Hove MP Mike Weatherby. He blamed care-less attitudes and demanded: “Take your rubbish back with you.”
Dax, ‘the fat Staff’, meanwhile, has lost a stone since being taken into care by city welfare officers after Brighton magistrates ordered she be re-homed because her owner was overfeeding her. Officers found the dog weighed four stone, the same as a young child. Dax is now down to nearly three stone and may be permanently re-housed unless her owner can convince JPs she’ll keep her dog on a diet.
A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of leaving the scene of an accident on the Kings Road, Brighton, where a 29-year-woman was seriously injured. He has also been charged with burglary at a flooring shop in Portslade and with stealing a car.
Police returned to Brighton’s Whitehawk estate to raise awareness over missing Nellie Herriott, 96, who disappeared three months ago after getting off a bus in Whitehawk Road. They urged people to check gardens and out-buildings. Det Sgt Duncan Elliott said: “Nellie is a very independent persioner and enjoys travelling around Brighton – she was a regular customer at the British Home Stores café in Churchill Square.” Anyone with information should call police on 101.
Police are appealing for information on two men in relation to burglaries: Oliver Hall, 21, and wanted for questioning about burglaries in Ditching, and Alex Kilby, 18, who is wanted in relation to a burglary in Peacehaven.
Brighton’s top cop, Chief Supt Graham Bartlett, met comedian and former heroin addict Russell Brand for a TV documentary on Operation Recovery, the city partnership campaign to disrupt dealing and abuse. Mr Bartlett found the comedian “funny and charismatic”. What do you think? Email comment@thelatest.co.uk
On to more flavoursome news, a big Argentinian wine estate is bringing its bouquettes to Brighton at a tasting and dinner hosted by local merchant Karl Elwood on 20 September at Blanch House in Atlingworth Street. Diego Surazasky, the company’s expert chief will talk to guests about the wines and their histories. To attend go to: www.elwoodwines.co.uk
In other news, there was a Legionnaires disease scare at the King Alfred but no risk to the public; there was a lucky escape for three barmen who had to leap from the path of a runaway car in Eastern Road, Brighton; and £5 million redevelopment plans for Brighton Station involve knocking down the WH Smith store to create a large central concourse, getting rid of the timetable screen and creating more ticket gates and shops. The station plans are before the city council.
Brighton’s Jubilee Library is to change its opening hours and staying open for an hour longer until 5pm on Sundays as the demand for library services on Sundays remains high. The visitor numbers on Sundays build as the day progresses, with numbers still rising as the current 4pm closing time approaches. This extra hour will increase opportunities for families to visit the library together at the weekends, says the council.
And a proposal by the local Motorcycle Action Group to allow motorcycles to use two existing bus lanes on the A23 and A259 is being taken forward by the city council.
Lastly, a golfer at Hill Barn, Worthing, couldn’t believe his eyes when a crow landed on the controls of his electric buggy and drove a few yards and then pinched a banana from inside his bag. So much for birdies!