7 Days of Headlines with Phil Mills
Motorcycle tragedies on the rise, plans to improve The Level & Murray Goodwin bids farewell
Bikers’ deaths on the roads dominated the news this past week. The family of 38-year-old Charlotte Tagg, a mother of three who died at the Brighton Speed Trials, paid tribute to a “unique woman”: “She lived a full, adventurous life on her own terms, and touched the lives of many with her sunshine and smiles.” Charlotte died in the sidecar of a black Honda Asco which crashed into a wall. The 61-year-old rider is critical but stable.
A motorcylist was killed and two other riders and a pillion passenger were seriously injured in separate collisions in Sussex. Chief Insp Phil Nicholas said: “Statistics for people killed or seriously injured on two wheels are consistently high – we are working with the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership to educate riders to keep them safe.”
During the ACE Café Reunion, covert and overt police motorcyclists issued 24 fixed penalties for speeding, antisocial riding and for riding with no insurance. The Partnership has developed the Stay A Hero campaign (www.StayAHero.co.uk) to raise awareness amongst bikers about how their actions affect everyone around them. For information see www.sussexsaferroads.gov.uk.
Police raided a house in Saltdean and found a drugs factory. They arrested two men and a woman after discovering 6,000 ecstasy pills, 360g of ecstasy powder, cocaine, a pill making machine, and several thousand pounds in cash. The men have been charged and remanded in custody and the woman has been bailed pending further inquiries.
Extra police are patrolling Brighton beach after a second rape. The latest victim, 19, was attacked between the Coalition nightclub and Regency Square by two, while a third watched. The incident followed another rape just weeks ago. Men with Eastern European accents are being sought but police are not certain the attacks are connected. There were calls for strikes against the Government austerity programme during the Trades Union Congress which met in Brighton for its annual gathering.
Elsewhere in the city, Katie Price was spotted with Argentine fiancé Leandro Penna holding hands as if answering back at rumours their romance was cooling off. There was a fond farewell at the Sussex County Cricket Ground when club stalwart Murray Goodwin bowed out. Meanwhile, community artists have been appointed to work with local people to create a new piece of artwork for The Level as part of a major restoration. The team includes Brighton-based designer and illustrator Sarah Arnett, landscape architect Tom Hardiment and manufacturer Graphic Relief Ltd. Work to transform the park begins next month.
In other news, the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership won £2,500 from the city council for its sustainable fish city initiative aimed at raising awareness to support sustainable practice with consumers and the fisheries industry.
Lastly, shoddy road surfaces and road works seem to be the bane of people’s lives lately. The bad news is – they’re going to get worse. The city council will be undertaking temporary repairs to North Street meaning the road will be closed from 7am, Tuesday 18 September until Wednesday 19 September. The council is liaising with bus companies to set up diversion routes.
