Brighton & Hove News in Brief
SHARE YOUR VIEWS ON PLANS TO MAKE THE SEVEN DIALS SAFER
The public are to be asked for their views on how to make the Seven Dials a safer place for people on the pavement and the road. A set of initial ideas will be on show next to the Dials from 7am until noon on Wednesday 10 October subject to the weather. The outdoor consultation will take place at the same spot on Dyke Road, south of the Dials, from 3pm to 8pm on Tuesday 30 October as well.
Two indoor events will be held at St Luke’s Church on Old Shoreham Road on Wednesday 17 October and Monday 22 October, both from 2pm to 8pm. The initial proposals were drawn up after a workshop in June with people living and working in the area.
The proposals include making the roundabout bigger to create more of an island and improving the street scene with benches, planters and better street lighting. Road changes include closing Vernon Terrace northbound to cut the volume of traffic entering the Dials and converting Bath Street to two-way to take some traffic away from the area. Zebra crossings would replace the current pedestrian crossings.
The council said that there have been 41 accidents at the Dials in the past five years, resulting in 44 casualties. Just over 40 per cent involved a cyclist and seven resulted in serious injuries.
STAGS AND HENS DEFENDED AS CHAMBER DEBATES NIGHT LIFE
The Chamber of Commerce Big Debate on Brighton’s night-time economy saw businesses catering for stag and hen parties fight their corner with some vigour. And the motion that the night-time economy was tarnishing Brighton’s brand was heavily defeated.
Michelle Stonehill, of Brighton Holiday Homes, took issue with the phrase “party houses”. She said that it was a damaging phrase for self-catering accommodation, adding: “They are not party houses. Please don’t call them that because it is very damaging. Our customers are in their 30s and 40s. They are civilised people. We should be proud of our reputation as a place that people love to visit.”
And Keith White, head of marketing at Hen Heaven and the Stag Company, said afterwards: “Hen Heaven and the Stag Company account for £2.3 million of the £4.5 million that the stag and hen industry inject into the night-time economy each year for Brighton. We help keep jobs in convenience stores, hotels, bars, restaurants, clubs, taxis, clothes shops, activity centres and cafés.
“Hen and stag groups do have a big contribution to the city. We bring new visitors into Brighton to sample the culture and nightlife. This later results in visitors coming back with family and friends. Repeat business is the golden jewel of the tourism industry.”
SWEEP BRUSHING UP ON BUSINESS IN MEMORY OF HIS DAUGHTER
Portslade chimney sweep David Ansell plans to donate a day’s earnings to the Teenage Cancer Trust in memory of his daughter. Beth Ansell was just 18 when she died in February from a rare form of cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma.
Mr Ansell said: “She underwent countless cycles of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she had a major operation to remove a tumour from her kidney and had to have a hip replacement operation as the cancer had spread to that area. Sadly the cancer returned and we were told that nothing more could be done so she volunteered herself for clinical trials of a new drug. Again this did not work and she died at home surrounded by her family.
“Beth’s goal was to raise £10,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust. The total now stands at £8,645. I’m going to donate a day’s takings for chimney sweeping on Monday 22 October. I will charge my normal fee for a standard sweep. If the customer wants to add more, they can. But it’s not obligatory.”
For more information, call 07724 148817 or visit www.davidthechimneysweep.co.uk
