Tim Ridgway’s Latest news: Encore for Hippodrome?

Encore for Hippodrome?
Nearly 8,000 people have backed a petition to keep the Brighton Hippodrome as a live performance venue.

The Grade II* listed building in Middle Street, which has hosted The Beatles and Rolling stones, has been empty since 2007, when it was used as a bingo hall.

But, now that plans have been brought forward to convert the much-loved venue into a cinema, campaigners have rallied and believe there is an alternative.

The future of the Victorian building is due to be taken by Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning team next month.

Refreshing recovery
A driver who miraculously escaped almost unhurt after his car plunged 80ft off cliffs at Roedean joked to emergency staff that a can of Red Bull he had drunk must have given him wings.

The man was able to climb out of his Ford Focus and wait on the rocks at the bottom of the cliff after his car left the A259.

It cleared the undercliff path below to land in the sea, shortly after midnight on Saturday 12 April.

Crews from Brighton and Newhaven Lifeboat, Newhaven Coastguard, East Sussex Fire and Rescue and Sussex Police all attended the accident.

The man, who is from Worthing, was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital with minor injuries.

Within a day, he was released to recover at home.
To see our video report, visit www.thelatest.tv.

“The new bus and cycle lanes being laid along Edward Street should be open by October”

School’s parklife plans
A primary school has submitted revised plans for a smaller building on the site of a depot on the edge of Hove Park.

The oversubscribed Bilingual Primary School, based in temporary premises which it has outgrown in Falmer, wants to put up a two-storey building on land below the Engineerium.

Its original plans, withdrawn last year, were for a three-storey building.

The architects ECE said: “The new school will represent a significant investment in education provision in Brighton and Hove.”

Whether or not locals, who complained that the new build would damage the adjoining park, agree we shall have to wait and see.

A decision is due in the coming months.

Flower power
A sea of wild poppies will pop up and paint the town red this summer as Brighton and Hove marks the centenary of the Great War.

Brighton and Hove City Council’s parks staff are currently sowing hundreds of seeds on verges, parks and public places across the city.

The poppies are set to bloom in June and will be followed by other red flowers throughout the season.

Bus-y building
Just when motorists had calmed down following the construction of the Lewes Road bus lane, another one comes along.

The new £1 million bus and cycle lanes being laid along Edward Street in Brighton should be open by October, according to council officials.

Work is under way to create a shared bus, taxi and cycle lane on the southern side of Edward Street between Upper Rock Gardens and Pavilion Parade.

The bus, taxi and cycle lane will use one lane of the existing dual carriageway, leaving one lane for general traffic.
On the northern – or eastbound – side of Edward Street a new cycle lane will run inside one lane of mixed traffic.

With work taking place during the summer holidays, expect to see congestion in the area from July.

Grave plans
A Brighton church is looking to the future as it looks to extend its graveyard.

St Wulfran’s Church, a Grade I Listed building in Greenways, Ovingdean, wants permission to turn a 3,500sqm plot of agricultural land into a burial plot.

Some believe it will damage the area at the foot of the Downs while others believe it will lead to extra congestion in the village; but the planners do not agree.

The city council’s planning committee expect to give the proposal the go-ahead tomorrow (23 April).

Rising to the challenge
Famous females from stage and screen are lining up to get involved in End Of, a charity fundraiser against domestic violence.

Already confirmed for the event at Hove Centre on 29 April are Caitlin Moran, Suzanne Moore, Tamzin Outhwaite and Alison Moyet.