Tim Ridgway’s latest news
DRUG CONSUMPTION
Plans for drug consumption rooms across Brighton and Hove have been dropped. The controversial policy to offer addicts a safe place to inject heroin was adopted as an idea by the Independent Drugs commission for Brighton and Hove 12 months ago.
But, after receiving opposition, the plan has now been dropped with advocates claiming it was due to legal and budgetary reasons.
However, Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas who set up the commission said she was pleased that the idea was at least discussed.
To see our report, visit www.thelatest.tv.
LONDON ROAD
Is the regeneration of Brighton’s London Road pushing antisocial behaviour elsewhere?
The last 18 months has seen money poured into the area to make it a place where people want to work, live, shop and relax.
But Brighton and Hove city councillors said there had been notable problems in the tower blocks on Eastern Road in the same period. Cllr Randall said the response from the police so far had not been up to the expected standard, but he was hoping to discuss the issue further in a meeting with city police chiefs.
GET RICH QUICK
A Brighton housing boss has hit back after a shipping container development for the homeless was dubbed a “get rich quick scheme”.
Working with QED Property, Brighton Housing Trust opened Richardson’s Yard in December after securing a five-year lease on a plot just off London Road.
But, after gaining access for a night, a reporter for online magazine Vice, claimed: “It’s less about rehabilitating long-term rough sleepers and more a get rich quick scheme providing a further shoe-in for urban redevelopment.”
But Brighton Housing Trust’s Chief Executive Andy Winter hit back and said: “I was more saddened by the article than angry. It took a number of cheap shots based on a lack of research, inaccuracies and sensational reporting.”
UKIP
Anti-fascist campaigners planning to picket a UK Independence Party (UKIP) meeting were told they were “writing their own suicide note”.
Speaking to The Latest, Nigel Carter, chairman of Brighton and Hove UKIP, said the gathering would be counter-productive as the more people protest the stronger support for the party gets.
The comments come before dozens of members of the UAF (Unite Against Fascism) group picketed the meeting at the Ralli Memorial Hall on Denmark Villas, Hove.
Top of the agenda for those who attended was the EU elections, which will take place on Thursday (22 May).
FIGHTING IT OUT
A village museum is fighting it out with some of the biggest names in the UK for the title of ‘best in the country’. Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft reopened at the end of 2013 following a £2.3m redevelopment.
“Anti-fascist campaigners were told they were “writing their own suicide note”…”
After receiving widespread acclaim, the museum has now been shortlisted for the prestigious Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year 2014.
It will now fight it out with museums including Tate Britain and The Mary Rose for the honour, and the £100,000 prize. The winner will be announced on 9 July.
BRIGHTON THEATRE GROUP
A Brighton couple who have run a youth theatre group for more than a decade have been invited to meet The Queen. Life-long monarchists Keith and Cally Shepherd devote much of their spare time to running Brighton Theatre Group Youth.
The couple, of Chatsworth Avenue in Telscombe Cliffs, were nominated by the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Peter Field, after he was impressed by productions of Miss Saigon and Les Misèrables at Brighton Dome Corn Exchange last year.
BRIGHTON BIG BALLS
Competitive souls juggled with gigantic balls as part of an endurance challenge with a difference. The aim of the second Brighton Big Balls race was not only to have fun, but to raise awareness and money for testicular and prostate cancer.
Latest TV’s Guy Lloyd was among those taking part. To see how he got on, visit www.thelatest.tv.
