Tim Ridgway’s Latest News
VOLK’S REVAMP JUST THE TICKET
The world’s oldest operating electric railway is on track for an upgrade.
The Volk’s Railway, which runs on Brighton seafront, has been successful in its first-round bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund as it looks to complete a £1.5million refurbishment.
Following this initial success, Brighton and Hove City Council will use the development grant of £96,000 to draw up detailed plans to submit to the HLF for round two next year.
CARE HOME INTERVENTION
Plans to privatise some care homes for people with learning disabilities in Brighton and Hove have been shelved at the eleventh hour.
Experts at Brighton and Hove City Council believed the outsourcing proposal would lead to a better service, while saving £300,000 a year.
“Opponents claim the Greens have performed another U-turn”
But, despite the plans being on the table to discuss at a key town hall meeting last week, the minority Green administration deferred the report, claiming more time was needed to research the proposal.
Opponents claim the Greens have performed another U-turn by caving to pressure within the trade union movement and their own party.
PRIDE COUNTDOWN
The countdown to Pride is underway – with a ‘rainbow road crossing’ being unveiled on Brighton seafront as part of the celebrations to mark LGBT Pride month.
The artwork, which stretches across the road at the artists’ quarter of Madeira Drive, was painted over two days.
It was opened by Brighton artist and musician Heather Peace, who called the artwork: “A gift from me to anyone that embraces diversity.”
The parade and celebration will take place on Saturday August 2.
PEDAL POWER
Thousands of cyclists descended on Sussex as part of the annual London to Brighton Bike Ride this weekend.
Organised by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) some 30,000 riders took part in the event, which raised thousands of pounds for charity.
BOWLED OVER
Youngsters are set to get a new cricket academy. The Aldridge Foundation has submitted plans for a new building on land at Brighton Aldridge Community Academy in Moulsecoomb, Brighton.
The aim is to offer youngsters a different form of education while creating the leading cricketing academy in Sussex by 2020.
Brighton and Hove City Council expects to make a decision on the proposal in the coming months.
BOOT-IFUL GATHERING
Skinheads of all ages from around the world joined for a reunion on Brighton seafront. Clad in trademark Dr Martens boots, people gathered at the Volks in Madeira Drive for three days of reggae, ska, punk and 2 tone music.
Symond Lawes, organiser of The Great Skinhead Reunion, said: “It started off as a drink with a few mates four years ago, then I put it on the internet and it’s now worldwide, with people coming from Australia, North and South America, Scandinavia, and East and West Europe.”
WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH!
Britain’s first house made almost entirely of rubbish has opened its doors. The house in Grand Parade, Brighton, may look ordinary but its components are anything but. They include 19,800 toothbrushes, two tonnes of denim jeans, 4000 video cassettes and 2000 carpet tiles.
The aim of the University of Brighton project is to show how low-carbon homes can be built cheaply and quickly using waste, including surplus material from building sites.
To see our report, visit www.thelatest.tv
WATCH OUT FOR THE BIG SCREEN!
Brighton’s Big Screen returned to the seafront last week – just in time for the start of the World Cup. As well as a host of sporting events and films, viewers will also be able to catch a snapshot of what Latest TV will be offering when we go live on freeview Channel 8 next month. Don’t miss it!
