Tim Ridgway’s Latest News
This week’s headlines from across the city
HAPPY VALLEY
Bus users, motorists, cyclists and walkers are all set to benefit after Brighton and Hove City Council backed £10 million plans to revamp Valley Gardens.
According to council chiefs, the area stretching from St Peter’s Church to the seafront is in “a terrible tangle”.
Bosses want to change the road layout and improve the surrounding park area, making it simpler to get around and more attractive to pass through.
Greens and Tories supported the plan, which is claimed will bring £39 million of benefits – but Labour councillors disagreed with the calculations.
The business case will now be presented to the Local Enterprise Partnership in the hope of winning £8 million of funding.
UNDER-FIRE COUNCILLOR
A Green councillor is under investigation after labelling Armed Forces personnel “hired killers”.
Ben Duncan, who represents Queens Park on Brighton and Hove City Council, wrote the comments on Twitter as thousands lined the city streets for Armed Forces Day.
After receiving pressure from within his own party and beyond, Cllr Duncan apologised. An internal investigation has also been established.
A petition calling for his resignation received more than 800 signatures in a matter of hours while Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, called for him to leave the party.
VIEW TO THE FUTURE
Demolition work at Brighton’s West Pier site finished last week ahead of the construction of the i360 observation tower.
Workers have spent the last month clearing part of the platform from the former Victorian attraction.
With the area now clear, contractors from the i360 will move in with the first phase involving the construction of the access road.
The £46.2 million attraction, which will be 160 metres tall, is set to open in summer 2016.
Developers Marks Barfield have confirmed that as well as the tower, the site will include a conference centre and restaurant.
PORTSLADE MUSEUM
Campaigners are coming together in an attempt to preserve the old police station in Portslade as a museum.
The building on St Andrew’s Road was built in 1908 but sat empty for years.
After being used as a storage centre by Brighton and Hove City Council, the local authority wanted to convert the building into social housing.
But campaigners maintain the building, which still has the original cells in place, is worth preserving as a resource centre for the whole community.
To see our report, visit www.thelatest.tv.
SPEND A PENNY IN SEAFRONT TOILETS
Visitors to Brighton seafront wanting to spend a penny will be asked to find 30p for the privilege.
Brighton and Hove City Council opened the new facilities at the West Pier arches last week.
But to cover the cost at a time of budget cuts, the local authority said a 30p charge was necessary to cover the costs of a toilet attendant during the busy summer months.
Some might just tell them to pull the other one …
“SAVE OUR CHURCH”
Campaigners are looking for support in preserving a historic Hove church amid fears it will close.
St Leonard’s Aldrington has stood on its site on New Church Road, Hove, since the 13th century.
But with church attendance on the decline, those running it have approached the Diocese of Chichester asking for it to host a consultation on whether it should remain in use.
With no guarantees it will remain open, locals have started a petition to try and save it.
MEDIEVAL HOUSE
Pupils at Moulsecoomb Primary School will be able to take a trip back in time after the completion of its medieval house.
The building on the school grounds has taken months to complete and will be used as an educational tool.
To see our report, visit www.thelatest.tv.
SEAGULLS FLYING HIGH
Brighton and Hove Albion topped the table for attendance in the Football League in the 2013-14 season with an average crowd of 27,110 at the American Express Community Stadium.
The Seagulls also had the highest number of total admissions – 623,522 – and season ticket sales – 23,175 – in the league last season.
The club’s chief executive Paul Barber said that he was delighted with the figures and praised the loyalty of fans.
