News: Tim Ridgway
BEACH HUT HIKE
The cost of owning a beach hut in Brighton and Hove is set to become a rich man’s game.
For years they were a place where families could decamp and enjoy the good old British weather. But now, as cuts deepen, town hall bosses have unveiled plans for a hike in owning a beach hut.
The cost will increase by 50% in the next two years, which for the most expensive huts in Hove will take the annual charge from £928.86 in 2014/15 to £1,393.29 in 2016/17. In Saltdean and Rottingdean, the annual charge will rise from £541.25 to £811.88.
It means that owning one will be beyond most families.
THEATRE SUCCESS 1
Save Our Hippodrome campaigners are celebrating after plans to convert Brighton’s Hippodrome into a cinema multiplex have been shelved.
Developers got permission to redevelop the run down and vacant listed building months ago. But the proposal was halted following a decision by cinema operator Vue to pull out of the scheme.
It sparked celebration from the thousands who had signed a petition calling for the venue to be preserved as a place for live performance.
Now, the hard work begins …
THEATRE SUCCESS 2
On to more good news for theatre fanatics as work has started on Brighton’s Open Air Theatre this weekend.
The theatre, on Dyke Park Road, is being built in memory of Adrian Bunting who had always hoped for an open air theatre in Brighton. Sadly he died of pancreatic cancer last year aged just 47.
Following his death, his friends took up the challenge and raised tens of thousands of pounds to make his dream come true.
It’s hoped that the theatre will host its first play this May.
HOUSING PROTEST
Dozens of campaigners protested outside Hove Town Hall last week as councillors agreed to increase rents for 12,000 council tenants.
The rise is not massive – 2.2% – and it will lead to a £100 million investment in housing across the city. However for those on a limited or no income it will bite into their weekly
spending money.
Campaigners claim that a “living rent” should be introduced – about £550 a month – rather than the current rate which can be nearly double that.
FESTIVAL GO-AHEAD
The big news out west this week is that the 35,000 capacity festival planned for Shoreham Airport has been given the go-ahead.
The organisers behind the V Festival believe the event would be a massive boost to the town – although the name “Worthing Weekender” has caused a great deal of offence.
Many locals were further upset at the planned disruption such a big event would cause. For this reason it took nearly ten hours of discussion and further days of deliberating before Adur’s licensing panel gave it the go ahead.
It’s hoped the 90-plus conditions on the licence will be enough to ease residents’ fears.
ALL ABOARD!
It’s a tiny bus making a big difference. This little wooden bus is one of a fleet of four that will deliver books to the lucky children at Mile Oak Primary School this week.
As part of its revamp it has been painted in Brighton and Hove Bus livery, given working lights and a display board.
Latest TV’s Ceirney Eddie got on board.
INSPIRATION TO ALL
When Caroline Botterill beat cancer there was only one thing she wanted to do – open her own business.
The mother-of-three who lives in Worthing celebrated 18 months in remission with the opening of Sparkle Hair & Nails. And among the plans are to offer pamper days for those batting cancer.
For more on this inspirational tale, visit www.thelatest.tv.
