North Laine Community Association

The North Laine Community Association (NLCA) is one of the older community associations in Brighton. lt was set up in 1976 when the area was under threat of a motorway and has been active in campaigning for the residents of the area ever since.

Together with the North Laine Traders Association it provides a vital and important link in the consultation process and has been involved in discussions about many of the major schemes that will affect this important and vibrant area, such as the Library site and the Station site.

Organisation 

The NLCA differs from many residents' associations in that it is totally democratic. Although there are Officers - Chair, Secretary and Treasurer - who fulfill the normal functions of those posts, the management of the NLCA is the monthly meeting held on the second Monday of each month (apart from April when the AGM is held and August when there is no meeting). There are no committees and the decisions are made by majority vote.

The meetings are advertised on posters in Street Reps windows and the association's newsletter, the North Laine Runner.

All residents of the North Laine are automatically members and are entitled to attend and vote. There are no membership fees or other requirements. Anyone else is welcome to attend and we often have individuals and organisations from surrounding areas who wish to consult with us, although they have no vote. We will not support any commercial organisation which might gain from an association with the NLCA.

We also have a system of Street Representatives who look after particular streets and deliver the North Laine Runner, and a number of people who represent the NLCA on various bodies [see NLCA Reps on Other Groups] .

What do we deal with?

Anything which concerns the residents of the area, for example: 

- Planning issues, whether major developments or small changes which will affect the area. 

- Rubbish and seagulls.

- Policing and crime.

We also have occasional social events, talks and fund-raising activities and we sometimes have groups affiliated to the Association (e.g. the Allotment Gardening Group) provided someone in the area wants to run them and there are no ethical problems or conflicts in relation to the aims of the NLCA.

Click here for current list of Coordinators. 

Last updated 2 Feb 05