March 10th 2008 - meeting minutes

Loaves and Fishes sculpture by John Skelton, Brighthelm Church and Community Centre

Getting involved with B&H Open Door

Attendance

22 people attended.

Apologies

Cyril Mount, Ian Davey, Sara Bragg, Mark Erickson, Margaret Daly and Helen Cornish; also Bev Ditch, our invited speaker, was unable to attend due to the weather.

Matters arising from the last minutes

Apologies that leaflets about the George were not done.

Main topic: Brighton and Hove Open Door

Nick Tyson of the Regency Town House gave a presentation about Brighton and Hove Open Door. His main theme was to encourage local residents to get involved in the next European Heritage Day, which will be the second weekend of September (Thursday to Sunday). More details will be in the next Runner. Our thanks to Nick, who was invited to return to the June meeting.  

Licensing, planning and environment

-          The George: the NLCA will try to get music limited to 11.00 pm.

-          Will Boden of Over Street had a reply from the Council regarding his request to improve signage to direct pedestrians through the North Laine more sensibly, ie avoiding residential streets, although plans were somewhat vague.

-          There are no current plans for complete resurfacing of roads damaged by replacing water mains etc, but please report specific problems to the Council.

-          The NLCA will make no comment on plans for new roof plant equipment to Giraffe, Jubilee Street; single story rear extension to 12 Robert Street; change of use to spa, retail and café of Old Music Library, Church Street; additional door to 44 Trafalgar Street to separate existing maisonette from shop; or to removing glazing bars from windows to 20 Gardner Street.

-          The new frontage at the former Daisy Daisy, Sydney Street, had planning permission despite destroying a traditional shop front.

-          We will object to the folding doors at Giraffe, Unit 5, Jubilee Street.

-          We will object to loss of traditional shopfront and proposed folding doors to the Black Horse, Church Street.

-          We will object again to the ATM at 95 Trafalgar Street.

-          We will ask the Council to pay particular attention to the objection of local residents who will be particularly affected by the development at the corner of Portland Street and Church Street, even though it is now lower, smaller and within previously granted permission.

-          The proposed demolition of the Royal Alex hospital has been defeated.

Group reports

- Runner: collection on Friday 28th March.

- The Web Group (9 volunteers) continues to meet.

- The next Theatre Group visit is to "My Zinc Bed" by David Hare on 27th March. Book with Peter Crowhurst up to the 26th.

Any other business

- There are small grants (up to £250) available to encourage participation in the Festival of Sports from 28th June to 13th July.

- The meeting finished with a short discussion on the proposals to make North Street safer for pedestrians.