March 12th 2007 - meeting minutes

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

A poor report on London Road

Attendance

22 people  

Apologies

Mark Erickson, Kevin Daly, Emma Gardner, Roy Skam, Peter Stocker

Minutes

No matters arising

Reports

• Runner : collection date is Thursday 5th April.

• Traders : No traders' report as the meeting clashed with the North Laine Traders Association Annual General Meeting.

• Licensing : The Fountain Head, 101 North Road, has applied for longer hours to 1.30 on Fri and Sat. NLCA will object as this is noisy for neighbours.

• Community and Voluntary Sector Forum : Various NLCA members will attend a conference on 21st March.

• Theatre group : There will be outings during the Festival.

Talk

Nancy Lingning Zeng from the Chinese Centre gave a very interesting talk about the work of the centre, which is based in Queen's Road. Agreed to publish articles about it - and the 2008 New Year celebrations - in the Runner.

Local environment issues

Planning: the old Tindle Centre in Upper Gardner Street has applied for a change of use from community use (D1) to a baby swimming club and hydrotherapy. Agreed after discussion to object to this loss of community use, especially as the changes (building swimming pool) would negate future uses.

Lewes/London Road: Urban Initiatives have presented their report on proposals for improving this area. Those present who have read it felt it was poor and sketchy and that the consultants had not delivered value for the £100,000 cost of their services.  Agreed that Peter Crowhurst would write to complain about it.

City College: NLCA members attended presentations about possible redevelopment into a campus and three 4-storey buildings, knocking down Pelham Tower and old school buildings.  Key issues are the possible closure of Pelham Street to make the campus, provision for cycles and car parking. Cllr Sue Paskins remarked that it was important to keep Pelham Street as a public highway along with the democratic rights that go with it - these have been lost in eg the PFI-ed Jubilee Site, where recently Christopher Hawtree (library campaigner) was moved on from outside the library whilst seeking signatures about library facilities.

Other: Discussed exhibition about Church Street/Portland Street proposed development (Tuesday 20th March); and change in traffic regulations.

Fundraising

• Peter Crowhurst is applying for money for a new NLCA website under Awards for All, together with Jack Latimer of the mybrightonandhove website.  The meeting thanked him for this work.  Henry Law suggested that the site might carry advertisements.

Any other business

• Sara Bragg observed that the Pym's Gardens alley behind Orange Row, which should be a public right of way, is now gated. Action: Sue Paskins to investigate.

• Sue Paskins noted that recycling in most of North Laine will soon be weekly.

• Gabrielle Villermet reported that there will probably be a plaque commemorating Peggy Ramsay (theatrical agent), who lived at 34 Kensington Place.

• At the Annual General Meeting we will need a new treasurer.

• Gerry (new resident) thanked Sue Paskins for helping to arrange prompt removal of graffiti in Queen's Gardens.