Tag Archives: B&H Council

Environment

WHAT’s it all about?

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Waste, recycling, anti-social behaviour, Station Gateway, paving over front gardens…these are just some of the topics discussed at the last West Hill Action Team (WHAT) meeting held on 2nd July.

The WHAT is the Local Action Team, generally known at LATs. These were originally a local police initiative, designed to bring local people together, along with other agencies, including the council, so that everyone has an input into making their communities better and more neighbourly.
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Environment

Resident Parking Permits

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For many years the permit ratios in each zone have been held at a fairly low level. Several years ago we managed to get the ratio of 1:1.8 reduced to 1:1.2 but unfortunately the Council does not appear to have taken into account the amount of other permits issued for use on the same resident parking bays. Amongst these are Resident Visitor permits, Carers, Council vehicles, Window Cleaners, Scaffolders and, of course, Trader permits.

Now, the Council intends to issue unlimited amounts of trader permits at nearly double the price. This is very unfair as it will mean that the low ratio will rise to a much higher level. This, in turn, will mean fewer parking spaces for the resident permit holders. Although the trader permits are supposed to be limited to a 4pm use I can tell you that due to the lack of enforcement, the restricted use is rarely observed. I sympathise with tradesman needing to park close to their work but with unlimited permit issue the situation could become quite serious. I will be investigating the situation in greater depth and discussing it with the Council in the near future.
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Environment

Anomalies

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I attended a Transport Partnership meeting recently and asked that bus lanes be opened for use by cars after the 7pm peak period. This will be discussed at forthcoming meetings. A new group has joined us, the motorcycle group called MAG. They have asked to be able to use bus lanes at all times, along with cyclists. I disagree with use during peak periods: either we all get to use the lanes or no one other than the buses and taxis.
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Environment

Sheep May Safely Graze

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Sheep in St Nicholas Churchyard
Sheep in St Nicholas Churchyard

The ancient parish church of Brighton, St Nicholas, is dedicated to St Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra, patron saint of fishermen and sailors, children, pawnbrokers and Russia. A church with this dedication has been the centre of Christian worship in Brighton for the past nine hundred years and on Friday 24 September, for the first time in almost two hundred years, there were sheep grazing in St Nicholas churchyard.

Under the guidance of Brighton & Hove’s Park Ranger, Dominic Franklin, the sheep grazed the blessed grass of central Brighton. Children from St Paul’s School came along to see and pat the sheep. Dominic explained that not so long ago, there would have been grassland right outside the walls of the church, and that sheep would have been grazing in the centre of Brighton. Indeed, according to an ancient by-law the Vicar of Brighton has the right to rear a flock of sheep in the churchyard. Continue reading Sheep May Safely Graze →

Letters

Letters to The Whistler

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Dear Editor
I was interested to read your article, Chemical Nasties (Aug/Sept edition) warning of the dangers of sodium lauryl sulphate in cosmetic and household products; also that in the US, children’s foaming bath products carry a health warning. This reminded me of an incident in the late 80s when I worked for a public relations firm on an account for a well-known pharmaceutical company. One of the products was a new bubble bath for children. I suffered a fainting fit when I removed the lid to test the fragrance. My colleagues witnessed this and, as parents of young children, were quite shocked. The product was removed from the room. Later, I saw it in the shops.

P. Collins, West Hill Road

Dear Residents of West Hill
Complaints about selfish parking have increased, especially in Buckingham Road. I have checked the roads in and around this central area and have noticed some very bad parking by motorists who do not seem to grasp the importance of tidy parking. All I can ask is, let’s try not taking two spaces unnecessarily.

The permit ratio is still being held at 1:1.2 and as a result of this parking spaces seem to be more available, except late at night and weekends. Parking before 8pm on permit bays by non-permit holders who take a chance on the traffic officer not coming back to check just before 8pm is on the increase. The general opinion is that unauthorised parking in a permit bay should be an immediate towable offence. I have been invited to attend a meeting with Austen Hunter of the Parking Management Team at the end of September. I have had a great deal of assistance from him with regard to parking issues and when we meet I have several issues to discuss with him.

The recent announcement by the Council to use a new legislation to deal with parking at dropped kerbs has raised some questions as to legality. At the moment double yellow lines across a driveway entrance prevents parking. It seems that the Council intends to allow parking at dropped kerbs outside residents’ premises unless they object. I do not see how legislation can be flexible. Either a line is enforceable or it is not. A white line, however, is usually a matter for County Councils. As I understand it, if a car is parked on a dropped kerb with a single white line it is basically an indication of required access and is only enforceable by the Police if an exit from your premises is required, but not for access.

If anyone needs clarification on dropped kerbs outside their premises or any other matter I will do my best to answer your query. Please contact me on 07768 002328 between 11am and 6pm.

Steve Percy, (chairman) Peoples Parking Protest