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Day: August 13, 2014

Police tackle dangerous parking and vandalism in Preston Park

Posted on by Sarah Green

Local residents have been raising concerns with prospective Conservative Preston Park candidates Lee Wares, Ed De Sousa and Sam Evans about problems with dangerous parking in areas of the Ward.

Lee Wares: Prospective Conservative councillor for Preston Park Ward
Lee Wares: Prospective Conservative councillor for Preston Park Ward

Residents report dangerously parked vehicles impede pedestrians on junctions and increase the risk of injury by creating blind spots and causing hazards to other road users and potentially blocking access for the emergency services.

With the backing of Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, and the support of Sussex Police, an initiative is underway in the Ward to warn offending vehicle owners that repeated offences will lead to fines and/or vehicles being towed away.

Dangerously parked vehicles have also been subject to criminal damage. Sussex Police are now following up on their investigations and deploying covert patrols to deter and apprehend offenders.

Lee Wares said: “Parking within the Ward is a significant issue for residents but, regardless of the lack of space and reasons behind it, residents are equally concerned about the increasing occurrence of dangerously parked vehicles.”

“I have witnessed the issue first hand and there are unacceptable risks to pedestrians, especially children, trying to cross junctions. It is only a matter of time before somebody is hurt or killed or the emergency services can’t get to an incident quickly enough”

“It is also unacceptable that people are causing criminal damage to offending vehicles. Nobody should take the law into their own hands regardless of their reasons. Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

“I am delighted with the Police’s response to the issues we have raised and we shall continue to support them in their efforts to provide a safer environment for the residents.”

Any information relating to dangerously parked vehicles or criminal damage should be reported to the Police on 101.

To report online, CLICK HERE:  as part of Operation Crackdown.

 

Labour launches post Pride street party survey

Posted on by Graham Robson

Queen’s Park Labour candidates to deliver a survey to over 2,800 residents in the local area to gather feedback following this years St James’s Street Village party.

Labour Queens Park Candidates

The survey is being carried out following discussions with the official organisers of Brighton Pride and Gscene magazine and will be delivered to households in the St James Street area.

Nancy Platts, Labour Parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, along with Queen’s Park Labour council candidates Karen Barford, Dan Chapman and Adrian Morris have created the survey to gather the views of residents in the Queens Park Ward.

Nancy said: “Living just around the corner from St.James’s Street, I know that local residents are affected by it and I welcome the chance to help the organisers learn from this year’s event and make the next one work better for everyone.

“We have been out talking to residents in the area and there are plenty of people who want to have a say on the event, the aim of the survey is to give them that opportunity.”

“Residents will be able to say what worked and what didn’t this time round and suggest improvements.”

Adrian Morris added: “I think it is vital that those in elected office or those seeking to be elected maintain a constant line of communication with local residents. I have scarcely missed a Pride since the very early days of the parade in the 1970’s and I see the improvements year after year, this is a process to make Pride even better.”

Adrian Morris, Nancy Platts, Dan Chapman and Karen Burford
Adrian Morris, Nancy Platts, Dan Chapman and Karen Barford

Paul KempPaul Kemp director of Brighton Pride, said: “We are listening to a range of views from before and from after the event including from local residents, local businesses and community organisations and look forward to receiving all constructive feedback to take the event to the next level in 2015.”

James Ledward editor of Gscene, added: “The views and safety of the residents of St James Street remain paramount and for that reason I am happy to support this survey by the Labour candidates.”

Survey results will be published once they have been collated.

Background flags in top photograph sponsored by hoteliers in New Steine including Gullivers & New Steine, Strawberry Fields, Lime House, Urban House, Marine View, Cosmopolitan, Sea Spray, Alston House, Five, Square, Hamptons and Ambassador Hotel.

Gogglebox star donates winnings to local gay chorus

Posted on by Besi

Gogglebox star Christopher Steed, donates winnings to Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus after appearing on Channel 4’s Million Pound Drop hosted by Davina McCall.

Members of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus with Gogglebox’s Christopher Steed
Members of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus with Gogglebox’s Christopher Steed

Christopher has donated over £800 to Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus from his winnings after appearing on Channel 4′s Million Pound Drop starring Davina McCall.

Christopher said: “The Chorus is wonderful charity that does a lot of really positive work in bringing people together and also raises thousands of pounds for many other local organisations. I wanted to include it as one of my charities because I know that the boys work really hard all year to make sure they can support their local community as much as they can, so by helping the boys to continue what they do is a bit like the ‘gift that keeps on giving’.”

Adam Betteridge, a trustee for Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus, added: “We are really grateful to Chris for his very kind donation and support. Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus is a registered charity providing crucial support to our members as well as the wider community through our performances and fundraising activities. We rely very much on the generosity of our fans through donations such as to ensure we can continue doing everything that we do.”

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus is holding a special welcome evening for any gay or gay-friendly men who enjoy singing and may be thinking of joining on Tuesday, September 2 at 7.30pm in Brighton Unitarian Church on New Road. It’s the perfect opportunity to taste the delights of singing in a choir so please do go along!

Their next performances include An Audience With Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus on Friday, September 26 at St Nicholas Church, Dyke Road and a new format winter show called Putting On The Glitz at the Theatre Royal, New Road on Sunday, November 30 at 7.30pm.

For more information about their events and tickets, CLICK HERE:

 

Man attacked in St James’s Street, Brighton

Posted on by Besi

Sussex Police are appealing for witnesses to an unprovoked attack that left a 50-year-old man with a fractured eye socket.

Sussex Police

The victim was walking in St James’s Street, Brighton, at about 2am on Friday (8 August) when he was approached by a man who asked him for a cigarette.

Without warning, the attacker then punched the victim and ran off along St James’s Street.

The attacker was white, about 30 and 5′ 6″ with scruffy brown hair.

PC Rich Bridger
PC Rich Bridger

LGBT Liaison officer, PC Rich Bridger, said: “There is nothing to suggest this is a homophobic attack, and it is not being treated as one. Anyone with any information is asked to contact DC Melanie Wauchope at Brighton Police Station, email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting serial 561 of 11/08, call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”

Detective Constable Melanie Wauchope said: “This was a nasty attack in an area of the city that could have had quite a few people in it at that time on Friday night.

“I need to speak to anyone who saw the attack or the man running away. Any information at all that you have could be useful so please contact us.”

 

 

MIchael Cashman elevated to House of Lords

Posted on by Besi

Michael Cashman CBE – a patron of the UK’s Pink Triangle Trust, Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society, former Labour MEP, former President of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT issues, and former British soap actor – has been awarded a peerage.

MIchael Cashman MEP
MIchael Cashman MEP

Cashman was one of a number of working peers appointed last week, and will add to the House of Lord’s current membership of 770.

He stood down at this year’s European Parliamentry election after serving his Midlands European constituency from 1999 to 2014.

Cashman said his appointment to the Lords was an “honour” and that he realised it was an “enormous responsibility” too.

He added: “It’s a huge opportunity to speak out about the things that I’m passionate about: equality, human rights, inhumanity, and international development”.

Cashman is perhaps best known for his role as Colin Russell on EastEnders – the first character to have a same-sex kiss on a British soap.

He co-founded gay rights charity Stonewall in 1989 and in 2010 led the calls for the charity to give its support to equal marriage.

In May 2012, he became the first member of the European Parliament to join the Out4Marriage campaign.

Last month, he criticised the “deeply worrying” appointment of Nicky Morgan MP, who voted against the same-sex marriage legislation, as the new Minister for Women and Equalities and Education Secretary, replacing Maria Miller MP who resigned after an expenses scandal.

He is a patron of the UK’s only gay humanist charity, the Pink Triangle Trust (PTT), which was set up in 1992 and publishes the quarterly Pink Humanist magazine.

PTT Secretary George Broadhead, said: “The Trust warmly welcomes this appointment”.

 

 

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