06/01/2018 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Councillors to consider raising fees for beach huts

Posted on 06/01/2018 by Besi

City councillors to consider raising the transfer and licence fees on the 459 beach huts on Hove seafront.

At present, owners of the privately owned huts pay an annual licence fee of £367.20 for having the hut on council land.

If owners sell their hut they pay just £82 to the council as a ‘stamp duty’ – much lower than neighbouring councils such as Adur and Worthing, and Rother.

But with sales for Hove beach huts rocketing to as much as £25,000 – way above the rate of inflation – councillors will now vote on whether the fee should be brought in line with other local authorities.

The proposals, being put before the tourism, development and culture committee on Thursday, January 11, would mean the licence fee rising by £36.80 to £404, and the transfer fee then being three times the new licence fee or 10 per cent of the sale price, whichever is greater.

Committee chair, councillor Alan Robins, said: “Our findings shows that both the licence fee and transfer fee charged by the city council is lower than other local authorities in the area.

“If councillors agree, these changes will bring Brighton & Hove in line with charges made by other neighbouring authorities.”

A beach hut can be sold on when it has been owned for three years, but only to other Brighton & Hove residents. In 2016 there were 37 transfers and so far in 2017 45 transfers.

Huts sold this year have ranged in price from £16,000 – £22,500, with one currently on the market at £25,000. Sales evidence suggests some owners have seen the value of their huts increase by 45-50% over the 5 year period since 2012.

Cllr Robins added: “In recent years, the value of a beach hut on the seafront has risen well above inflation and more in line with the increases in the local property market.

“It is only fair that as owners’ profits increase, so too do the fees they pay for owning the property on council land in a prime location.”

Local drug dealer using Grindr to sell drugs is jailed

Posted on 06/01/201806/01/2018 by Besi

Brighton drug dealer jailed for supplying cocktail of drugs including crystal meth, cocaine and amphetamines which he advertised as ‘party bags’ in the city.

Ashley Richardson, 29, of Springfield Road, pleaded guilty to five counts of supplying class A drugs – three of supplying crystal meth, one of cocaine, one of MDMA and five counts of possession with intent to supply cocaine, crystal meth, MDMA, amphetamine and ketamine at an earlier hearing on November 30 after being arrested earlier that month.

On Thursday, January 4, he was sentenced to nine years and four months at Hove Crown Court.

The court was told that Richardson had been given a 22-month suspended sentence in May 2017 for four counts of possession intent to supply drugs and one count of offering to supply drugs in Brighton and Hove. But he had ignored the court order and continued to deal drugs online and from his home.

Detective Sergeant Dee Wells from Sussex Police Brighton and Hove Community Investigation Team said: “Richardson was a significant dealer who was advertising his cocktail of drugs including crystal meth, cocaine and amphetamine as ‘party bags’ online. He had already been given a 22-month suspended sentence last year for possession with intent to supply such drugs but ignored it and carried on dealing.

“Crystal meth is becoming more prevalent in Brighton and Hove with police seizures of it increasing over the last year and we would urge any anyone who has information about the supply of this particularly harmful drug to contact us.”

In sentencing Richardson, the presiding Judge, Jeremy Gold QC issued a warning to all drug dealers in the city.

He said: “You were selling class A drugs, including crystal meth which apparently is growing in popularity in the city of Brighton and Hove, which appears to be particularly linked to the large gay scene in city.

“Citizens of this city and gay citizens in particular who are particularly vulnerable to being drawn into using this pernicious and highly addictive drug expect suitable punishment to be meted out to drug dealers like you.”

Richardson used Grindr, to sell the drugs and was caught by undercover officers after sending online messages saying “Tina anyone?” out on the gay hook up app.

LGBT+ friendly destination in the heart of the Peak District

Posted on 06/01/201806/01/2018 by Besi

Brighton couple acquire unique bed and breakfast freehouse and restaurant in the heart of the Peak District.

In early September, Lee Cockshott and husband Joe Wain, who own the Marine Tavern in Broad Street, Brighton, acquired The Horse & Jockey, a beautiful Derbyshire stone freehouse with restaurant and bed & breakfast in Tideswell, Buxton.

A traditional country inn, The Horse & Jockey nestles in the heart of the Peak District in the picture postcard village of Tideswell, where Joe was born and spent his life before moving to Brighton three years ago.

It’s a small village with a population of just 800. There is a post office, green grocers, family butchers and farm shops. All food on their menu comes from within or very close to the village, except for the fish which they source direct from the trawlers in Grimsby.

Regular theme nights with live singers have recently featured entertainment from both Gabriella Parrish and Jacquii Cann.

They offer a choice of six en-suite bedrooms, including a twin room, a family room, and a four-poster bedroom. During the winter months the public areas boast open fires and they are dog-friendly.

The journey by car from Brighton up the M1 takes around four and a half hours. and it’s worth every minute as on arrival you’ll find yourself in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

Local attractions worth checking out include; Chatsworth House stately home, the picturesque village of Matlock Bath, the small market town of Bakewell (home of the Bakewell Tart), Bolsover Castle, and the spa town of Buxton with its beautiful opera house, along with countless walking routes, bike rides and for the children Alton Towers is well worth a visit.

Bed and breakfast costs from £69 per room per night and the restaurant boasts a fine menu of hearty country dishes.