Hello folks, We're putting on the third 'Reclaim The Web' unconference at The Werks on 24th May (10am - 5pm). It is a day of conversations and presentations about using the internet for activism. The basic idea is to get lots of techies and activists in the same place, and get them talking. We've done two of these events before, and everyone involved got a lot out of them. We'll talk about how things like video blogging, twitter and social networking can be used by activists and campaigners. The last two attracted a mix of people from very big campaigning organisations, very small campaigning organisations, students, geeks, artists and banjo players. Bring some food. Everyone brings a dish (something vegan) and everybody shares the feast. There are limited tickets available, so register now if you are going to come: http://reclaimtheweb.net Chris http://turnfront.com 07887 985402
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/generalnews/display.var.2271113.0.town_hall_plan_to_save_small_shops.php Town hall plan to save small shops A radical set of policies which will protect small independent shops from the threat of major high street chains is bring considered. A delegation of officials from Brighton and Hove City Council and representatives from North Laine and the Lanes have visited London to discuss an innovative scheme to ward off identikit shopping stretches. The two Brighton shopping hotspots, which have a national reputation for independent stores, could become "special district centres" with regulations enshrined in the planning blueprint. The council would protect the character and appeal of the two districts with specific planning policies, such as limiting the size of shops. The only street in the country so far to have received this treatment is Portobello Road renown for its antique market. North Laine and the Lanes have come under increasing pressure in recent years from ballooning rents and the spread of chains. Concern has also been raised that the number of shops is declining in favour of coffee haunts. The council invited the North Laine Traders Association to London to discuss the scheme with bosses at Chelsea and Kensington. The Commission on Retail Conservation, set up in 2005 after Tesco acquired a string of different convenience stores, compiled a report for the West London authority including 54 measures to protect independent shops. Of these, 45 were adopted. Under proposals adopted by the London borough, developers will be forced to include "affordable retail", ensure smaller shops are not knocked through, and link rents to profits where possible. Officers from Brighton and Hove are analysing the work carried out by Chelsea and Kensington and considering whether these rules can apply to the city. Traders in Brighton said linking rent to profits would mean artists could compete with major coffee chains for space. Peter Stocker, of the North Laine Traders Association, said: "We want to try to make rents a little bit fairer. "We are seeing enormous rent price increases while there are a lot of shops on the market, which is not a good sign, and we do need a bit of help "If you have got three shops which are empty we would like to stop them being knocked together into one. "With all the developments around us, space is likely to be even more of a premium in the future and we are trying to maintain the small units and workshop spaces." Mr Stocker, who was among representatives to visit Kensington, said discussions were at an early stage but praised the council for its desire to investigate the proposal. 3:22pm Wednesday 14th May 2008 By Lawrence Marzouk, Local Government Correspondent Back
An open discussion about how refugees are supported in Brighton and Hove and how we could do more to integrate them into our community MONDAY 16TH JUNE 2008, COMMUNITY BASE, 113 QUEENS ROAD, BRIGHTON 6.30PM FOOD+FILMS Living with Illegals and Underground Londoners 7.30PM DISCUSSION . Fazil Kawani, Head of Development, Refugee Council - refugee communities in Britain . Nic Eadie, Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group - the detention of refugees . Mary Jane Burkett, Brighton Voices in Exile - supporting refugees in the community . Paolo Boldrini, No Borders Brighton - the global movement of people . Robert Lee, Sussex University Student Action for Refugees (STAR) - student support for refugees FREE! ALL WELCOME! More at www.communitybase.org/refugeeweek Download the poster for this event from www.communitybase.org/refugeeweek/poster.pdf Please forward this email to anyone you think may be interested. Apologies for any crossposting. Colin Chalmers director Community Base 113 Queens Road Brighton BN1 3XG www.communitybase.org
Crikey, he's obviously got a nose for bad publicity: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/7327266.stm. Includes interviews with the mums.
That's the one! it's true that this chap is also well-known for disliking mums with young kids - who make up a large proportion of his clientele! At least Basil Fawlty was funny...
In terms of the neutered UK housing sector this petition may seem a case of shutting the gate after the horse has bolted. All the same this is still worth supporting.
I can;t make it along myself but I have forwarded your note to Ann and we will try to feed back some kind of note on the results to the issues forum. cheers,
Isn't this the same guy who was in the Argus for chucking out a bunch of mums and kids? He sounds like a real charmer. http://www.theargus.co.uk/mostpopular.var.2161916.mostcommented.basil_fawlty_cafe_owner_banned_our_babies.php
Now here's an issue that has really been annoying me... the 'rotunda' cafe at Preston park is a nice park cafe but there is one extraordinary problem with it - the man who owns it will never give anyone a glass of tap water for free, even on really hot days - he will only sell bottled mineral water. Most people who go there know this, and accept it, albeit with much grumlbing, but often you hear a new customer ask for a glass of tap water (usually alongside a purchase of a coffee or an ice-cream or whatever) and are amazed to be told they cannot have one. Can any councillor or anyone else tell me - is this legal? I remember hearing all places have to offer tap water, but not sure if this applies to cafes. It is very petty and mean though, to say the least, and perhaps merits a letter from a councillor asking for an explanation?
City Councillor for St Peters & North Laine Ward Convenor of Green Councillors Group tel/fax 01273 291165
The contact would have been Dean Spears (Principal Transport Planner, Walking and Cycling) but he's moved to Chichester. You could try Abby Hone (Transport Planner ? Walking and Cycling), <email obscured>, or possibly you could try Claire Whitehouse (I believe interim replacement for Dean). email I presume <email obscured> I would too like some bike racks, in Easthill Park, but more artistic and fun ones than the standard sheffield rack. They comprise 5 metal shapes which when looked at from the side make a bicycle ! Quote is ~£1000 - about the same a five sheffield racks, and I'm looking for a funding source - has anybody got any leads ? Best Regards Adam Pride mailto:<email obscured> www.bricycles.org.uk Bricycles: The Brighton, Hove and District Cycling Group and please check out: www.carbusters.org
You could contact the Council oficer direct - <email obscured> , or one of your local councillors (you can find them on the council web site). I would suggest the Councillor - at least initially because it raises the profile of cycling to someone who will eventually want your vote...
Does anyone know who to contact at the council about getting a new bike rack fitted in an area lacking them? I'm sure it was mentioned on here previously but I can't find the relevant email.
Sounds interesting. Please share the workshop ideas of how Brighton and Hove can reverse the global sourcing of food versus regional/local.
Let's not get too paranoid - it might be that 1. an officer of the Council has been told to contact "stakeholders" and is using an existing list 2. Given that there will be a limit to the numbers for H&S reasons they need to how many are likely to turn up. Therefore I am pretty sure that Tony's advice is spot on - if you want to go just tell them asap before the numbers get full up.
forwarded from the food partnership... Harvest Brighton and Hove! Interested in eating more local food? Want to grow your own? The Brighton and Hove Food Partnership and Food Matters are developing a city-wide project exploring how more food can be produced within our city in order to feed ourselves more sustainably. We are putting together a portfolio of projects and hope to get Big Lottery funding to make them happen. Come and contribute your ideas at a workshop exploring how we can produce and eat more delicious, fresh and healthy local food which hasn't cost the earth. Guest Speaker: Julie Brown, Growing Communities, Hackney - a successful and well established urban growing project in London. Weds 4th June 12-4, with lunch from 12-12.45. at Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton Places are limited, to book call Ann at the Food Partnership on 01273 431700 or email <email obscured> Please forward this to anyone you think would be interested. Apologies for any cross-posting! Kind regards Ann Baldridge Brighton & Hove Food Partnership www.bhfood.org.uk
On 5/9/08, Jo Nean <<email obscured>> wrote: > Well I haven't received an invite so I doubt it is to do with this list. I > have just written to ask for one. Will see what happens. > > Jo. Don't bother asking for an invite just let them know you're attending. I'd be very surprised if there's a limitation on who can turn up beyond the capacity of the venue. If they are being deliberatively selective in their invitations, the advice still stands. Indeed, I'd now consider it an imperative. Tony C
Yes, the meeting to explore community feelings about London Road's future is still happening tonight (Friday) 7pm in Community Base South Wing. For the sake of clarity, tonight's meeting is a general discussion about London Road, focussing on what we know about the Tescos project. It is not the Masterplan SPD which is a separate process. All welcome Keith Taylor City Councillor for St Peters & North Laine Ward Convenor of Green Councillors Group tel/fax 01273 291165
I'm an 'official' stakeholder, due to sticking CHIBAH's nose into everyone's business (!) so if people on this list would like to use me as a conduit, send your views to me at <email obscured>, and I'll take them with me to these meetings. But, if you've seen the invite, then just apply to go, let's have a big anti-Tesco turnout! I attended some of the stakeholders workshops, and told them the plans amount to the cappuccino-isation the area, and were little good for the locals... I like Tony's ideas that he posted elsewhere, about lots of small Laines-like businesses. So, send your thoughts to me and they'll get noted at least - doesn't mean anyone will take any notice! cheers, Helen