PARC – Connor’s Court Update

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Connor Saunders FoundationWe had hoped that the court would have been in place by now. The current timescale is for the laying out work to begin the week beginning 28th July and completion in early September.

Costs have risen due to changing manufacturer to get a better warranty on the product so the overall costs are expected to be £85,000 which is considerably more than early estimates.

Donations Needed
If you would like to help PARC continue to raise funds for fantastic facilities for our children and young people we could do with your donations of clothes & toys. Please bring your donations to the shop during core opening hours which are 10-3 Monday to Saturday and 11-3 Sundays

A new guide to The Kipling Gardens

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KipGardLeafGraphicRottingdean Preservation Society have published a colourful new guide to the Kipling Gardens.

This useful reference pamphlet, written by Evan Murphie the head gardener, and Valerie Whittle of RPS is full of interesting information about the Gardens. The leaflet, illustrated with photographs also by Valerie Whittle, describes the garden’s history, layout and planting in a handy pocket sized format.

The Gardens have held the prestigious Green Flag awarded for the best parks and green spaces in England and Wales since 2006. A 2010 Report states that, “The standard of horticultural excellence within this garden provides a unique visitor experience.” South and South-East in Bloom have also awarded the gardens “Best Small Park” in 2012; Gold award since 2012.

The Kipling Gardens are open to the public seven days a week and close at dusk throughout the year. Entry is free and there is a ramped path for wheelchairs.

Copies of the leaflet, priced at 50p will be available from The Grange in Rottingdean.

For more information about the Kipling Gardens and the work of Rottingdean Preservation Society visit www.rottingdeanpreservationsociety.org.uk

City Council Award Lease To Beacon Hub Project

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BeaconHubGroupThe lease for the disused golf kiosk adjacent to Rottingdean windmill has been awarded to the community led Beacon Hub Project. Trustees of the project, Jay Butler – Project Manager, Jo Spickett – Conservation advisor and Libby Darling – CEO, accompanied by Rottingdean Parish Council Chair, Bob Webzell learned of their successful bid at a meeting of Brighton & Hove City council’s Transport, Environment and Sustainability committee on July 1st. The lease ensures the project’s credibility to now seek major funding to sensitively re-develop the building.

Pete West, chair of the City council committee, spoke enthusiastically about how the project (which has the backing of BBC wildlife broadcaster Chris Packham) will promote all that connects the local and wider community with nature and how the initiative links into the UNESCO Biosphere status recently awarded to the Brighton & Lewes downs.

The Beacon Hub team has expertise in environmental conservation, education and the arts. The plan is to convert the disused cabin and manage a 35 capacity classroom and land, for the benefit of children, walkers and numerous community groups, whilst providing a ‘gateway’ to the South Downs National Park. The ‘kiosk’ is situated next to the 40-acre Beacon Hill LNR (local nature reserve) within the South Downs National Park and neighbours the Beachy Head West MCZ (marine conservation zone).

Rottingdean residents and companies are invited to get involved with the project by volunteering expertise, time and resources – further details at https://www.facebook.com/BeaconHubBrighton or contact Jay Butler, Project Manger by Email: jay@becreative.co.uk

Flushed with success – Rottingdean’s Undercliff Loos Award

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P1040692-2As many will be recall, after a long wait and despite some initial opposition, the plans for new loos on Rottingdean seafront were given the go-ahead. The restoration and upgrading of the loos was finally completed last September and the loos have been in use ever since.

Beach and undercliff users, particularly those with young families, the elderly or disabled, need proper, modern and hygienic facilities. In the past, seafront users had to cross the busy coast road just to use the loo. For a number of years the toilet facilities in the village, particularly on the seafront had been woefully inadequate, but replacing them was a complex and expensive undertaking. Now, particularly as the weather improves, the beaches get busier, more people are walking or cycling along the undercliff – the new loos have proved to be a great success.

They have met with widespread approval, not only by the public who use them, but notably by the organisation that gives the annual Loo of the Year Awards. The loos were given the overall Platinum Award, the top level in the world of public conveniences!

The judges said: “This just goes to show what a bold, new build can achieve, reflecting a modern, inclusive society in 2013. Congratulations to all concerned. An excellent all-inclusive spec. and one of our top entries seen this year.”

Since its introduction in 1987, the annual Loo of the Year Awards competition has helped focus the spotlight on ‘away from home’ toilets throughout the UK. The Awards are run independently and promoted by the British Toilet Association and have a simple objective, namely, to encourage the highest possible standards in all types of ‘away from home’ or public toilets.

It proves what can be achieved with determination and public support. I think we should all feel “flushed with success”!

Caravans at Rottingdean Recreation Ground

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When members of PARC heard that a number of caravans had made their way to the Recreation Ground we immediately notified the police and the council that there is an event planned for the Rec on Sunday.

Debbie Taylor Secretary of Brighton theatre Group Youth had invited 50 children and their families to a celebration of their recent production of “Grease” to a BBQ and picnic at our local park.

We advised the council and police that money had already been spent on food and that it was too short notice to contact everyone to reschedule or move the venue. This evidence has given the council and the police sufficient cause to move the travellers on so that the event can take place tomorrow and they should all have gone by 6pm this evening.

Early reports show that damage has been done to the table tennis tables.

Thanks to local councillors Lynda Hyde and Mary Mears and to MP Simon Kirby for support in expediting this.

Brighton & Hove City Council: Grant a minimum 15 year lease to the Beacon Hub project

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As support for the Beacon Hub Project (BHP) grows the BHP team are now petitioning Brighton and Hove City Council to grant them a minimum 15 year lease over the 7 year lease originally offered.

BHP have been advised by potential funders, South Downs National Park Authority and Heritage Lottery Fund, that they will not entertain funding the project based on a seven year lease and that a minimum 15 year lease is required.

Without funding to redevelop the building, the project is unlikely to succeed in that, the existing layout is only suited to small parties of children (12 max at a time). We must be able to accommodate classes of 35 children in order to attract patronage from stage schools.

BHP have created a petition to request that Brighton & Hove City Council grant a minimum fifteen year lease to the Beacon Hub project.

If you agree that the Beacon Hub is a worthy endeavor and that the City council should grant a longer lease to enable the project to qualify for funding please consider signing the petition:

Grant a minimum 15 year lease to the Beacon Hub project

Summer Smugglers Postponement

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This post is to advise you all that at a meeting of the Rottingdean Smugglers the committee unanimously decided that due to the timing and level of some funding it is necessary for us to reschedule the Summer Smugglers Event to a proposed date of August 16th(Saturday).

We had hoped that several grants would have been decided upon in May but due to the number of grants being assessed by The City and Parish Councils along with Arts Council and Heritage Lottery there has been a change in some Organisations process which has the effect of delaying grants being awarded.

It will not be possible and would be foolish of us to engage the appropriate professionals we require to hold a successful event without the means to pay for it in a timely manner.

Therefore a delay of approximately 6 weeks(16/8) should enable us to fully deliver the plan we have been working to originally planned for 28/6. This will also give people a little more time to apply for the stalls available at the Lower High Street.

We recognise that this is disappointing and may require the re-work of certain aspects of the original plan.

We will contact you all as soon as the new date is confirmed and that due process will then follow.

Thank you for your understanding.

Yours faithfully

Chris White Chairman
Rottingdean Smugglers

GRAB The Feel Good Factor

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The Deans Beach & Environment Volunteers are now The Deans GRAB Volunteers.

GRAB – Gather Rubbish And Bag-it !

They are having their relaunch beach clean on Sunday May 4th at 11am on Rottingdean Beach. Come and join them and help make our beach nice and tidy. As this is their relaunch beach clean they are also having a picnic to celebrate so feel free to bring something down and join in.

GRAB - relaunch

Rottingdean Whiteway Centre Celebrating ’40 Years On’

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The Whiteway Centre reaches it 40th Anniversary next weekend, and is putting on an Open Day event to celebrate reaching the milestone, on Saturday 19 April from 10 – 4.

There are various displays from a number of User Groups, some of whom have been meeting at the Centre since it opened.

Included will be artwork, photographic prints, projected images, a Village Fair AV, display of quilts etc. Folk music comes from the Round Room Ramblers; the Deans Orchestra will also be performing.

There are vintage photos and documents about how it all began, and details of what takes place now.

Refreshments will be available all day, and everyone is welcome to drop in to see what goes on in a valuable and thriving local community resource.

Note:

  • The provision of Adult Education and Leisure Courses,
  • the hiring out of the Centre for functions and events,
  • providing homes for the Pre-School and all the User Groups,
  • and any necessary Fundraising

has been managed by volunteer trustees of the Charity since the day it opened. It receives no external financial help.

Image credit: El Bingle – 40

200 Club Monthly Prize Draw – February – March 2014

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We are pleased to announce the last two months results as follows

200 Club Results Feb - Mar 2014

200 Club Results Feb – Mar 2014

After publishing the results of the 200 Club Draw in the Village News for the past seven years, the “whys and wherefores” become awfully repetitive, as I am sure that the majority of our readers will, by now, understand how the system functions. Apart from the prize monies, the one important element is the 40% that is retained for local worthy and charitable causes and, with this in mind we now approach the July anniversary date.

In this respect, application forms will be distributed to all households in and around the village during late May and to illustrate the confidence that our members have in its authenticity, roughly one third pay on bankers standing order. Perhaps in the meantime, those of you who enjoy a flutter and are supportive of the village might consider joining the “club”.

In conclusion, when I attempted to put my last March lucky number back in the draw, the bank cashiers and customers wouldn’t hear of it – perhaps I might have been accused of “bucking the system”!!

Harold Williams