London Road Area LAT meeting – 12th September 2023

  1. Welcome and apologies

Raphael Hill (Councillor)

Pete West (Councillor)

Philip Wells

Corinne Lamb

Simon Banister – BHCC community engagement officer: Telephone boxes

  • New councilor wants to know if you have any issues with any local call boxes. They have made a push to sort the issue out. No timescale. Taking it to the community. Lots have happened with the BT box outside Clyde Road.

PCSOs- Josh (Regency) Zac- on a detachment, working with us to see what is happening in the area. PCSO Molly Baskar

Madhavi (London Road resident/trader),

Cath Prenton

Nikki Harper

Tony ???

Catherine Clement

Mike and Tony

Andy Winter

Roz RAYBURN

Judy Lynn

Roz Lopez

Richard Grills (Presuming Ed)

Steve (Presuming Ed )

Thomas

Robert

Andy Fraser (housing services University of Sussex)

Apologies

Elspeth Broady

Councillor Sue Shanks

Councillor Ellen McLeay

Julie desber

Sandy Crowhurst – NLCA

2. Minutes and date of next meeting

Date next meetings – 24th Oct & 28th November

Minutes agreed

3. N.B. PCC booked for 26th September

  • – LAT chairs to be invited if possible, but better to restrict participants to those with specifically “London Road Area” issues

4. London Road “Red Route”

See consultation: finishes 17th September. This is below

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  • A. this would only slightly change the parking restrictions and make enforcement (e.g. by camera) legal.
  • B. the change would be to “some stopping” on double yellow lines which is currently acceptable (but I’m not clear what)
  • C. the scheme would be “experimental” with comments being received once it is implemented.
  • LAT responses to consultations will reflect the tenor of the meeting as a whole.
  • Blue badges, taxis, emergency transport can’t park on the red lines.
  • Would it be possible for moving trucks to get an exemption?
  • Cllr Sue Shanks is happy to support this.
  • PCSO officers are happy to attend in future to discuss.
  • Question: Where are the people who enforce these regulations? No one is there to enforce these rules with the yellow lines. This is a real problem.
  • They don’t have the resources in the council at present, this is partly why the council have decided to trial the red routes.
  • Charity shops will be affected as regards quickly dropping off items, and it is killing the small businesses.
  • The council want the businesses to stay
  • The trial is going to last for 6 months

Deliveroo drivers and loading: 

  • If the police can’t already police the yellow lines, how can they police the lines even with the cameras? Action: This needs to be asked of the council.
  • This will cause blockages in other streets
  • It was raised that Presuming ED can’t lift beer kegs from a long way from the front of their location, this is an issue. 

Traders

  • Traders’ objection to proposal was read out in meeting and there were lots of signatures on it.
  • There are pros and cons for this scheme this is what was discussed as follows at the meeting:

   Cons:

  • Loading and supplying is made very difficult and will hurt trading and make it impossible.
  • Obstructive parking and making it difficult for everyone else and it needs to be put to the officers in charge- Action point Philip to arrange meeting
  • London road needs more parking and the current way is not working.

Pros:

  • The red routes will make the yellow lines more enforceable. Officers will have to monitor the situation
  • *ACTION POINT – try to set up meeting with traders and Council Officers

5. A. Abacus and London Terrace – Police report and University response

  • There is still a lot of drug dealing and anti-social behaviour (as of previous academic year)
  • Molly (PSCO) has done the letter drop and compiled data and will complete a case for the NOMAD camera
  • Gang in cars and overtly drug dealing to students and they were found in their rooms.
  • The police will come immediately if 999 is called and if they can see that the case is becoming a large issue. They will do late night patrols in a Direct Patrol Area (DPA). They will also use unmarked cars are in place. But without reports they don’t know it is happening. Keep on reporting
  • Neighborhood policing will then get involved.
  • The police now have a lot of reports, however there have been no reports due it being summer and the lack of students.
  • The NOMAD camera is a remote-control camera and there is a high threshold for requests for their use. It will be running constantly; however, they are not monitored 24/7. They still need to have reports coming in for them to look at the footage. The footage lasts 30 days It will be there as a deterrent. 
  • It was discussed that we should invite the Abacus manager to the next meeting to discuss it further. They have been invited to previous meetings but they don’t want to engage.
    • This needs to be pushed up the chain of management
  • The gates to Abacus are locked 24/7
  • Molly will send over information to Philip, re the Housing officers
  • Students with cars have made London terrace a blockage and there are not enough spaces now for residents.
  • There needs to be a connection between students and the universities. 

Drugs inside Abacus:

  • Andy Fraser: Universities don’t put students in Abacus they apply privately. They have to sign a contract and if they breach it, it is down to the tenant management to solve.
  • The universities are concerned with the wellbeing of their students who are out in the community. Sussex provide as much information as they can and they do go out and about to see the private sector.
  • This needs to be a collaborative approach with Andy O’Keeffe and the council and the environment officers. Multi agency approach will be the best way.
  • Question: Do we (or Universities) know the students staying in the private housing?
    • They sign a contract when they start and they are aware of the consequences. This needs to be included in the induction and how to behave in the private sector.
  • This is the first year that they have had first years into Abacus and its under new management, “which is weak”.
  • Residents have spoken to parents and they are upset at the behaviour, so it is not all the students living there that are causing this problem.
  • Abacas should have a concern for reputation. There are 3 cameras on that road.
  • Compliance can be an issue to accessing the CCTV. There is a problem with Management at Abacus.
  • They have the same contract as a HMO as a private resident.
  • Possibly this is a job for private sector housing (council who run rates on flats) Action: Cath to email Private sector housing and copy Philip in.  
  • Philip to draft a letter to the manager- Action
  • One of the big problems is going to be getting proof.

5.B Other Updates

  • Rose Hill noise and traffic – plan for future. No discussion.
  • Providence Place gardens – full update will be in November rather than in October. 

6. Other updates:

    • Level, Café?
    •  Area Forum (via Simon Bannister)- No update.

There are other groups set up but the sector isn’t there as it was.

  • Mike Hedgethorne, Treasurer: We donate £50 to the church here- motioned carried.
  • 999 and 101 calls go to Lewes- Save for the 26th PCC meeting

There have been several cases of meat collection from stores in return for money for drugs. Resident will be taking this to Inspector Morris because the system does not work. There is something going really wrong. No one seems to be willing to report them- Action: Save for PCC