London Road Local Action Team Meeting
16th January 2024
1 Welcome and apologies
PCSO Molly- – North Laine and West Hill
PCSO Sean Chandler- – Queens park ward
Cath Prenton
Sue Shanks- councillor
Nicky Harper Francis street, Ditchling rise and recovery hub
Richard Grills- Presuming Eds
Tony Firmin- local resident.
* Raised the issue of the St Bartholomew’s School is threatened with closure. The reason for this is the pupil numbers at the school and the rising cost of living in the area. This is not the only school facing closure. This is going to cause lack of footfall around the school, due to the building being vacant, which is in such a prime location in the city. St Bartholomew’s could be sold to another business, this could possibly be Brighton and Hove City Mission.
St Peters in Portslade is also facing closure.
There has not been much discussion by the CofE, or the diocese who can’t confirm anything.
*Action Point: Philip to send email to Tony re school closure.
Mike Hedgethorne. Alan Briggenshaw, Lucy Dunleavy, Sarah Lewis- Warleigh Road resident and reporter of council dealings, Shirley May- Shaftesbury place. Betsy Boize- Journalism student.
Corinne Lamb – minutes
Philip Wells (chair)
Apologies: Judi Lynn, Catherine Clement, Sandy Crowhurst, Romy Adams (ill), Cllr Raphael (ill), Naomi (UOS), Andy Keeffe (UOB), Thalia Liebig-Wilson, Superintendent Andy Saville, PCSO Tillie Earley.
2 Minutes. Date of next meeting? Date of AGM?
Date of Next meeting: 20th Feb
3 Policing – with focus on issues around “Signalman” / London Road station and shop-lifting youth disorder in London Road
To update; Lauren Lewis on the group on London Road and the group.
Lauren has been in talks with the immediate justice team and the young people involved in the incidents.
There have been conversations by the PCSOs with parents, who have talked about putting the perpetrators on a course called reboot for under 18s. Also talk to them directly about what they have done and offered to put activities on to deter future issues. e.g., football groups etc.
The shoplifters are known to the PCSOs and Sean has spoken to the manager of Poundland and they are being investigated.
The same group are hitting McDonald’s and the Coop.
Some of the individuals have criminal records and will be banned from London Road, and those who don’t will receive a CPW 1 warning and then following this a notice, ending in arrest.
Curfews and moving the individual out of the area, are also another option for police. All the people involved are under 18.
The young people just want somewhere safe to go hence why they have turned to anti-social behaviour. They choose the area because of the shops nearby and it is a popular place to hang out. There are no youth clubs in the city apart from BYC (Brighton Youth Centre). It is a citywide issue.
Drugs can have a contributing factor to the behaviour.
The police have recently installed a police beach hut on London Road, by Costa that is regularly staffed. There are also direct patrols happening on the road every day. They have put a bid in for a response unit to go down the road on a regular basis.
Recently there has been a police youth bus coming down London Road, which gets support from PCSOs. The level of support is not as high as needed but they want to be engaged as much as possible.
The responses from some parents have been great and supportive, but it’s not completely down to the parents.
Ben (PCSO) has been in touch with Romy. There was an incident on New Year’s Eve, Romy has asked for CCTV of the incident but not sure if this has been reported.
The kids have been “terrorising” the area. The young people do change over the years as they go elsewhere. The reports have been slowing down recently.
MH/TF The Coop has increased the number of security guards in their store to 2. They do link in the security every time the PCSOs pass by. Most of the time it’s been ok, which seems to have helped.
Coop’s across the country have done the same.
Aldi has changed their entrance system, which has also helped.
Town centre security (BCRP – Business Crime Reduction Partnership) has increased their scope, to include St James Street. All stores who have BCRP have a radio to alert roaming officers and the instore officers of potential people and where they are in relation to the particular store in question.
BCRP security have the ability to detain, call back etc.
Coop and Aldi are part of the BCRP and have radios. All shops and businesses can apply to be part of the BCRP network. Venues have to opt for it however and it costs £150 a month. So it is not a very attractive option for smaller businesses.
The question was raised regarding how to we include PCSO Ben Drewswood on these incidents, or who do we contact about this ward? Action Point: Philip to speak to the relevant person. Molly will ask who is in charge and then update Philip when someone has been allocated. Current officer is leaving soon.
NH: People have been gathering outside the cigarette shop by Lux Lounge, PCSOs not aware of any reported incident at the moment on this. PCSOs encouraged meeting to still report what was experienced.
There have been lots of CPWs handed out to rough sleepers and the trend is seeming to be the younger generation. People are urged to report anything if it’s a regular occurrence.
SM: The Brighton Academy dance school is near to Shaftsbury place and there is an issue with the whole street becoming a car park when they have classes. They have planning permission but not for drop offs.
Action Point: Sue Shanks (councillor) will pass this onto the relevant person in the council. This problem is very hard to control.
4 London Road “Red Route” – a meeting was held with plans for future meetings in February and May 2024
This has gone to committee. There was an initial consultation but seemed like it was not seen by many. and the scheme is meant to be experimental. At the November meeting there was an offer of a meeting in February and May, and this was stated at the BHCC Transport Committee meeting, Implementation is in April but we should meet in May to discuss and get initial reaction, as there are lots of people who would have liked to be informed who are at present ill informed. We could try make a February meeting much better advertised.
The whole idea behind the red route is to make sure the buses can run better.
It has to be a red route because this is the only way the council can have CCTV camera installed.
It was agreed to confirm the request for a February meeting.
5 Providence Place/Elder Place– update and plans
There has been no definite plans from the officers as yet.
There are plans for during the festival in May to have the opening show in Providence place, which will be a chance to explore ideas.
The update from the officers was read out and are as follows:
We’re currently in conversation with Brighton Festival, regarding the potential to hold a Festival show along Elder Place on their 2024 opening weekend.
This would obviously be a fantastic opportunity for the regeneration project and the Elder Place Corridor, in terms of raising its profile, enabling the community and visitors to use and experience the space differently, and to “test out” some of the emerging design concepts. We are also keen to explore any potential legacy benefits.
There are a number steps required to get this over the line, including the need to secure permission for the necessary road closures. This involves a consultation process, whereby the Festival must secure approval from no less than 60% of those directly impacted.
The Festival will be commencing the consultation this week, when they will be going door to door with the petition to apply for the road closures.
We would be incredibly grateful if you could share the information below with the Providence Place Steering Group members (and, if appropriate, the London Road Area LAT), and let them know that the Festival will be in the area over the coming days to get the much needed signatures.
If you (or your members) have any questions or concerns, please do get in touch via email on: artisticplanning@brightonfestival.org.
Close 19:45 approx
London Road Area Local Action Team 