London Road Area LAT Meeting 26th March 2024 18:30, Calvary Church

  1. Welcome, and apologies
    Cath Prenton
    Richard Presuming Ed
    Madvi AMPM stores
    Philip Wells
    Corinne Lamb
    Councillor Raphael Hill
    Nikki Harper-
    PCSO’s: Louisa and Lauren, ward PCSO London road problem profile.
    Tony- Warleigh Road
    Tony and Mike
    Catherine Clement
    Judi Lynn
    Owner of smoke mart
    Kamil and brother
    Lisa- McDonalds Manager

(16 present)

Apologies:
Kamil
Keely (?)
Cllr Pete West
Cllr Sue Shanks
Cllr Ellen Mcleay
Andy Keeffe (UOB)
Naomi Barnard (UOS)
Sarah Booker Lewis- resident and democracy reporter
Father Ben
Lucy Dunleavy
Romy – Signalman

  1. Minutes of last meeting
    Previous meeting minutes approved Jan and Feb is now up online
  2. Date of next meeting – we are due for an AGM soon!
    23rd April
  3. Open Forum and update including
  • Policing issues
    • Youth disorder/ shop lifting on London Road
    o It was been going on for a while since the summer. There is a constant spate of vandalism on the toilets in McDonalds. PCSO’s asked McDonalds to record when the people come in to get a picture of times etc.
    o PCSOs have told McDonalds they would give a hour to store to get the message out to the youths.
    o They did have a security guard but now they are just opting for a mobile unit instead.
    o McDonalds is on the list under London Road priorities list. The police do patrols every day. JAG are the ones making the decided on how high an issue is on a list.
    o Familiar individuals are dealt with by the staff in store.
    o Taco Bell had issues but have reduced now. Also, Co-op reports have reduced. The PCSOs have meetings in place as the people keep changing.
    o McDonald’s have access BCRP and a mobile support unit. It would be great if they could have a radio in as it makes for a good support network.
    o Poundland is a favourite target. Few incidents, lift has been broken. Urged them to keep reporting, they are checking with them and are on their hot list.
    o The PCSOs have a hotlist but it keeps changing and so have to create IDs of all the youths involved. Some are on schemes to help them, which can involve social workers etc. This is done in the background.
    o Aldi: Shoplifters have been targeting the store but they have security. These have been adults not youths.
    o Adults can be banned but it is more difficult with youth who go to the various shops.
     Action Point: PCSO to get in touch with Nick from the BCRP
    o Can we submit CCTV? We still have to fill in the police form online and all the relevant information. Everyone however can also use Crimestoppers which is anonymous.
    o BCRP also have a reporting system and a radio. They are also IDing the youths involved in the crimes on London Road.
    o There is a call back option when you call 101 which is a more time reduced way forward.
     Action Point: PCSOs will also look into if it is possible to get a camera operator in the hut next to Costa.
    o They also have a night team who patrol during the weekends.

• The Signalman have previously had issues, but they seem to have been reduced. At the last meeting there was no update and no reports, this is still the case.
• The police have reached out to the Transport police to see if they can work together with the station and support each other.
• The pub does know who the individuals are, and maybe their parents may have spoken to them. Andy Saville has been in touch with Romy via Judi and Immediate Justice might be a way forward.
• NH: The Joker on Preston Road and Ditchling Rise north, have had incidents of Broken windows or cars etc.
o Action Point: PCSOs will take a look into it.

  • Red Route issues
    • Peter Turner was to come back in May. Read out the reply from Peter via email. June is his preferred choice instead of May as previously stated.
    • The scheme won’t have any data until June.
    • They are going to be issuing warnings before the 15th April, which was mentioned at the last meeting. There seems to be some confusion on when the experiment was going to start. It was confirmed that is was the 15th April.
    • Displacement: People are starting to park on the pavements or double parking. This is happening at Starbucks and on Beaconsfield Road.
    • Could we send Peter a set of questions that we want to ask him before the meeting next time? These need to address the lack of transparency.
    • Some of the suggested questions were:
    o If it is an experiment what is the pass and fail rate based on?
    o What measurements will be taken to the cost to businesses and the extra time for staff?
    o Is there adequate bus times being met?
    o What is going to happen to the delivery drivers in the way of shops. Will they be fined?
    o It needs to be made clear what they mean by “experiment”

• Judi: What is the council’s vision for London Road?
• Councillor Raphael answered by saying that there is a Planning Team. This issue will be taken by a Cabinet which is the format laid out by the Labour council. Licensing issues are dealt with according to a Community Impact Zone. Another department deals with transport issues. The person to contact is Trevor Muten but he will be looked at by the scrutiny committee. There can be public conversation in these committees.
• There are so many different strategies around London Road, main to do with transport issues.
• Someone: We are not being listened to. We need to contact Bella Sankey.
• Can we push for more loading bays or extended timings on existing bays to? This would be for all businesses. Could we ask for permits for the businesses when they are using the loading bays and for accessibility. This hasn’t been considered.
• All of the decisions have been made politically.
• It was suggested that businesses could keep track in a diary of the problems they have with the lines, this would be sued as evidence that has value when building their case. Residents can also keep track of what is happening outside their homes.
• Action Point: Philip to ask Trevor Muten to the next meeting or as soon as possible. To talk about concerns with the deliveries to businesses. As well as sending him the set of questions that we want to ask. He would need to be prepared before he comes.
• Could we have a meeting to organise the set of questions maybe a week before the councillors meeting with the LAT.

  1. Close