ILLUSTRATION BY VISUAL ARTIST TONE EMBLEMSVÅG.
GSCENE 23 arches in one pod we would build a fabulous structure for all to enjoy. Within this we would create an educational journey through history and nature and an insight into the world’s influences on Brighton and the South Downs’ biodiversity. The second part of our plan is to create an additional eco-pod that would work as a butterfly centre. It would show the full life cycle from grub to chrysalis to butterfly. Not only would it be beautiful but it would be educational too.
MADEIRA PARADE Victorian folly or 21st century phoenix? Asks Ian Courtier. ) I love Brighton. It’s always been a city with purpose and identity that draws visitors from across the globe. It’s important to maintain this identity and understand just how important this is for the city’s future. There are many improvement projects right now and this is good. There are so many it’s difficult to keep track of them. Some, like the i360, are finished, others, like the seafront revival, are ongoing. Some of us love these changes while others abhor them. Whatever your opinion we must surely agree that the seafront, Brighton’s very own ‘shop window’, is our most significant asset.
Sadly, much of the seafront has been seriously neglected by a succession of administrations who, by their inaction, have been proven unfit for purpose. It’s not difficult to find the neglect to which I allude, simply look to the Terraces on Madeira Parade. Ultimately, who is accountable? Not the councillors and MPs that’s for sure. No it’s us, the People’s Bank of Brighton and now that we’re all feeling poorer than church mice we are asked once again to give generously. What was once a much loved Victorian folly has become a modern day embarrassment. Resembling a scene from Junkyard Challenge, this once sophisticated promenade is now consumed by litter, graffiti and filth. It’s an apocalyptic scene that wouldn’t be out of place as a backdrop in a Brazilian favela. Fenced off with hideous municipal fencing it’s become a home for rats and the homeless. This is your shop window Brighton, what are you selling? My friends and I have written to our councillors and MPs many times asking what is being done and received nothing but platitudes and lip service in return. We’ve been patronised and we’ve been ignored. Council after council has buried its head. Most recently, under the stewardship of Councillor Warren Morgan, the council have finally popped up from behind the parapet with an offering. They’ve delegated a crowdfunding company to raise funds. Crowdfunding is a system of donation where if you don’t reach a preset target of funds by a
specific date then no money will be forthcoming. The target is £400.000. I wish them well. However, I was singularly unimpressed by their initial presentation. This is a lackluster and poorly thought out endeavour. The council’s plan, which is little more than a sticking plaster on an open wound, is to renovate three of 151 arches and over time to ask the public how they should be used. Logic tells me it would be far better to present exciting and positive ideas to the public first when asking crowdfunders to raise donations. This method would be more likely to succeed and make far better use of the £30,000 retainer the crowdfunders are being paid. Sadly, this cart before horse policy will most likely fail. The result of this will be to create a double negative. Future investors may well conclude that the regeneration project isn’t just a tough undertaking but also that the crowdfunding failure indicates public apathy too. I attended the initial crowdfunding meeting with Greg Harman of the Madeira Café. Greg’s family have worked on and around the Arches for three generations. We were so unimpressed with what was said at the meeting that together we’ve decided to start the ball rolling by putting forward some of our own exciting and creative ideas for the Arches’ future. We need something that’s different and new to Brighton. It’s important not to offer the same as is presently so well catered for between the i360 and the Pier. We need to bring something exciting to Brighton and look to build on Brighton’s strong identity. We need to be brave and create something that will be sustainable and appreciated for years to come. We propose to build an artistic and commercial area that’s practical, educationally valuable and commercially sustainable for the future. The first part of our plan is to built a botanical plaza. Using glazed, orangery-style fronts on a number of the arches and a large central botanical space encompassing 20 or so
These first two ideas will function on all levels from scientific study to aesthetic wonderment. They’ll be an educational tourist attraction and will segue brilliantly with the Sea Life Centre. People may well stay in the city for that extra day too. The ultimate design should be sympathetic to the structures’ Victorian heritage but not constrained by it. The design will allow the original arches to be clearly visible. On the upper area, which is presently the promenade, we suggest following another great design. Units should be constructed for mixed use office and residential space. These would provide a very large income for the council and help fund much of the project. These units would rise to the top of the cliff. On top of these, at road level or just below, would be public roof gardens with walkways, bars and seating for all to enjoy. To the sides of the structure, where at the moment all you see is a dull concrete wall, we propose planting large vertical gardens. These can be planted in the theme of a sponsor’s logo or slogan. This would help with funding too. Finally, we propose the construction of the Angel of the South - a beautiful 100ft structure formed from beach pebbles and rise majestically from it. Reaching out across the channel with a hand of peace to Europe, the statue would be illuminated by night and designed to help with celestial observations and have perfect symmetry for wonderful photographs out to sea and across Brighton. In front of the Angel there may also be a sea organ to play the ocean’s own tune as its waves lap at the beach. For this part of our idea we suggest a UK-wide competition with the BBC. This would bring publicity to the city and its many attractions. Within all of these ideas we are looking to strengthen Brighton’s purpose and through our creativity we wish to cement Brighton’s identity and direction for future generations to come. Let’s not go down a road of mediocrity, let’s aim high and build an exciting future for us all.
MORE ) If you like these ideas, either individually or as a package, please forward your appreciation to the town’s seafront manager: nick.hibberd@brighton-hove.gov.uk and to the head of our council: warren.morgan@brighton-hove.gov.uk