Portslade Together newsletter issue 1

DECEMBER 2022

VOL. 29

PORTSLADE TOGETHER

copyright © G.Osborne Find more great photos and local history at Portslade in the Past portsladehistory.blogspot.com

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IN THIS ISSUE

PORTSLADE TOGETHER HEALTHY NEIGHBOURHOOD FUND WHATS ON LOCALLY COUNCILLOR CORNER COST OF LIVING SUPPORT AND USEFUL INFORMATION

Portslade Together

Portslade Together is a newly formed community forum that is about all things Portslade. Our aim is bring people together to help make Portslade a supportive and thriving place to live. As well holding meetings andI N events, T H I S we I S will S U Ebe producing a community newsletter (this one) 3 - 4 times a year which we hope you will find useful. In addition, we will be administering the Healthy Neighbourhood Fund (see below for more details).

Join the team Are you interested in getting involved? We have space for new members and are particularly looking for volunteers to take on the role as Treasurer. To find out more or to chat through the role contact us on contactus@portsladetogether.uk We're on facebook too, so follow us to keep updated (QR code below)

Healthy Neighbourhood Fund

The Healthy Neighbourhood Fund is a small grant fund that is available to groups and projects that support healthy living, including: healthy eating, active living, improving mental health, ageing well and raising awareness of health issues. Groups and activities that have received funding in the past include, youth activities, older peoples groups, park groups and exercise groups. If you have an idea or a project that meets one of the above criteria and would like to find out more or to request an application form, contact Amy who can give you more information and can help will the applying to the fund amyallison@trustdevcom.org.uk 07477 972455

To find free warm spaces in Brighton and Hove go to https://www.brightonhove.gov.uk/cost-living-support/warm-welcome-directory-indoor-activitiesand-warm-places-go-winter.

Or scan QR code to go directly to web page

DECEMBER 2022

Whats on near you..

MILE OAK LIBRARY IN PACA SCHOOL (TURN LEFT IN MAIN RECEPTION)

OPEN MON - FRI 2-5PM SAT 9.30 - 12.30 SUN - CLOSED

BORROW BOOKS AND AUDIO BOOKS, FREE WIFI, COMPUTERS, PRINTER AND SCANNER, SEPERATE AREA FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS

Warm Space at Portslade United Reformed Church, Station Road,

warm in every sense of the word - warm friendly and comfortable We're open every Wednesday from 10.30 - 12.30. Free hot drinks. All welcome Monthly drop in coffee Everyone morning at welcome the Church of the Good Shepherd (Stanley Ave) on 1st Saturday of the month from 10am - 12pm

Older peoples group - Tuesday Fellowship at Portslade United reform Church Tuesday Fellowship meets fortnightly on a Tuesday afternoon from 2.30 - 4.15pm in the church hall (entrance in St Aubyns Road) They have various speakers and activities over the weeks with time for a cuppa and a chat. Next meeting Tuesday 6th December and then again on Tuesday 10th Jan. To find out more about Warm Space or Tuesday Fellowship contact Jayne on 07766022090/ jaynepackham@ntlworld.com To find out more about youth sessions run by HKP please contact them on 01273 706469 or 07702 392339 or email youth@hkproject.org.uk

If you would like your group or activity to be included in the next Portslade Together newsletter please contact us on contactus@portslade together.uk

DECEMBER 2022

Councillor Corner Cllr Alan Robins. 01273 291157/07557 197591 email: alan.robins@brighton-hove.gov.uk Cllr Les Hamilton 01273 702052 or email: leslie.hamilton@brighton-hove.gov.uk We have recently had three unwelcome planning applications in South Portslade a a and the council has received many objections.

Adur The application to Adur Council to build homes on land behind Manor Close in Southwick affects Portslade. The access to the site has to be through Gardener Street Portslade and it will have to cross the boundary path. It would have been a lot easier to purchase a property in Manor Close, demolish it and provide an access to the building plot. There was no need to involve Portslade at all in this development.

5G Mast Last year the construction of a 5G mast on land in Portslade at Fishersgate Terrace was approved by officers but overturned at judicial review. An almost identical application has been resubmitted on the same site, 27 metres away from St Peters School. On health grounds alone this application should be refused.

Because it is a prior approval rather than a planning application it will be decided by officers using delegated powers. . Government decisions have made it more difficult to get these mast applications rejected.

Old Brewery We also had the Le Carbone, Old Brewery application. It was proposed to convert part of the building into a medium/ high risk facility for those with mental health problems. There had been NO consultation with Councillors or residents, and we held two well attended meetings for residents to express their concerns. The developer then dropped the idea, and the flats are now being sold. However, there is now an application to convert the ground floor to planning class E, which permits almost everything. This class E was brought in by government to make planning easier. The promised artist studios and galleries, community room and café have been dropped from the plans. Needless to say, we have objected to all of these applications

Cllr Peter Atkinson Contact: 07809 100439 / peter.atkinson@brighton-hove.gov.uk Oak Point Residents living in this new development contacted me with concerns over defects a . and problems with their housing and the standard of workmanship. There is also frustration at . the slow response from Clarion, the Housing Association who own this development. I’m busy collating all these complaints and will be asking Clarion to deal with this as a matter of priority.

Renewal of road surfaces I have been chasing the council for confirmation of this work .As you’re aware, the heavy construction traffic for the Oak Point development has led to a very poor road surface in many parts of several roads. This work has now been confirmed for early next year Poor O2/mobile phone signal in Mile Oak Following the repair to the local mobile phone mast in Mile Oak there still appears to be a problem with very poor signal strength. I am working with Peter Kyle’s office (our local MP) to establish why this is so and what can be done about it.

Refuse and Recycling collections. We continue to have sporadic problems with non collection of refuse and recycling. Please let me know as soon as a collection is missed and I’ll contact City Clean personally to try and get something done.

Cllr Anne Pissaridou Call: 07562 437609 or email: anne.pissaridou@brighton-hove.gov.uk Mile Oak library. There have been concerns about a proposed relocation of Mile Oak Library in .

PACA to the room currently being used by the thriving snooker club in Portslade Sports Centre. .

After raising my concerns at Council the move was postponed, and a decision was made not to progress the relocation – a successful outcome for the snooker players.

Section 106 funds The S106 legal funding provided by the building development at Oak Point has greatly benefited the community. In terms agreed by the planning committee at the initial planning stage, the funding will pay for resurfacing the roads damaged by large vehicles, and make Fox Way safer. I met with council officers at both locations to seek solutions and delivered over 1000 letters to nearby neighbours.

The funding will also pay for much needed resurfacing and returfing of the top field on Mile Oak Rec. So good news all round.

Thanks Finally, I would like to say a big thank you to residents in Thornbush Crescent for their wonderful display of Christmas lights, all the money donated going to our local Foodbank, Purple People Kitchen. At this difficult time contact me if you need help or advice, I wish you all, all the best for the new year.

DECEMBER 2022

Advice and support services ADVICE Citizens Advice www.cabrightonhove.org/get-advice/ Money Advice Plus www.moneyadviceplus.org.uk - Local money and debt support or advice line 0800 988 7037 Turn2us Fighting UK Poverty www.turn2us.org.uk - Benefit calculator and grant search HELP WITH ENERGY & UTILITIES BHESCo Home Energy Saving www.bhesco.co.uk/save-home-energy - Energy & switching advice, community energy etc.

Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP) https://applyforleap.org.uk/ or call freephone 08000607567 The Energy Saving Trust www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/ Tips for energy saving Southern Water Advice www.southernwater.co.uk/account/help-paying-your-bill HELP WITH FOOD Healthy Start Vouchers www.healthystart.nhs.uk - Vouchers for milk, fruit and veg for under 4s Brighton and Hove Food Partnership www.bhfood.org.uk Free School Meals www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/free-school-meals Or call 01273 293497 B&H City Council Discretionary Fund Helpline 01273 293117 (option 1) OTHER SUPPORT UOK Brighton & Hove Mental health & wellbeing support call freephone 0808 1961768 (open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) Social Prescribing & Befriending - Together Co www.togetherco.org.uk Ageing Well www.ageingwellbh.org - Gateway to activities and support services for over 50s in Brighton & Hove.

Sussex Interpreting Service www.sussexinterpreting.org.uk Brighton & Hove Wellbeing Service www.brightonandhovewellbeing.org Mental health & wellbeing service

Local support

BrightStore at Church of the Good Shepherd Stanley Ave every Wednesdays 1-4pm

BrightStore is a weekly social grocery store, designed to give local families easy access to highquality, affordable food. The majority of BrightStore’s food comes from surplus and wastage, all still good to eat. Everyone is welcome to visit, shopping costs £4 for 1-2 people or £6 for larger families. BrightStore is a solidarity scheme so if you are able to pay a little more, this helps to support your neighbours. Donations are gratefully received, follow us on facebook or email info@brightstore.org BrightStore is currently closed to new members but you can contact us to be added to our waiting list.

Purple People Kitchen Food bank at Hove Town Hall every Friday 11am - 2pm Referral is through approved organisations and is necessary to access the food bank. We can help signpost those in need to relevant referrer.

Donations are very welcome from 9am on Fridays. We are in particular need of instant noodles, instant mash, microwave rice pouches, tinned meat including curry and chilli - anything that can be cooked quickly or microwaved. Financial donations also very gratefully received. Please contact PPK through facebook or pop in on any Friday.