Brighton & Hove's REGENCY Magazine » Local News

History Centre To Stay Open

REGENCY — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 11:02:08 +0000

Many were relived to hear that the council’s plan to close the local History Centre has been cancelled. Good to see that the council are taking note of people’s views in the press and through the petition facility on the council’s website.

West Pier Lit Up By Lasers

REGENCY — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 11:00:40 +0000

It was a futuristic treat for residents as last week the West Pier was lit up by computer-controlled green lasers. The lasers setup was designed in part by local artist Niki Best, and executed by French lighting company Creatmosphere. Many turned out to witness the illusion, despite the snow that began to fall earlier in the day. It was most impressive and I hope more such events are planned around the city.

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O Dear

REGENCY — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 10:59:33 +0000

Despite the start of the clearing of the remains of the West Pier it seems that the developers behind the Brighton O are still short of funds, as REGENCY reported several issues ago. They have even been forced to appeal on local TV for someone to drop something into their begging bowl – sorry, I mean take advantage of the sponsorship opportunities.

Blogger Off

REGENCY — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 10:58:09 +0000

The end of an era – one of the Green councillors for Queen’s Park, Ben Duncan, has closed his online blog. Ben, who gave as such bizarre rants as his opinion that the “White Nights” citywide event had too many white people there, claims the closure is to do with him opening his new parliamentary website soon. I’m sure it’s nothing to do with the barrage of criticism he faced from online pundits. Honestly.

Starbucks Battle

Old Market Update

REGENCY — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 10:55:36 +0000

Regular readers will recall the article we ran in the December issue of REGENCY about the Old Market. We can now report that the Old Market Trust has folded, and re-opened the same day as a private company. Regrettably this means that many performers have been left with unpaid bills. It seems they are not alone – the arts venue also owed the taxman £240,000. The rumour is that Barclay’s Bank have now sold the building to a ‘happy-clappy’ church. The good news (get it? ‘Good News’ and church? Oh never mind) is that it will probably still be used as a venue for events.

Sussex Police Issue ‘Hoax’ Scam Warnings

REGENCY — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:51:44 +0000

Sussex Police are issuing warnings regarding a parcel delivery scam involving a company called Parcel Delivery Services (that name must have taken a while to come up with). Apparently the scam runs like this: PDS pop a note through your door saying that they tried to deliver a package to you with a number to ring to arrange re-delivery. But – shock, horror – there is no package and you are billed at £15 per minute on the phone line. Now firstly it is not possible to run a £15 per minute phone line and secondly the company’s £1.50 per minute lines were cut off and they were prosecuted and fined five years ago, as PhonepayPlus, the phone-paid services regulator, have been at pains to point out ever since.

This gaffe from PC Plod of Lewes Police comes after last year’s advice from a Brighton PCSO (printed in a less reputable community magazine) warning that hackers could take control of the SIM card in your mobile phone and make calls at your expense by getting you to type in a series of numbers into your phone – an outright hoax which started in America involving AT&T, and which has been circling the planet for the past 15 years. Nice to know that blind faith has overtaken evidence-based enquiry in our county’s police force. Oh, and children aren’t being kidnapped in ASDA car parks by Eastern European couples either – another old favourite.

Handbags At Dawn

REGENCY — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:50:22 +0000

Last month local Labour MP Celia Barlow (she of the “high lustre” shower head billed to the British taxpayer) was all set to star as guest of honour at the opening of a new branch of Boots – what glamourous lives these MPs live – and had the great honour of cutting the ribbon. The people flocked to the new chemists in er … single figures, but guest of honour Ms. Barlow was nowhere to be seen … and no phone call. After 30 minutes of waiting local Tory councillor Dawn Barnett stepped in, cut the ribbon and the festivities commenced. When the bedraggled Ms. Barlow finally arrived, assembled residents were forced to endure the entire ribbon cutting ceremony again after Ms. Barlow was informed that it was a Tory councillor who had already cut the ribbon. If looks could have killed ….

NHS Whistleblower Wins Award

REGENCY — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:49:05 +0000

Margaret Haywood, who was struck off the Nursing Register after she secretly filmed at the Royal Sussex County Hospital and revealed the appalling practices and treatment of the elderly, has been given an award. Ms. Haywood, whose removal from the register was quashed and replaced with a one year caution, accepted the Patients’ Choice Award at the Nursing Standard Nurse of the Year Awards. Good for her – we need more whistleblowers around and about the city (any council employees – feel free to call!)

Council Tax Set To Be Lowest In Sussex

Brighton and Hove Abandon  “City of Culture” Bid

REGENCY — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:47:52 +0000

There’s pride in your city, and then there’s outright stupidity. Mind you, Liverpool won last time so maybe we were in with a chance. Related posts:John Lewis Hopes For Brighton REGENCY Interviews Brighton and Hove Council Leader ... Related posts:

Conservatives Pick Pavilion Candidate

REGENCY — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:46:46 +0000

Brighton Tories were out in force for Sussex’s first selection of a Conservative candidate by the general public as opposed to the usual local political party group meeting. It seems however that the majority of the public stayed at home. It probably didn’t help that the published email address bounced back and the telephone number wasn’t always answered, according to residents that we spoke to. The winning candidate was Charlotte Vere from London who will wrestle (literally I hope) Caroline Lucas (Green) and Nancy Platts (Labour) for the Pavilion seat. Oh, and there’ll probably be a Lib Dem thrown in too.

Tories Hold Open Primary For Some Strange Reason