The debate between graffiti art and vandalism shifts, yet sometimes a line in the sand needs to be drawn. Tagging, once an expression of individuality in 70s New York, is tired, crude and a blight on the Triangle area.

Graffiti as an art form is very in vogue and in Brighton we are fortunate to have graffiti art to a high standard; just visit Kensington Street which is breathtaking.

Excellent examples are also to be seen in Trafalgar Street with its graffiti shop (some bargains to be had there).

Brighton and Hove Council graffiti officer Sarah Leach offered to find artists to have free reign on the passage between St Martins Street and Newport Street. The Triangle committee met with the artists who gave us some idea of their style.

What were we going to get? Basquait? The wonders that subverted the Berlin wall? Hopefully no Bansky, so one-dimensional and cartoonist.

The design reflects some aspects of our area with the old viaduct, also South Asian influences associated with Buddhism. It is certainly an improvement and an achievement on a difficult porous surface. Many thanks to Sarah Leach.

Residents have made a plea to council leaders and university bosses to prevent them from being overrun by students.
Late-night noise, antisocial behaviour and litter have already led to many families deserting areas in Brighton.

Thousands of students from the universities of Brighton and Sussex live in the city and there is a growing concern about the problems they create.

At an Elm Grove Area Residents Action Group meeting, people expressed their frustrations to representatives from Brighton & Hove Council, Sussex Police and both universities.

By Helen Murray
Mary Magdalene Street

Because many of the streets in the area are narrow we do not have wheelie bins or envelope-type containers, so we have to put our rubbish sacks out on the pavements. This causes a number of problems.
Most rubbish sacks purchased from supermarkets are very thin and tear very easily. Some people continue to put rubbish out on the wrong day with seeming impunity from the council.

When recently asked about the situation, City Clean said that they continue to monitor the whole of the central area of Brighton and all non-wheelie bin/envelope areas of the city to survey the best form of refuse containment and it will take them until next year before a final decision is made. They are actively considering extending the provision of communal bins and evaluating costs/locations. There has been strong opposition to these when previously trialed in areas of Hove. The disadvantages are that they will take up valuable parking spaces, be unsightly and possibly smelly and unhygienic if not emptied/cleaned regularly and difficult for some members of the public to use. Also, pity the poor person who has to have one of these bins placed outside their property.

I suggested to City Clean that they could try delivering proper, strong rubbish bags for all residents in non-wheelie bin areas. This happened in Southend where I used to live. The bags were delivered every quarter. The rates were a lot cheaper too, perhaps they saved money because there was less mess to clear up.

Whatever happens, something has to change, the area is often littered with rubbish. Unfortunately this area of Brighton, along with others is fast earning a reputation for being a dirty neighbourhood.

If you want a street cleaner to come to your road you can ring Brighton 292929 or e-mail cityclean@brighton-hove.gov.uk.

Hello. I wonder whether residents in Park Crescent Road have noticed that Number 1 has applied for a licence to sell alcohol.

We have sent a letter to the council and contacted Keith Taylor as we are concerned about the following points:

• This area is already served to capacity by many licensed premises, from pubs to off-licences, supermarkets, small general stores and take-away restaurants. We do not see that there is any evidence for the need for another outlet for alcohol in any coherent development plans which would serve the residents of this area
• We are concerned about the public order issues, such as noise and petty vandalism, which might be associated with a licensed premises in this residential road. What evidence is there from the police, the council and national figures that there will NOT be a rise in such public disorder in an area such as ours?
• We are working hard to develop the community in this area, with the encouragement of our local councillor, Keith Taylor, and the setting up of local groups and newsletters with council support. What is the rationale for the granting of such a licence in the wider context of development in this area?

What do other folk think?

Avril

Interested in eating more local food? Want to grow your own?

The Brighton and Hove Food Partnership and Food Matters are developing a city-wide project exploring how more food can be produced within our city in order to feed ourselves more sustainably. We are putting together a portfolio of projects and hope to get Big Lottery funding to make them happen.

Come and contribute your ideas at a workshop exploring how we can produce and eat more delicious, fresh and healthy local food which hasn’t cost the earth.

Guest Speaker: Julie Brown, Growing Communities, Hackney – a successful and well established urban growing project in London.

Weds 4th June 12-4, with lunch from 12pm - 12.45pm at Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton.

Places are limited, to book call Ann at the Food Partnership on 01273 431700 or email ann@bhfood.org.uk .