Today is the last chance to shape the future of a £13 million scheme to revamp Hove seafront between the King Alfred and the Lagoon.
Last week councillors voted to keep a lid on the cost of the project after construction estimates came in over budget – at £16.6 million.
Councillors were presented with an indicative list of features that could be chopped from the scheme to save money.
But the new Labour council leader Bella Sankey said that she was keen to hear from the public before a final decision was made.
And even then, Councillor Sankey said that she hoped that it might be possible to find other ways of funding features that had made the overall project attractive in the first place.
Among the items on a list of potential savings presented to councillors were some children’s play equipment, a sand sports area and the proposed resurfacing of north-south paths.
Other changes could including seeding lawns rather than turfing them, using cheaper plants and using cheaper materials for paths which would be narrower than initially planned.
The budget for the scheme had included some financial slack to allow for the rising costs of labour and materials but prices had gone up faster than anticipated.
Councillor Sankey told a meeting last week: “We are very confident … that this can still be delivered to a really excellent standard.
“It’s a very exciting project and a much-needed project. I believe it will be the first new park in the city for over 100 years.”
To see the report to councillors detailing proposed savings, click here.
To share feedback on which features should be retained, email kingswaytothesea@brighton-hove.gov.uk today (Friday 30 June).
Consulting the public?
The Greens won’t like that!
But it was the Greens who started the consultation and engagement process and after all the listening its Labour who are back tracking
Bernard
We know all about the ‘Green’ consultation process.
The Green way is listening very closely to those who have views that favour their agenda’s mostly cycling groups and discount any official recommendations by other groups.
I’m wondering if local residents could be given the designs to some of he omitted aspects, and allow them to apply for various funding streams to arrange for them to be done in parallel with the main works.
Has corporate/philanthropic sponsorship been considered?
The David Gilmour Rock Garden has a nice ring to it!
Have different contractors been tendered for after these jacked up the price?
The Council is always an easy target for companies seeking easy money. It is simply naive. Just look at the cycle hangar scheme and the ludicrously priced Beryl Bikes. Don’t worry – the taxpayer will pick up the tab
Are the right things being cut? Tennis courts etc., on the sea front where most of the year its windy? Maybe not the ideal location for ball games?
Leave the skate park where it is. That will save £1000’s. There’s no need to move it. It seems to be rebuilt every 5-10 years anyway
Just give pedestrians, bus users, cyclists etc safe and pleasant routes.
Saw this headline today…
UN says climate change ‘out of control’ after likely hottest week on record
After record breaking days on Monday and Tuesday, unofficial analysis shows the world may have seen its hottest seven days in a row
It’s an emergency