A request to clear the weeds which have engulfed Portslade’s wooden ‘gassie’ boat has been turned down by the council.
The gassie is a twentieth century wooden boat, once used to ferry workers to the gasworks on Shoreham Harbour.
A resident asked for the boat, on the corner of Church Road and Wellington Road, to be given some TLC – or tender loving care.
But Brighton and Hove City Council says that de-weeding roads and pavements will take priority.
The woman, Sarah, tweeted: “PLEASE may you give some TLC to this poor Portslade Gassie? Thank you!
“It’s an embarrassment currently – right as you enter the city boundary!”
South Portslade Councillor Alan Robins said: “I would love to see the Portslade Gassie restored.
“It’s only about 20 yards from where I was born.
“Many of the people I knew when growing up worked at the gas works and the small boat known to us as the Jolly Boatman still took people across the canal for a tenner a time.
“Unfortunately, as well as being overgrown, the boat itself was vandalised a few years ago and would need replacing or repairing which may prove more costly and difficult.”
A council spokesperson said: “The Portslade Gassie was vandalised a few years ago.
“Unfortunately we believe it is beyond repair and would need replacing.
“With a forecast budget gap for next year of around £25m all council budgets are under intense pressure.
“In this context we are unable to say at this stage whether we will be able to replace the gassie.
“We are aware it is also overgrown. But our teams are currently having to prioritise weed removal on our roads and pavements, grass cutting and work on sports pitches.”
A part of Portslade history, the boats gave residents a direct route across the canal rather than a long walk to Aldrington.
A sign describing its use sits next to the boat saying: “During the last century, gas works were constructed across the canal to supply the increasing local population with their demand for gas.
“By 1926, the site occupied some 40 acres and provided work for local residents.
“These workers were ferried back and forth over the canal nicknamed gassies.
“The gassies were the most direct route for the staff and avoided a long walk along the coast to Aldrington and then back to the other side.”
Yet portslade pavements are still a clutter of weeds.
This perfectly encompasses the total and utter incompetent shambles that Brighton and Hove Council has become. Heritage is neglected. Civic pride is not valued. Excuses for doing nothing are tossed about like confetti. Our pavements, grass verges and open spaces are a disgrace. The long term damage being done to our pavements as a result of the lack of weed control is going to run into the tens of £millions. All the councillors who supported the abolition of the use of weedkiller without a viable plan B should be surcharged and pauperized. As for the work from home do nothing officer’s they should be forced back into the office so they can provide the service they are being paid to provide or fired.
Simon, well said, can’t agree more. As long as they get their pay,pensions and expenses, what do they care?
Why doesn’t she go and fix it herself if she cares so much.
Indeed. This is the ideal project for a community based group to get involved with and there are plenty of such groups across the city who help look after small areas in conjunction with the council who can provide advice on things like safe working and disposal of the plant waste,
Whilst it will be a big job to initially cut the vegetation back future maintenance will be much easier to manage.
Just to make a point to Mr Robin’s it used to cost me an old sixpence each time I crossed to work at the power station not a tenner,I didn’t even earn a tenner ,and as for the other gentleman, I’m guessing you have got weeds out side of your own house that you could possibly do you self unless of course you are DISABLED. Heres a tip mate ,make up some white vinegar and salt and spray it on the weeds outside your house if you are not able to use a hoe ,or shovel,the green council, and the those others who opposed the discontinuation of weed control have cost the local council tax PAYER unnecessary rises in there council tax,plus its a damm disgrace to have to walk amongst the weeds on PAVEMENTS but let’s not forget that the party that’s in power now was and have always been in cahoots with the greens
They really haven’t been in cahoots. That required a level of organisation that the Greens simply could not muster. My understanding as well is that the Greens got mad with authority, and that ultimately destroyed them. The proof is in the budget they left for the successive authority.
Great tip about weeds, by the way, been trying that out for a little while, been working rather well!
Councillor Robins more than likely said “tanner” (I.e.sixpence) and it was the reporter who wrote it as “tenner”.
I think he meant a tanner not a tenner Sean
Nonsense; this fits perfectly within the remit of EDB or the EIB funding pots. I hope one of the local RTAs or Cllr Robins picks up on this and starts this very easy solution.
Typical Brighton council. Spend thousands upon thousands of illegal migrants amd don’t give a toss about our heritage
Wow, straight to racism.. Sort yourself out
How sad, and symptomatic of modern society, that an extremely important topic that affects us all (illegal immigration) is immediately branded as ‘racism’ by some, and a subject which obviously to them should never even be mentioned let alone discussed, debated & dealt with sensibly.
What happened to the figure made of old gas pipes that use to sit in the boat. Or did I imagine it!!
All part of the #GreenGift.
How about a local wood working company takes it on and used it as a promotional piece for there local business…. surely the local council would allow a prominent plaque recognising the company as part of the project.. councils are across the country all under extreme finical pressure so alternative solutions need to be found to preserve our heritage
What strength vinegar do you mix with the salt? I’ve heard that too be effective your need higher concentrations than you get from supermarkets and there are safety considerations and it can damage pavements.
Could it just be the salt that is killing the weeds? What do you do about runoff on other plants when it rains? How often do you repeat the application?
Looking at the picture, how much vinegar and salt would you need?
Is vinegar and salt dangerous to insects and animals?
Recent article https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/garden/1814922/how-to-get-rid-of-weeds-naturally-chemical-free