A community campaigner has started a petition calling for a code of conduct for events held in public spaces.
Derek Wright started the petition headed Save Our Green Spaces on Brighton and Hove City Council’s website.
Mr Wright set up the petition after hearing feedback from residents and businesses in the Valley Gardens area about the effects of events on their lives and the area.
The most recent event was a Euro 2024 football fan zone in the square by St Peter’s Church.
After speaking with people about events across the city, Mr Wright said that the events causing the most problems involved music and alcohol consumption.
He said: “The current process of issuing licences and the fees demanded is not transparent.
“There is little engagement with residents and businesses in the area before, during or afterwards.
“There are no financial benefits to areas where the event is being held and no immediate reparation to the grassed areas.”
The petition, which has attracted 83 signatures since it was started on Friday 12 July, asks for guidelines and a code of conduct created in collaboration with affected residents and businesses.
The petition said: “Residents and businesses, in close proximity to Valley Gardens, Preston Park, Kemp Town, Madeira Drive, Hove Lawns and Hove Park, are not being sufficiently consulted to input into commercial and community events or the issuing of licences/contracts in advance of them being agreed.
“Residents’ rights, needs and safety must form a fundamental part of any outdoor events strategy.
“These rights must be upheld by elected council members, officers, council services, council leader and, specifically, the outdoor events management team.”
The petition asks for guidelines to cover
- the procurement process
- a declaration of income
- the type of event
- the environment
- the location
- notification of events
- the duration of events
- community benefits
- participation numbers
- responsibility and safety
- noise levels
- compensation
- licence agreements
- business case
- charges and fees
- damage limitation
- adherence to the Outdoor Events Policy
The petition closes on Wednesday 23 October, the day before a meeting of the full council is due to be held.
If more than 1,250 people sign the petition, councillors would be expected to hold a debate about it.
Isn’t that the same elderly man who got a couple of hundred boomers to complain about homes being built in the dilapidated Brighton gasworks?
What ever happened to investigative journalism?
To clarify: nobody objected to the development of the gasworks, but rather the density of the accommodation and lack of local services to cope with the number of people and cars to be squeezed in there. Greedy development!
There were also concerns about the release of nasty chemicals from the contaminated ground as experienced at a similar site by the same developer.
OK boomer.
Means tested pension for you incoming.
Ho Ho – not me mate – I am leaving this sceptered isle, me and my (not quite) boomer money are leaving you all to it !
Says the man who has some very known biases on that particular issue, it feels a bit disingenuous of you to ad homiem another.
I agree with Chris here, the development has plenty of criticisms about it, from evidenced health concerns, lack of affordability, documentation with numbers that change inexplicably with every version, how existing services that are already under pressure manage, road congestion to name but a few.
But you know this Mark, we’ve spoken extensively on the subject, and I’ve seen you speak with plenty of others on here as well who have given you quite a comprehensive and articulated set of reasons.
Little bit of investigation for you there, as requested! 🙃
OK Boomer
Ha, haven’t that one in a while! Glad you agree with me, assuming you’ve not got anything to say.
A lot of this is already covered and on the councils website.
Here are the 24/25 fees for example
https://democracy.brighton-hove.gov.uk/documents/s195901/Fees%20and%20Charges%202024-25%20APX.%20n%206.pdf
And the 24/25 events were discussed and approved for Madeira Drive and various Parks and open spaces last September.
https://democracy.brighton-hove.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=1088&MId=11309
but no action, they dont adhere to the outdoor events policy
I’m wondering Derek, have you ever considered taking that to your local Area Panel? What did you do before this petition?
My understanding is that Kemptown doesn’t really get good representation for its residents as there is a lack of a formal TRA?
Good. The outdoor events in Brighton are generally managed very badly and need a bit more professionalism. The most important thing is that we stop giving away public spaces for tiny sums of money of so private companies can make millions. We rent out our parks for next to nothing in secretive contracts. A small friendship circle (in some cases linked to council officials) runs most events and they seem to get preferential treatment. This needs to stop!
Sounds like you have evidence of corruption which should be sent to the Police. Or not. I really don’t know. I agree this needs to stop. I don’t know what “this” is though, but it doesn’t prevent me from expressing an opinion. I’m here all week.
We’ve pushed him in his claims before Gabe, but I don’t think I’ve seen anything as of yet!
It’s the same at the Royal Pavilion with the ice rink. The ice rink company pays a very small amount and takes all the profits. The most concerning thing is no one has examined how it impacts on the foundations of the pavilion. I have this from a reputable source who is management at the site. If you don’t believe me ask the Pavilion trust if they have assessed the impact. If they will tell you of course!
Generally Solomon, when one makes a assertion, the onus is on them to provide the information to back up their claim. I’d be interested in reading this.
Residents and businesses of Preston Park, Hove Lawns, The Level, Valley Gardens, Kemptown, Madeira Drive, East Brighton Park, Hove Park Stanmer Park ….Please sign and share the Save our Green Spaces e petition. Halt the ruthless exploitation of our parks and open spaces for financial gain while leaving them unfit for use as parks afterwards. Let’s get the right outdoor events that everyone can enjoy in the right location. Thank you
No
Sorry Derek. I don’t think the petition advocates the right way of dealing with your genuine concerns. I can’t sign that, however, I think there are important elements in there that should be taken further.
explain
can you share a link for this please
He shared it already half a dozen times in this article. Which is five times too many.
https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2024/07/25/council-urged-to-weigh-up-costs-of-events-in-public-spaces/#comments
There also a link to it in the 2nd last paragraph of this article.
https://democracy.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=933&RPID=86985880&HPID=86985880
The Valley’Gardens’ space is a strip of land in the heart of a residential area. It is not suitable to run live and recorded music events, some 6pm – 2am for a month solid, followed by Fan Zone with loud music and flashing screens from 12 noon to 10pm for a month !
Events are great – on the hard standing events space area.
2-3 day music events fine, all day and early evening family events or craft and food festivals fine.
But paywalled month long loud music events that exclude residents, deliver huge profits to private companies (majority not Brighton) detract from the profits of local businesses; deliver a small £ sum to BHCC nothing to the area disrupted , leave residents, children and elderly tired and mentally stressed and cause huge damage to our ground rendering them unusable for the rest of summer, is just senseless, selfish and soulless !
Insult to injury- we paid for it to be created; we get locked out, we pay for it to be repaired!
It has to stop !
Please sign and share the petition https://democracy.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=933&RPID=86985880&HPID=86985880