Jim Gowans
Councillor Jacob Taylor
It always strikes me that our city centre encapsulates all the things that are exciting and unique about our city, while also exhibiting many of the issues that we need to improve. Wherever you live in Brighton & Hove – from Portslade to Saltdean, and everywhere in between – the city centre is important. When knocking on doors across the city, residents will often raise issues about the centre – parking, public toilets, the general look & feel – before issues about their own neighbourhood. It belongs to all of us – as a hub for education, travel, culture, shopping, and importantly, having fun. However, I know that the status of the city centre is particularly relevant to Whistler readers, given the proximity to West Hill – hence I wanted to provide an update on key issues the council are working on.
There’ s so much happening in the city centre, it’ s difficult to decide where to focus – but I’ ll start with‘ Valley Gardens 3’. This is the major transport project currently being delivered in the area around Old Steine. When I became a councillor, I was unsure of the merits of this project – mainly because of the level of opposition from some quarters. As an administration, we conducted a full review of the business case and transport planning, and concluded it was an overwhelmingly positive development for our city centre.
As with any major project, there has been some disruption, but I honestly believe that when it’ s finished this area will look transformed, and will be much better for walking, cycling, getting the bus – and indeed driving, given that the shockingly poor roads will be resurfaced. I’ ll stick my neck out here and say that the many vocal naysayers will end up being proven wrong – and the vast majority of residents will love it.
Trees are such a vital part of urban living, and more and more research is being published on the broader benefits they bring to residents of cities – increased biodiversity, filtration of air pollution, cooling in hot weather, and even just making our streets feel more pleasant. Which is why it’ s so sad to see outbreaks of tree disease in the city and other areas of the south-east, and why I’ m so pleased that the council will be rollingout a programme of tree inoculations to protect our beautiful city-centre trees. I was pleased to join Councillors to plant the last tree of the spring season, in nearby Hamilton Road. But we also want to plant more, and are exploring funding options to turbo charge our tree-planting program in the coming years.
We consistently heard in the May 2023 election that residents felt it was sometimes difficult to contact the council, and that they valued speaking to someone in person. Which is why we have just opened a brand-new face-to-face customer service centre in our already successful Jubilee library. The library is a great place for young children, but we also believe deeply in properly funded youth services for teenagers and young people. This is why the council has part funded the building of a brand-new Brighton Youth Centre building – just up from the city centre on Edward Street.
Public transport and good air quality are so important to an inclusive and healthy city, which is why I was so excited to see the council and Brighton & Hove Busses partner with the government to significantly expand the number of fully electric busses that will operate in the city centre next year from 16 to 29.
Lastly, I’ m looking forward the refurbishment of Royal Pavilion Gardens starting in Spring 2026, following funding and planning permission last year. Not least because the Pavilion agreed to remove plans for a lockable gate – following pressure from residents in West Hill, and a direct intervention from Council Leader Bella Sankey. These refurbished gardens will be an important green space in the centre, alongside the Pavilion toilets which were reopened by this council administration.
We still have lots to improve in our city centre, but we’ re making good progress. If you have ideas or feedback, get in touch!
Jacob. taylor @ brighton-hove. hov. uk
l Councillor Jacob Taylor is Deputy Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council
Conservation Matters
Jim Gowans
A householder application to erect a 10-foot-high metal mesh fence around the front garden of a house on the corner of Alfred Road and Buckingham Road has been described as being“ more appropriate for a high security prison than for a residential property in a conservation area”. It would certainly not look out of place on the Mexican-American border.
The fence is designed to prevent the property owner’ s cat from accessing the street. Surely one of the pleasures of walking in our area is to encounter and engage with other residents’ pets.
Don’ t cage them; let them roam free and at the same time spare us this mesh monstrosity!