£2.2m work starts at Brighton's Level (From The Argus)
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£2.2m work starts at Brighton's Level
5:00pm Friday 26th October 2012 in News
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Councillor Pete West and St Bartholomew's head teacher Amanda Healy with pupils at The Level
The turf has been turned on the first part of a £2.2 million redevelopment of The Level.
Brighton and Hove City Council received Heritage Lottery Funding to completely revamp the park in Ditchling Road.
Council bosses joined children from nearby St Bartholomew’s Primary School and community representatives to mark the start of the work.
The park will be closed for nine months while the refurbishment is carried out although people will still be able to use the path on the outside.
Among the improvements will be a new playground, fountains and a sensory garden created in the bottom half of the park.
It is hoped improved lighting, CCTV and a full-time park manager will help deter antisocial behaviour.
Buildings have already been demolished to make space for a new café and toilet block.
The skate park will be moved from the southern half to the north part, which is currently free from any development.
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Comments(7)
The Real Phil
says...
6:05pm Fri 26 Oct 12
rolivan
says...
8:01pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Hovite
says...
8:45pm Fri 26 Oct 12
5 people one spade and a cheap photo opportunity with children.
Sounds like a great day out.
HJarrs
says...
8:52pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Hovite
says...
9:01pm Fri 26 Oct 12
When looking at your comment on the King Alfred story all I read was some moaning negative spin on a story.
At least there was some humour in mine.
Lighten up HJ or should I call you pot!
ARealBessie
says...
9:21am Sat 27 Oct 12
Sussex jim wrote:Answer: Absolutely none!
I wonder how many of the homeless in Brighton will be employed on this project- so that they can earn a wage and pay for rented accommodation?
In fact, as far as I can tell, apart from the council divs responsible for forcing through this unwanted, extreme makeover of The Level, and the new p/t gardener (apparently funds are no longer available for a full-time one), there are no paying jobs for locals at all - net alone homeless ones! The 'design consultants' the council hired are rich boys from the posh end of London who subcontract work to other out of town firms (hence we had land surveyors from Portsmouth not Brighton.)
On the other hand, these new plans have already driven The Level's kiosk owners out of business, and with the proposed 56 seater cafe open till 10pm, the future's not looking too bright for a few other local businesses (already struggling under new parking charges, raised rents, and loss of business whilst building works in the local area take place). However, as the council have given us all a design it now can't afford to maintain, there will be a pressing need for free labour. So, who knows? Perhaps Brighton's homeless will get to work on The Level... only they won't get paid for it, and they still won't be able to afford to pay for rented accommodation.
Sussex jim says...
5:40pm Fri 26 Oct 12