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Planning chief takes the hot seat (From The Argus)
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Welcome to the Friday Inquisition.
Each week, from 12.30 to 1.30, a different person will be in the hotseat ready to answer
your questions on all the burning local issues affecting the region.
To submit your question simply fill in the form below and click send. Our guest's
responses can be read in the relevant article below.
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Planning chief takes the hot seat
12:00pm Friday 19th December 2008
The chairwoman of Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning committee will answer your questions in today’s Friday Inquisition.
Lynda Hyde will take part in the live online question time from 12.30pm to 1.30pm.
Argus readers can quiz the councillor about the controversial plans to develop Brighton Marina.
Last Friday, the planning committee voted 9-3 against the bid to build more than 1,300 flats and shops on the western edge of the site.
To ask a question fill in the form above.
More Friday Inquisition stories
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- Trains chief Chris Burchell in hot seat
- Question Councillor Ted Kemble about the King Alfred
- Geoffrey Theobald answers questions on failing rubbish collection service
- Henry Allingham, Britain's oldest man
- Councillor Anne Meadows and Brighton universities' Student Unions
- Austen Hunter, head of transport operations at Brighton and Hove City Council
- John Jory, chief executive of Mid Sussex District Council, and Claire Tester, head of planning
- Brian Hughes, director, Fit for the Future project
- Test out your jokes on top comedian Stephen Grant
Your Say YourArgus
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
12:49pm Fri 19 Dec 08
Thomas Fletcher
The Brighton Marina does need to be developed. Any development should include housing and retail and must not forget that the site is primarily a marina. There is already a good selection of leisure facilities, including a cinema, bowling, casino and restaurants – more leisure facilities would be welcome.
LH
salty_pete, Saltdean says...
12:53pm Fri 19 Dec 08
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
12:56pm Fri 19 Dec 08
Johnny Boy
Housing certainly has not been ruled out on the marina site and would still be welcome there. Currently Brighton and Hove City Council are in the process of site searching to identify sites for housing. This is all part of the council’s local development framework process. The council is looking at revamping the London Road area. It’s possible that some housing may be included there.
LH
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
12:59pm Fri 19 Dec 08
Ken Collins
There is a comments box on the online planning register and you should use this. These comments are always noted and are part of the consultation process.
LH
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
1:05pm Fri 19 Dec 08
Patsy
Housing may still be built on the marina. The application was refused for many reasons, not just because of the amount of housing.
It may well be that a more acceptable proposal will come forward in the future. The Brunswick development, which has already been approved, was refused the first time round and when they came forward with an improved application it was granted.
As I mentioned in a previous reply, the council is currently involved in site searching for future developments.
LH
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
1:11pm Fri 19 Dec 08
Hello Mrs Hyde,
I want to know how Brighton will be affected by the lack of development. First the King Alfred then now this has been lost.
Is the city going to be left to rot with no new buildings and jobs?
Why did the councilors vote against it? Surely it was the best thing for Brighton?
Jeff, Hove
The councillors voted against the marina application because they felt it did not adhere to the council’s own planning policies. It is certainly not the intention to allow this vibrant city to be left to rot with no new buildings or jobs. When I look at the weekly planning list, which is a list of the new planning applications, the list is not getting shorter and developers are still keen to develop in the city.
The reason the King Alfred has been lost is because of the current economic downturn, which no longer makes the development viable.
LH
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
1:17pm Fri 19 Dec 08
salty_pete, Saltdean
The government directs us to make best use of brownfield sites to accommodate any increase in housing. Retailers on the Brighton Marina site struggle to continue with their business due to lack of footfall. Any increase in housing and leisure facilities will be beneficial to the retail sites. We have to ensure these sites are not lost. Many of the units are already empty.
I am very conscious of the fact that the site is first and foremost a marina.
LH
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
1:31pm Fri 19 Dec 08
Paul Jones
We live in a democratic society – councillors are elected by residents and as such must listen to their views and give them every consideration. With this particular application there were thousands of objectors and I was contacted by just two who supported the marina proposals. It is usual for councillors to accept the recommendation of their officers, who are professionals in their own right. However, in this instance they were of the opinion the application did not meet with all of the council’s own planning policies.
With major applications such as Brighton Marina which includes many planning policies sometimes a decision is made that “on balance” the development is or is not acceptable.
LH
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
1:32pm Fri 19 Dec 08
Paul Jones
We live in a democratic society – councillors are elected by residents and as such must listen to their views and give them every consideration. With this particular application there were thousands of objectors and I was contacted by just two who supported the marina proposals. It is usual for councillors to accept the recommendation of their officers, who are professionals in their own right. However, in this instance they were of the opinion the application did not meet with all of the council’s own planning policies.
With major applications such as Brighton Marina which includes many planning policies sometimes a decision is made that “on balance” the development is or is not acceptable.
LH
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
1:44pm Fri 19 Dec 08
Fenugreek salad
The proposals for the marina and the old Royal Alexandra Hospital were both difficult decisions. Decisions are frequently hard to make because of the conflict with the council’s planning polices.
LH
Friday Inquisition, Brighton says...
1:44pm Fri 19 Dec 08
LH
Greengrocer, Brighton & Hove says...
1:58pm Fri 19 Dec 08
Friday Inquisition wrote:I think the reason they struggle for business, are the fact that some of the shops are entirely inappropriate for the marina, i.e. the Suitcase shop for one!!!
Can I challenge your presumption that "Brighton Marina does need to be developed". It already has a good mix of leisure amenities and any development should be evolutionary responding to a definite need. How can you justify your presumption? salty_pete, Saltdean The government directs us to make best use of brownfield sites to accommodate any increase in housing. Retailers on the Brighton Marina site struggle to continue with their business due to lack of footfall. Any increase in housing and leisure facilities will be beneficial to the retail sites. We have to ensure these sites are not lost. Many of the units are already empty. I am very conscious of the fact that the site is first and foremost a marina. LH
As for them being empty, it's not promoted enough, do you see any signs by Brighton Pier saying "this way to the Marina ->", I must have missed them if they have, the marina has a very poor image, and poor transport links, how about the much proposed but never anything done about it Monorail to the Marina, surely that would be a fantastic method of getting people there, and worth a trip in itself to tourists?
Perhaps then it would not be a mile walk to the marina, to visit a few cr*p shops which seem to permanently have a 50% off sale?
But of course, the numptys on the council will never allow anything bold or ambitious, or new as they scurry back to their victorian houses to make sure the leg of the coffee table isn't showing, and that the scullery maid hasn't dropped the china.... lol
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Greengrocer, Brighton & Hove says...
12:20pm Fri 19 Dec 08
In a time of serious recession these councillors have ruined the prospects for employment of local building companies and ordinary sub-contractors. They should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.