What are your hopes for 2020? We spoke to residents about the year ahead

As the new year begins, we spoke to people in Brighton about changes they would like to see in the city in the coming 12 months – and their own resolutions.

Andy Winter, chief executive of Brighton Housing Trust, said a new year and a new decade brings hope for change.

He said: “I hope for a reduction in and an end to rough sleeping, reduced drug-related harm and increased abstinence and less violence in the home.”

Andy said he would like to see greater Government action in 2020 to tackle homelessness.

He said: “I hope to see more homes that people can afford to rent, particularly council housing, less poverty and greater economic justice.

“For Brighton Housing Trust, I look forward to a successful merger with Sussex Oakleaf [mental health support] in April, greater recognition of our ability to bring about lasting change and an increase in the number of homes we provide.”

Mike De Oliveira Viana said he would like Brighton and Hove City Council to pay more attention to residents in 2020, particularly in relation to new developments.

The 56-year-old said: “I would just like them to listen to people.

“The council seems to have this idea that they know better.

“They go in to present a plan and if anyone opposes it, it isn’t valid.

“The council built flats which blocked out all the natural light in the building where we used to live.

“We had opposed it but they didn’t listen, so we ended up moving out.

“I know we need houses for people to live in but you can’t block six houses just to make three.”

Mike, who lives in Somerset Street in Brighton, said he does not believe in new year’s resolutions.

He said: “I don’t have any resolutions as I don’t really understand the point of them.

“Why should one day make difference between one year and another?

“You can make changes at any time of the year.”

Green councillor for Brunswick and Adelaide Hannah Clare said she hopes 2020 will bring action from local and central government in tackling the climate crisis.

She said: “Addressing our climate crisis is a huge challenge but ignoring it is not an option.

“We have ten years to limit the catastrophic effects of global warming and stop temperatures exceeding 1.5C.

“We’re not going to solve our climate crisis in the next 12 months – but we can take further steps towards tackling our climate and biodiversity emergency.

“I’m looking forward to the climate assembly taking place in Brighton and Hove this year which will ensure that our community can get involved in tackling this together.”

Hannah said her new year’s resolution is to read more books this year.

She said: “I used to read 52 books in a year, but that has fallen by the wayside over the last two years.

“I did seven last year – this year I’m aiming for 20.

“I’m currently reading Beautiful You by Chuck Palahniuk, who is one of my favourite authors.”

Conservative councillor for Hangleton and Knoll Dawn Barnett would like to see Brighton and Hove cleaned up in 2020.

She said: “All the time people are throwing about fancy ideas, but I would like to see the basics sorted.

“I don’t blame Cityclean for the state of the streets, I blame the people throwing their rubbish on the floor.

“I would like to see people taking pride in where they live.

“Graffiti is not art, it is wilful damage, and the people doing it should be made to clean it off - that’s the only way to discourage it.”

Cllr Barnett said she does not have any new year’s resolutions.

She said: “I believe in being busy all the time and being active.

I’m getting older all the time, but as long as I can keep active, that’s most important.”

Lorraine Hof said she is sad that Brexit is set to take place in 2020.

The 56-year-old said: “Unfortunately the one thing I would like to see changed in 2020 is going to happen.

“I have a Dutch husband and there is a lot of stress people are going through in the settled status process.

“Fortunately my husband did not have too much trouble, but anyone who is not 100 per cent on the ball will suffer.

“I am very sad it is happening and it makes me feel differently about the UK.

“Brighton is quite a tolerant city but I think it is becoming less so.

“I don’t think Boris Johnson can really bring people together either – I think he just relies on sound bites.”

Lorraine, who lives in Norfolk Square in Brighton, said her new year’s resolution is to be kind.

She said: “At a time when the country is so divided, I think listening and being kind is really important, so that’s my resolution for 2020.

“We need to be kinder to one another.”

LORRAINE’S husband Marco Hof said he would like 2020 to bring changes which will reduce homelessness in Brighton and across the country.

The 52 year-old said: “I have no idea how many people are sleeping on the streets, but it is an insane number.

“It should just not be happening in 2020 in a rich country like the UK.

“It seems to be a problem everywhere you go now in Brighton that you see people in doorways and people begging.

“There is a culture now where people fall into it and they are not able to get out of it.”

Marco, of Norfolk Square, Brighton, said his new year’s resolution is to be nicer to people.

He said: “We watched Tom Hanks on Jools Holland and he said ‘be kind, be kind, be kind’ and he’s right.”

Richard Mann volunteers at the Friends charity shop in St James’s Street in Brighton.

The 69-year-old, who lives in Hereford Street, Brighton, said he would like to see changes to improve the Kemp Town area in the year ahead.

He said: “I would really like to see them repair the Madeira Terrace seafront arches.

“Otherwise they will end up falling down, like the old pier.

“I would also like to see St James’s Street pedestrianised.

“It would make it so much nicer, with more people sitting outside cafes and bars – we could have more of a street culture.”

Gerry Merritt, who lives in Camelford Street in Kemp Town said he would like to see homelessness tackled.

The 61-year-old said: “I went to a meeting with the police and an awareness group about homelessness, the drug problem and everything that goes on in St James’s Street, but I think it’s all been forgotten.

“We have guys taking drugs, stealing and generally being abusive.

“It’s not a good advert for the people coming to visit Brighton.

“We had this meeting in September, but nothing seems to have changed.

“It feels like they have ticked a box but there has been no real follow-up action.

“Saying that, I love living here and it’s a very tolerant city.”

Gerry, who works as a building site manager, said his new year’s resolutions are to do more exercise and start volunteering.

He said: “I’m going to start running.

“I also have an interview with the Samaritans to volunteer to help with suicide prevention.

“It’s something I’ve been meaning to do for years.”