AGM 3rd February 2012 Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT to AGM February 2012

• DRARA was set up in June 2009. It has a website and over 55 residents on mailing list.
• In 2011, we held 9 meetings, attended by a total of 20 residents, 5 of our 6 councillors and our Police Community Support Officer. Average attendance: 11 with at least 1 councillor at every meeting.
• We have made/maintained links with London Road Local Action Team, Sussex Community Rail Partnership, Southern Railway, Network Rail, Prestonville Community Association, British Transport Police, Digital Switchover campaign, Shaftesbury Road Carol singing group, Springfield Rd residents, Greenway Rangers, as well as a range of BHCC departments (Planning, Cityclean, Cityparks)

Issues addressed over 2011 include:

Streets

• Warleigh Rd rubbish collection and cleanliness: liaised with Cllr. Pete West and Cityclean (4/5, 9/6)
• Parking: letter to BHCC re motorcycle bays in Warleigh Rd (4/5, 9/6)
• Dog mess bags: displayed notices bottom of DR asking dog owners to leave bags in bin (18/10)

Environment

• discussed trees in the area with BHCC arboriculturalists: policy re. removal/replacement, tree threats (disease, parking etc.) (11/8)
• several DRARA members participated in a work session with Greenway Rangers
• set up London Road Station Partnership, now with over 20 members: gardening group looking after two gardens and a composting scheme involving near neighbours on both sides of the railway (1/3, 31/3 and standing reports at DRARA meetings)
• reported tagging on London Road Station bridge and worked with Edward White to get tagging addressed by graffiti team (5/1)

Community safety

• PCSO Bonnie Scoville has attended almost all meetings. Contact details are on DRARA website.
• discussed concerns over potential crowds at London Road Station on football match days with Southern, British Transport Police and through our PCSO (6/7, 11/8)

 Localism and neighbourhood councils/forums

• reviewed Localism Act and implications for area (18/10, 23/11, 5/1)
• attended BH workshop on Community Development and Neighbourhood Councils

 Planning

• raised concerns with BHCC over non-enforcement of planning regulations (throughout 2011)
• contributed to consultation on redevelopment of Co-op Building
• DRARA monitors planning applications for our area, and is sharing knowledge and expertise about planning/development process as it affects residents.

Events

• Visit to Plumpton Station Partnership, July 2011: 8 members of DRARA/LRSP visited Plumpton Station to talk to Station Partnership members there and view station improvements.
• Street Party, Sunday September 11 in Shaftesbury Place with LRSP garden open. Successful despite very windy weather. Laura Daniels raised money for her Operation Raleigh volunteer project.  Original Street Party plan for 5/6/11 cancelled because of difficulties getting permission and BHCC charge if a business (e.g. a pub) was involved. Improvements for next year: activities for children, safety.
• Tree Defects Day: planned for October, but had to be cancelled. BHCC arboriculturalists happy for us to organise again.
• Festive Singing: around 8 DRARA members joined with the established Shaftesbury Rd carol group for festive singing  on Shaftesbury Road/Shaftesbury Place, followed by mince pies and mulled wine.

 GOING FORWARD … a few initial ideas, but many more needed!

Trees and parking in Shaftesbury Place: Would you like to see the Shaftesbury Place elm and mountain ash, removed in July 2011, replaced? If so, let us know: email@ditchlingrise.org

Next street party ? Where? When? Part of this summer’s celebrations? Should it be Sunday 3^rd June – the Big Jubilee Lunch? Let us know your thoughts either by commenting below or to e-mail@dtichlingrise.org

Local History day? There are some great memories about Ditchling Rise on the My Brighton andHovesite. Could we develop this? Find out more about our area’s history?London RoadStation? Maybe involve local primary school? Develop a railway-themed trail from Brighton Station along the line of the old Kemptown line? An audio map? Let us know below your ideas, memories, links and volunteer to get involved in developing further: email@ditchlingrise.org

London Road Station Partnership? Community composting? Preston Circus planters? Do you enjoy gardening? If you live near London Road Station, would like to compost kitchen vegetable waste? Would you like the Preston Circus Planters restored to glory? Get in touch with LRSP: http://londonrdstationpartnership.wordpress.com or lrsp@hotmail.co,uk

 ACCOUNTS for DRARA from 28.1.11 to 2.2.12

 Angie Meaden-Bonnel, Treasurer

Elspeth Broady, Joint Secretary