News

Varndean College
Caffyns in Preston Road
London Road Regeneration scheme
Walks
Tree Planting

Varndean College
The Society is, jointly with the Brighton Society, has campaigned to oppose the plan to demolish Varndean College and replace it with a glass, brick and tile structure, with a flat roof and a giant glass bubble at the front. Unfortunately we were unsuccessful in getting the building listed.

Caffyns in Preston Road
Caffyns closed at the end of October 2008, but was replaced as a temporary showroom by Audi. In the present economic climate it seems unlikely that a new permanent car showroom will open in its place. The shops which were previously on this site were bombed during the WW2 (see a photo in ‘Preston: downland village to Brighton suburb’ distributed by Brighton Books Publishing). The surface car park is unsightly, and cars are frequently parked on the pavement, it would be an improvement if well-designed flats or a terrace of houses were built on the site. We would like to have some more little shops, but it is doubtful whether they would be viable.

The Anston House site
Mature trees have been felled without permission on this site, including a magnificent copper beach. We will press the Council to fine the owners of the site and require them to replace the trees with mature specimens.

London Road Regeneration scheme
The Society has been represented at meetings organized by consultants, Urban Initiatives, to regenerate London Road.
We have been concerned that the consultants had so little knowledge of the area, of its recent planning history and of currant proposals. We considered that the Council were wasting Council tax payers money on this so-called ‘blue sky thinking’. Some Council officers have now admitted that the ideas which were put forward by the consultants were impractical.
We thought that the Council should have started the consultation process by asking local people for their ideas.
The Open Market traders had taken the initiative to commission architects to draw up plans to rejuvinate the market, and we thought that this was a good example of a more realistic way forward.

Tree Planting
The Society is sponsoring a bay tree to be planted outside the west wall of the Preston Manor walled garden. We want to hide - as far as is possible - the yellow fascia of the Shell garage, which spoils the view to the west from the walled garden, particularly from the steps from the croquet lawn.
If members have any ideas about where you would like to see new trees planted please let us know