Lewes Road Garden

[surrey jim]

Not sure if people are aware of the plans to shut the garden and build a Tesco/Flats and bookies on the site. Not wanting to be a NIMBY however cannot see what benefits this would bring, it being this on a road with a large Sainsburys , next to a COOP, opposite Spar. Already a number of the independent stores have closed down. There is also an excellent Turkish food market just a few doors away.

Protests today against the proposed developments < Lewes Road Community garden takes protest to court Brighton and Hove News >

I for one support them, It is not full of hippies smoking weed. Many people use the garden to grow veg etc in an area of town where most properties do not have gardens/outside spaces.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

I can see both sides of the story.

While the people that have created garden have done so in good faith they have built it on somebody elses property.

If shops and flats don't get built on brownfield sites such as this then they will need to be built on greenfield sites. It matters not which businesses are moving in - they will stand or fall by supply and demand - what does matter is the flats get built as we're desperately short of living property in the city.

The council should be doing more to provide land for community gardens and new allotments from it's own land stocks.

 

[phoenix]

Feel free to be a Nimby.It doesn't matter to me, as its not Falmer.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

Changed my mind I thought they owned at least part of it. I see Lucas is lobbying Eric Pickles I expect he will laugh at her as does every one else in Westminster.

 

[clippedgull]

Why don't the urban gardeners buy the land?

Failing that Tesco could offer them a roof garden above the proposed development.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

I thought good for Tesco when they agreed that the 'urban gardners' could have the land for a short period of time until they were ready to develop. That time has come and now the 'urban gardners' have gone back on that promise to give up the site so I have no sympathy for them.

They use the much needed greenspace argument but are they not aware of there being parks either end of the Road. Also, I'm not sure it's a great idea feeding children vegetables grown on contaminated land.

 

[Garage_Doors]

The Property is not owned by the gardeners,
The owners having spent money to buy it, now was to see a return on that investment.
If Flats or a Tesco is the way they want to do, provided they have the necessary planning consent its their choice.
If the gardeners want to stay they should buy it rather than just squat there.

As i understand as the ground was empty when they moved it and made it nice, and subsequently the owners had no immediate plans for the site were happy for them to stay temporally, but now they want to use it they kick up a fuss about leaving !!! unbelievable

 

[Buzzer]

This is something I feel very strongly about and is very very near to me so excuse me for getting on my high horse.

I can't for the life of me understand how Tescos can get away with this. Put this into perspective. In the last few years Sainsburys and Tescos have near on 15 or so Express/Local shops in the B&H area. This on top of the larger supermarkets that they own. They seem to be able to erect them completely unfettered and it doesn't appear to be stopping.

So....I live about 1 minute away from this site.

Within a 15 minute walk I can get to:
Large Sainsburys, London Road
Large Co-op, Baker Street(?)
Large Lidl, London Road (not that I would do of course)
Large Somerfield, London Road
About 4 or 5 smaller grocers in the London Road area

and if I'm really lazy and only fancy walking for 5 mins I can also get to:

Tesco Express by Brighton Uni
Large Sainsburys, Lewes Road
M&S Garage, Lewes Road
Numerous smaller grocers in the Lewes Road/Elm Grove area
....

and this is the point that really needs stressing:

Next door to this proposed development is a Co-op
Right opposite this development is a Spar
On the other side of the road to this development is another Grocery shop and a bookies.

And Tescos want to build a Tescos Express and a bookies.

Whether you think the gardeners should be there or not, this Tesco-ification of our shops is just madness. Who, at the council approves this? Why? What justification and what have Tescos promised the council?

Something is not right.

That garden is used by many people around the area. The fact that it is self-managed, often with no apparent supervision and remains graffiti -free and hasn't been vandalised speaks volumes for how we, the local residents, appreciate somewhere just to chill out without being accosted by junkies and winos (ever just tried reading a book at the level without being pestered?)

Places like the urban garden help create a community spirit. Local shops help create a community spirit. It also brightens up the area and is quite a nice place just to chill out. We don't need another effing Tescos. We really don't.

 

[The Large One]

100% spot on, Buzzer.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

This is something I feel very strongly about and is very very near to me so excuse me for getting on my high horse.

I can't for the life of me understand how Tescos can get away with this. Put this into perspective. In the last few years Sainsburys and Tescos have near on 15 or so Express/Local shops in the B&H area. This on top of the larger supermarkets that they own. They seem to be able to erect them completely unfettered and it doesn't appear to be stopping.

So....I live about 1 minute away from this site.

Within a 15 minute walk I can get to:
Large Sainsburys, London Road
Large Co-op, Baker Street(?)
Large Lidl, London Road (not that I would do of course)
Large Somerfield, London Road
About 4 or 5 smaller grocers in the London Road area

and if I'm really lazy and only fancy walking for 5 mins I can also get to:

Tesco Express by Brighton Uni
Large Sainsburys, Lewes Road
M&S Garage, Lewes Road
Numerous smaller grocers in the Lewes Road/Elm Grove area
....

and this is the point that really needs stressing:

Next door to this proposed development is a Co-op
Right opposite this development is a Spar
On the other side of the road to this development is another Grocery shop and a bookies.

And Tescos want to build a Tescos Express and a bookies.

Whether you think the gardeners should be there or not, this Tesco-ification of our shops is just madness. Who, at the council approves this? Why? What justification and what have Tescos promised the council?

Something is not right.

That garden is used by many people around the area. The fact that it is self-managed, often with no apparent supervision and remains graffiti -free and hasn't been vandalised speaks volumes for how we, the local residents, appreciate somewhere just to chill out without being accosted by junkies and winos (ever just tried reading a book at the level without being pestered?)

Places like the urban garden help create a community spirit. Local shops help create a community spirit. It also brightens up the area and is quite a nice place just to chill out. We don't need another effing Tescos. We really don't.

Then put your money where your mouth is and buy the site from its current owners.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Then put your money where your mouth is and buy the site from its current owners.

 

[Nibble]

While I agree we certainly don't need another Tesco's the council provides many, many green sites for us and maintain them extremely well, there aren't that many bums hanging around except for the level but you have Queens Park, St Annes Well and many more spaces within strolling distance. These people don't own the land and are not entitled to be on there. Also I walked past it about a month ago and if it still looks as much of a shabby pit as it did then I'd be happy to see it cleared up. I agree that a nice shop or something entirely different would be good but whatever it is it has to make a profit for the owner and that's as it should be. Unfortunately some stringy, withered old pot bound carrots grown in contaminated earth aint that much of a money spinner!

 

[Buzzer]

Then put your money where your mouth is and buy the site from its current owners.

I just knew you would pipe up.

I can't stretch to taking on the UK's most aggressively litigant land purchaser. Tescos would just drag this through the courts until the other side ran out of money.

It would only be viable if a decision is taken by B&H council to refuse planning permission for these by Tescos and their ilk. Political will needs to be exercised to preserve the independent traders. We need to see all paperwork relating to this application and what justification was given to grant the development and a clear message to Tescos that that is it. We're full up with supermarkets and off licences around the area.

 

[Albumen]

Changed my mind I thought they owned at least part of it. I see Lucas is lobbying Eric Pickles I expect he will laugh at her as does every one else in Westminster.

Laughing at the fact an intelligent fast thinking fair human being can be a politician. I bet she scares the shit out of them.

As for the site, I cycle past it every day and I'm happy for it to be there. I'd like for them to kick up as much fuss as possible so f***ing Tesco have to sell. Unfortunately we're back in a capitalist government so I'll wait for the ConDems to help the rich and put pressure on the garden.

 

[Soul Finger]

Then put your money where your mouth is and buy the site from its current owners.

Jesus f***ing wept

 

[Buzzer]

While I agree we certainly don't need another Tesco's the council provides many, many green sites for us and maintain them extremely well, there aren't that many bums hanging around except for the level but you have Queens Park, St Annes Well and many more spaces within strolling distance. These people don't own the land and are not entitled to be on there. Also I walked past it about a month ago and if it still looks as much of a shabby pit as it did then I'd be happy to see it cleared up. I agree that a nice shop or something entirely different would be good but whatever it is it has to make a profit for the owner and that's as it should be. Unfortunately some stringy, withered old pot bound carrots grown in contaminated earth aint that much of a money spinner!

AS someone who lives around the area, I can tell you that there are not many green sites. The Level can become a no-go zone at times with street drinkers. St Anne's Wells and Queens Park are a bit of a trek from there by foot, especially for a lot of the old-timers around the area. It may look shabby but I can assure you, it's a nice quiet place to be and is very pleasant. The fact that it manages this opposite one of the roughest pubs in Brighton is also to its credit.

The garden is not run as a money spinner and neither is the ground contaminated. There's some very clued up people who help organise that and I can assure you that the plot is too small for all but a few rows of veg and the earth they use is far from contaminated. If you've heard different, I suspect it's spin from the opposition to this garden.

As Surrey Jim says, this is not the usual dog on a rope brigade. It's local residents and it's a welcome break from the normal Lewes Road drudgery of take-aways and off licences.

 

[Dover]

Then put your money where your mouth is and buy the site from its current owners.

I have heard that Tesco will not sell the site, from several sources.

What I do like about the garden it's a little bit of why I love living here. I cannot think of many places in Britain where an empty eyesore of a site, has been landscaped by various volunteers, for the better of the community.

Lewes Road needs every little bit of help it can get. Leave the site alone Tescos.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

I just knew you would pipe up.

I can't stretch to taking on the UK's most aggressively litigant land purchaser. Tescos would just drag this through the courts until the other side ran out of money.

It would only be viable if a decision is taken by B&H council to refuse planning permission for these by Tescos and their ilk. Political will needs to be exercised to preserve the independent traders. We need to see all paperwork relating to this application and what justification was given to grant the development and a clear message to Tescos that that is it. We're full up with supermarkets and off licences around the area.

I don't disagree with you. It is appalling how Tesco's and Sainsbury 'appear' all over Brighton and Hove and you have to ask questions re the integrity of the planning committee. We have a fairly contentious application from Sainsburys for a store near where I live in Preston Village. That however would benefit the local community as we have very few amenities such as that around here, only Tesco's but many of the olds don't fancy the long slog up the Drove.

Can these Guerilla Gardeners not get a consortium together to buy the land. It is unlikely B&H council will knock back an application from a corporate giant.

 

[Dandyman]

Changed my mind I thought they owned at least part of it. I see Lucas is lobbying Eric Pickles I expect he will laugh at her as does every one else in Westminster.

Nice to see that ringing endorsement of democratic government, Timmy.

 

[stewardxxx]

I live close to this garden and I hate it.

There are Drunks and Junkies in there as I have been harassed whilst using the cashpoint and have watched them all stumbling around it numerous times.

a point made earlier was that this garden is in an area where a lot of people don't have gardens - pretty much every property has a garden around there.

another thing that annoys me is the bike train (which was created by these hippies) - theres a bloody bike lane on lewes road so why do these people need to take up a lane of traffic too? what would you do if you were on a park and ride to Falmer on the first day of the season and theres a huge traffic jame caused by this?

The idea of the garden is a nice one but they really have no right to be on that land and should just move when asked to and perhaps instead of spending all day in a garden get a job so that they can eventually buy a property with a garden of their own.