Activity has been limited by the weather since December, but your management committee has been working hard to prepare for 2010. In order to provide more substance and entertainment value at the quarterly meetings, we are seeking speakers, and we await responses before finalising a schedule. Richard Vahrman has been making changes to the website, and I would encourage you to have a look at it (www.fbst.org.uk). We will be trying to use the web more actively in future and we will be seeking to limit our costs by shifting to electronic newsletters for those residents who have online access. For those who do not (or who prefer paper), we will of course continue to distribute the paper version. As you will note from the finance and membership section below, we have many members who are yet to pay their membership dues. Joy does a wonderful job of reminding people, but we would really encourage you to take advantage of the standing order option we will offer you in future. In the meantime, don't wait: please pay up!

We have agreed with the Council that there will be two areas set aside for planting by residents this year, one on each side of the gardens. These will not be treated with weedkiller and they will be available for the Friends of Brunswick Square and Terrace. All proposed planting will be cleared in advance with the Council, as follows:

1. The exact genus and size of the plant should be provided to me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or Jeannie James at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
2. We will then clear the planting with the Council
3. Assuming they agree the planting, then the FBST Gardens Volunteers will plant
4. Any FBST Garden Volunteer working on the beds will wear a FBST badge (designed by Jeannie). If you see someone you do not recognise and not wearing a FBST badge, then please do let them know that they are in an area reserved for residents.

Garden cleanups (and weeding of the residents' beds) will commence in March and will be at 10am on the last Saturday of each month from then on. Please come out and help. We would like at least ten volunteers at each cleanup. Many hands make light work.

Contact is being made with the Council concerning the railings and the southern gates.

The surfacing of the paths will be repaired in the spring.

A new bin is being sought to replace that which went missing from the southwest gate.

If you see anyone taking their dog into the gardens, please do feel free to draw their attention to the signs on the gates, which clearly show that dogs are not allowed. It may be worth mentioning that one reason for the ban on dogs is the high level of toxocariasis in the soil. Toxocariasis can cause blindness in children. It is therefore very important that they do not allow their dogs to soil the gardens.

Details of our dog warden on the "local info" page of the website.

There have been complaints about dogs fouling the pavements, a problem exacerbated by the snow. Dog owners are requested to always clean up after their dogs, even if it means cold hands!

Contact will be made with British Telecom with a view to the removal of the phone box at the southern end of the Square.

The snow has disrupted recycling and refuse collection rounds. We will monitor closely as things get back to normal. There have been complaints that the bin men are not emptying basement stores at each collection. If this occurs in your building, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , so that we can consolidate evidence of any trend towards "partial" collections.

There has been very little movement in either of our accounts during the last quarter. Both accounts remain very healthy. Figures will, as usual, be given at the quarterly meetings.

Membership totals 122 households, including 5 Honorary Members, but I think the difficult weather has prevented the usual activity of our members and we are still awaiting subscriptions from a number of our regular members. I will enclose a membership renewal form with the Newsletter and will give members the opportunity to pay by cash, cheque or electronically. As the Chairman has mentioned, we have prepared a Standing Order form for our members’ use. This is available for download on the website or from me on 01273/770734 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

If you have householders in your house who you think might be interested in joining our association please tell them about us. The larger the membership, the more clout we have!

Thank you again for the support you always give us.

The Old Market Appeals

The Inspector’s site visit took place on 19th January and the report has to be completed within 5 weeks.

55-56 Western Rd

This will reopen as a Sainsbury’s Local in April. No Planning Application is required though a shop front design may need approval. An application has been advertised for a daily alcohol licence, 6am till 11pm . Objections to the latter, primarily on the grounds of aggravating the Stress Area, and the cumulative impact on antisocial behaviour and public safety, should be sent to Environmental Health and Licensing, Bartholomew Square, Brighton BN1 1PF by 28th January. Clearly this is also likely to aggravate traffic problems, now centred on the Tesco store, unless use of the rear Holland Mews access is feasible.

New Regulations for Accounting for Leaseholders’ Monies are rumoured to be imminent. Managing Agents that are members of ARMA should be among the first to become aware of the details. Some extra audit costs are probable and we will comment upon that when specific items warrant discussion. Self managing properties will probably have to change the presentation of their Service Charge Accounts and arrangements for Certification. Different bank accounts will be required for Company monies ( Fees, G. Rents etc) and Service Charge monies. The latter being held in Trust Accounts protected from potential creditors of the Freehold owning Company.

A market is to be held every first Saturday in the month at the Cornerstones Community Centre from 11 am to 3 pm. It is a new venture to give local creative people an opportunity to display and sell their works. At present, all stalls are taken but if you are interested, call Cornerstones on 01273 327757.

The first event will take place on the 6th of Feb, so you could have a look after you've been to the quarterly meeting!

LARA (Lansdowne Area Residents Association) has initiated a proposal to combine these three parking zones. Their research has shown that there is now a waiting list of 12 months for a permit in our zone in spite of the fact that car ownership in the zone is the lowest in the City. In contrast there are vacancies for permits in zones N & 0! Zone 0 is north of us and goes up to the Seven Dials - zone N is to the west and goes as far as Sackville Road. Areas in central Brighton have already been combined with success.

The proposal is to go before the Environmental Cabinet of the City shortly and is being supported by our Councillors. Some of you may have views on this proposal, which we would like to hear. It has been discussed by your Management Committee, where there were conflicting views. It is important to emphasise that no changes will be made without full consultation. When the parking scheme was set up a review was promised, but this has not taken place so far. Our Councillors will be pressing for this - as there are other parts of the scheme that may need adjustment - in particular the fact that visitors staying overnight have to use two permits unless they want to be away before 8am!

Brunswick Town will be entered in the South East in Bloom Competition.  The entry is to be organised by a steering committee of volunteers from Residents' Associations, the Council and local organisations and businesses.  The judging (which will take place in July) will look at the area as a whole ie the open spaces, street furniture, litter, cleanliness - all with a view to bringing long-term improvements to the area. Anyone interested in helping/taking part should contact:-

Peter Sofroniou on our Garden Committee This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

English Heritage have produced a report on this - describing how traditional timber sash windows can be insulated to meet building and climate change targets without compromising their historical character. The report can be read at www.climatechangeandyourhome.org.uk.

You may also be interested in reading Energy Conservation in Traditional Buildings at the same site.

With the repaint of the Square and Terrace looming, there may be confusion over the legislation to make works projects safer (Construction [Design & Management] Regulations 2007). The FBST website has links to relevant information and, despite the length, are recommended reading for directors of freehold companies who engage the services of a contractor. This legislation does not extend to domestic clients at present but, if you want to find out more, there is a longer version of this article on the website.

This has been mooted in the past, but it is now a serious proposal. I am informed that all the conservation bodies in the City such as the Regency Society & Hove Civic are in favour as well as Brighton City Council. Residential associations such as the Friends are now being asked for their support. I understand that an application is a very serious matter and is likely to take a long time to process - and there is no certainty of success. Support has to be considered very carefully. Bath & Edinburgh have this status - there are likely to be many views as to whether our City measures up to these two illustrious cities and has any hope of success. Your views are invited as to whether we give our support.

I have no reports on BARG & NAG as there have been no meetings of note since the last Newsletter. Jeanne will be reporting on LAT & Neighbourhood Watch.

There are a number of Car Clubs in our vicinity, which have proved very successful. Is there a place for one in the Square & Terrace? It would mean giving up a car parking space, but if it meant that a number of people gave up owning cars (or reduced from 2 to 1) there might be a potential big gain, There is a lot of information about car clubs on the web (e.g. www.carclubs.org.uk). Let us have your views.

We've been busy on the website lately. Here is a short list of what's new:

• Access latest neighbourhood watch news from the right hand side of the screen.
• A calendar of events at the bottom of the home page (let us know if there is anything we should be adding). If you use Google calendars you can add this to your own.
• A new Brunswick photos gallery - still in its infancy but if you would like us to put up your pictures, let us know.
• All the latest news - the home page is a reflection of what is going into the newsletter. The aim is to provide this as an electronic version to anyone who would prefer it.
• For sale/wanted - not an out and out classified section, but if you have items that you think are specific to our houses, then why not feature them here.
• And don't forget that you can download a standing order form so you can pay your subs automatically.