Lights are going out all over the country - well in Brighton and Hove anyway. A report in the Argus says that 60 went missing in one week. Residents are asked to be vigilant and report anything dodgy (or anyone light-fingered?) to the police.

In his new bestselling book Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India, celebrated British writerWilliam Dalrymple sets out to discover how South Asia's diverse sacred traditions are managing to survive in the new India. 

Now Dalrymple is touring the UK, US and Australia. Helping him bring his book to life will be a group of ganja-smoking tantric Baul singers, or Madmen, from rural Bengal, led by the charismatic and prolific recording artist Paban Das Baul.

And matched in charisma and sheer vocal power will be Susheela Raman, an award-winning British Tamilian virtuoso who has helped to foster an ancient but dying sacred song tradition from the temples of southern India, and her husband Sam Mills, an anthropologist of Sufi mysticism, an accomplished guitar player, and a pioneering music producer.

Sunday 13 June
7.30pm, St Andrew's Church, Waterloo Street, Hove 
Tickets £15/£12 (concs £9) 

The weather is finally improving, and the scaffolding is beginning to go up around the Square. Members will no doubt recall Tom Chavasse's efforts to convince the Council to extend the painting cycle to 8 years.  The Council will make its decision during this next 5 year period, based on the state of the houses in a few years' time, so, if there was ever a year to pay for quality and to ensure that your decorators don't cut corners, this is it!
In the Gardens, the planting area for residents is now available, so if you'd like to add your personal touch to the gardens, just let me ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), Peter Sofroniou ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or Jeannie James ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) know what you'd like to plant.  We'll get the go-ahead from the gardener and you can contribute to the beauty of the gardens.

There is a litter picking and weeding session in the Square at 10 am on the last Saturday of every month. Given the number of members who express an interest in the gardens, the turnout is rather low, and it's always the same stalwarts coming out.  I'd like to see more people making the effort.  It's an hour's work (less if we have more hands), it strengthens our relationship with the council and it has a dramatic effect on the appearance of the gardens. Do please make a contribution of your time if you can.

The Friends have made representations to the Council on four issues since our last newsletter:

• 1. We have registered our objection to the merger of parking zones, although this is not yet formally under review by the Council.
• 2. We have requested that the railings be repaired this year and the paths repaired as well.
• 3. We have requested that the byelaws be posted on the reverse side of the heritage board.
• 4. We have requested that the Peace Event planned for the Lawns be held elsewhere, and that the number of events on the Lawns be reduced.
   

All our requests have been noted.  I will be following up to try to get action.
Southern Water are visiting the Square next week to advise on the appropriate site for a standpipe for watering.  This has been an administrative nightmare, but I still hope to have water installed before the height of summer.

The usual problems of uncollected recycling and seagulls tearing apart rubbish bags have returned to haunt us again.  Could all members remind their fellow residents that they should put their rubbish out only on Tuesday morning, and their recycling, properly sorted, every Friday morning, remembering to adjust the day for bank holidays?  I would like five volunteers from around the Square to place notices on stray bags and poorly sorted boxes to remind new residents of the way the system works.  Could you please get in touch at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you'd be willing to pick up some of these notices and distribute them when you see a bag out on the wrong day, or a box with mixed glass and plastic?

Finally, there's more dog mess in the gardens than there has been for some time.  If you do see someone with a dog in the gardens, do politely remind them that they are not allowed and, if they do make a mess, it's the owner's responsibility to clear it up.

The Council have agreed to repair damage to Hove Lawns at the Peace Statue end and it has also been agreed to prepare and reseed the areas of damage.  At the same time the Council agreed  to step up placement and enforcement of No ( Disposable) BBQ Notices

I look forward to seeing you at our next quarterly meeting on 8 May at 11am when we welcome Roger Amerena as guest speaker.
In the meantime, fingers crossed for more sunshine!

I have followed up the proposal to remove the BT phone box south of the Square but have nothing to report yet. Paul Elgood has spoken to some of the council officers for us but has not come back to me. BT was not helpful, claiming they had a legal obligation to provide phone service on the site. But other boxes have been removed in this city and I have made contact with the council's conservation department to discuss it further. I hope to have more news for the next issue.

Not too much to show at the front end of the website, but behind the scenes we have been preparing the database in readiness for those of you that have requested to receive your newsletters by email. By opting to get your information in this way, it cuts down on our costs and the time taken to deliver them.

There have been a lot of abandoned bikes in the Square. These have been reported to the council and I've been assured that these will be ticketed for removal very soon, although they are "very short staffed". There are also discussions re more cycle racks in the south of the Square.  If you're for them, let the dept. for Walking and Cycling at the council know to help get them installed.

Weather's warmer, the windows are open and the scaffolding's up. Be very careful with doors and windows left open.  Opportunists are constantly on the lookout for insecure properties and will burgle in day light.  Residents are also advised to not keep laptops, handbags, phones, and other valuables near windows, nor keys near doors.   In a recent spate of burglaries, the offender used a stick to get keys through windows and cat flaps and letterboxes.

Always be aware of bogus callers, posing as police, electricians and other service provider reps.  Use chain, ask for ID, and use the number on it to check. If suspicious ask them to call to make an appointment. If you or your friends have experienced a suspicious caller, tell the police; 08456070999, and Brighton and Hove Trading Standards; 08454040506.

Some information residents may be interested in can be found within the Local Action Team (LAT) notes and blogs found on the website - www.sussex.police.uk. Key in your postcode and "Wornham", and go to Local Action Team Priorities on right of page.  You'll find out more of what's going on in your area, plus a constantly updated blog. There's a LAT memo our website www.fbst.org.uk.

I'm giving up Neighbourhood Watch in May, so hoping someone will take over. If not, you'll still have access to local issues and news relevant to you.

In February, many will know that Brunswick Square was shortlisted as one of the 10 most picturesque streets in Britain as part of Google's first Street View awards.  The news generated a great deal of publicity both locally and nationally, but unfortunately not quite enough to swing the public vote sufficiently to secure top spot.

Street View is an internet technology that provides panoramic views from various positions along many streets in the world. Brighton and Hove was photographed by Google's camera in March last year and the results have finally been added to the database. See Brunswick Square and Terrace in all its glory at http://maps.google.co.uk

The FBST General Account and Garden Account are both looking very healthy.  It is likely that the Garden Account may well receive a boost from a local Trust sometime within the next few months, which will help greatly towards paying for the standpipe which our Chairman has mentioned.

Our current database has around 130 households, which includes several new residents of the Brunswick area, and we welcome these.  However, I hope those who are late in paying will pay up soon.  I hate having to send reminders.

Early in March an unidentified amount of £8 appeared in our bank account.  After much consultation, our bank was able to give me a sort code and an account number, which was all the information they had.  As a favour they found out that the sort code related to Halifax. So, please, Halifax bankers, if you have paid your membership but forgotten to add any ID or send me a membership form, please let me know on 01273/770734 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Rather than having to remember to pay by cheque or cash, I wondered if members would consider setting up a standing order.  This year's subscription, if overdue, would need to be paid now, but future payments would be made on l November annually.  As long as you provide some ID (such as FlC39BSHol, which I would give) so that we have some idea of your address and name, this works remarkably well. Forms can be downloaded from our Website or obtained from me, info as above.  Remember - with a standing order payment you retain control.  We do not want your bank details and we are not able to alter your payment amount or payment date - only you can do that.  Please think about it.

As a footnote, you will realize that we are not having a Garden Party this year, but we have been mooting the idea of a Christmas Party.  If you have any ideas/suggestions for this or for any other events you might like us to hold for our members, please feel free to contact us.

Once again I would like to thank you for the continued support we always receive.

As you know, for the first time Brunswick Town is being entered in the South-East in Bloom 2010 competition.

The judging for the entry takes place on 12th.July, but there is much work to be done in the meantime. 50% of the marks are for horticultural achievement - so it is hoped that basements gardens and window boxes in the Square & Terrace will be looking their best.  25% of marks are awarded for the environment - so it is hoped that our pavements and front door steps will be pristine on the vital day at least! So do encourage your neighbours to tidy-up. 25% is awarded for community participation - this especially to involve children/local schools, resident associations and their future plans. It is hoped that local businesses will join in and tidy their forecourts and hopefully tie-in their window displays. 

If any of you have contact with a local shop and can bring your influence to bear this would be helpful.  The 'South-East in Bloom is a pro-active campaign seeking long-term improvements in the area - and certainly Brunswick Town needs all the help it can get!  If you would like to help with the entry contact a member of the Garden Committee.

This meets on a regular basis.  Currently it is concerned with a number of issues.

These include the possible extension of the Cumulative Impact Area (this controls the number of licensed premises in an area and is unlikely to be changed without Police support)in the Western Road; the siting of A.Board; the promoting of the Brunswick Town in Bloom application and the proposal to link M & 0 Parking Zones (this will be put out for full consultation before any decision is made).

The next meeting of this Team is on 1st June 7.15 - 8.30 p.m. at the Cornerstone Community Centre.  Anyone is welcome to attend to discuss local matters, which do not have to be connected with crime. Three identified priorities are looked at each meeting.

The Police have a 'Home Appliance Recovery Scheme' -on which appliances can be registered - so if stolen their recovery is more feasible.  Special highlighting pens for use with this scheme are available from the police station.  'Community Payback' is a scheme where offenders work in the community as part of their sentence - bids are being invited for them to work in our area.  Pavement cleaning for the 'Brunswick Town in Bloom' has been suggested. 

Painting of the garden railings came to mind, but this may be too big a job and may need a professional team. Bids to be made on the police website -www.sussexpolice.uk

There are now insufficient yellow lines in our streets to enable the Contractors' Trade Permit Parking System to be effective in 'Painting Year'.

At the same time the rationed Guest Permits have doubled in cost.  Thus, through a Traffic Order concession, each house 'manager' now has the opportunity of completing an FBST 'master' letter which will enable them or their Contractors to buy their own £2.00 Guest Permits.  The completed letter entitles the presenter to a total of 30 permits to be purchased  at a minimum of five at a time [cash or cheques to Brighton & Hove City Council]. 

For each purchase the master letter has to be presented at the Hove Town Hall Parking Information Centre.  The staff will record the purchase and hand back the master letter. This will not affect the residents' own quotas. The Permits will be for daytime parking on weekdays except in shared Pay & Display bays - and the concession will cease on 30th September.  Where a contract runs over 30 weekdays an application for another master letter can be made to the FBST (to TAC). The required master letters are being hand-distributed  shortly, addressed  for the attention of each house manager/Company Secretary - including non FBST members. 

Please lookout for it in your house's mail and ensure that your manager sees it.  Its address label, headed PAINTING, includes the phrase 'This is not Junk mail'.

Once again,  no new  Brunswick Town Applications of significance have been detected, nor any unauthorised works except Sainsbury at 55 Western Road.  Their belated Applications have now been Refused and discussions on shop front design and advertising signs proceed.  Do you think that is a storm in a teacup? 

There seems to be uncertainty about the ownership / continuation of The Old Market Arts Centre, with a rumour of a further Planning Application in preparation.  If you know something positive, and non-libellous, please tell us at the 8th May meeting. The final Planning decision on the 7 Brunswick St. West saga will be known shortly.

Lots going on in the gardens. We had a tidy and a weed on the last Saturday of the month and the council were there Sunday morning. The council will be weeding and mulching in the next few days. 

Committee and members have been planting with lavender in the west border and sunflowers in the beds.  There are council approved badges for people to wear if they work in the garden; watering and weeding needed. Contact Jamie Arnell, Peter Sofroniou or Jeanne James if you've an interest.  JJ has the badges.