Food and Drink Issue
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Distributed by the Green Party to thousands of homes in Brighton and Hove Food and drink issue Find out more about the local Green Party on-line at: www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk Number 29, Autumn 2006 CLONE CITY? Slow cooking? p.6 Our city is losing its independent businesses The rise of ‘slow food’: food as landlords increase and drink festival hits town rents. Starbucks have HIV/AIDS services p.3 opened up on Western Road opposite a local cafe and further east St James’s Street is about to get a brand new Government’s 30% cuts for Sainsbury’s Local. city’s HIV/ AIDS services Are we in danger of War in Lebanon p.8 becoming just another ‘clone city’ like Vanishing shopfront: Bobby Pugh, owner of the renowned Hemp Shop on Gardner Street, says he had “no choice” but to close the shop because of the anywhere else? rising rents now being charged in Brighton’s North Laine shopping area. His business is moving to internet mail order instead: www.thehempshop.co.uk Green campaigner Ben Duncan who first raised Clean-up: the effects of the war the issue of a new on people and ecology supermarket in Brighton’s St James’s Street righton and Hove is in danger of becoming a ‘clone city’ of bland supermarkets and multi- national chains while independent retailers are forced out of business, traders warned after BGreens revealed Sainsbury’s is to open a local store on Brighton’s St James's Street. The Sainsbury’s Local outlet, which Street - and Brighton and Hove - the planners had initially thought would be vibrant place that it is.” operated by rival retail giant Tesco, will be Greens agree that people want the firm's fifth store in the city. more convenient retail services with Independent traders and small food man- longer opening hours, but they say local ufacturers are already feeling the pinch. businesses should be protected from One local trader told GreenLeaf: "I'm supermarket giants. “We believe the city alarmed to read about the opening of a council should be working with residents new [chain] supermarket on St James's and traders rather than the multinational Street. When it opens I will be out of giants it seems comfortable doing busi- business overnight.Why hasn't the coun- ness with,” Ben explained. cil made the proposal public knowledge?" For some businesses, it’s already too Greens are angry that the three late. In August The Hemp Shop claimed it Labour councillors who represent the St was forced to close its doors in North James’s Street area of the city failed to Laine because of rising rents fuelled by object to the planning application or tell the big business development of nearby residents and traders what was going on. Jubilee Street. Ben added, "There's more Queens Park Green spokesperson to life than shopping in chain stores - but Ben Duncan said, "The city council should the Labour city council doesn't seem to protect local traders from the onslaught think so. It’s sitting on the sidelines while of multinational big business, but I'm we become another ‘clone town’. I think afraid it seems it doesn't give a fig for the that we deserve much better than this.” independent traders who make St James's page 2 GreenLeaf Autumn 2006 Council ignores residents Lebanon - Blair’s shame is our shame over city centre parking reen councillors say the city’s Labour-led adding to car traffic. ilitary might will never bring a lasting council has deliberately ignored local Green councillors are also questioning how resolution to the Middle East so long as Gresidents as it presses on with plans to effective the consultation has been, with many con- merge the eight city centre parking zones into stituents saying they were unaware of the changes. politicians fail to understand that human M two large ones despite strong local concerns. As Labour councillors have the support of their suffering and environmental harm will continue, as our The proposal has proved unpopular with many LibDem colleagues, the plans are likely to article on page eight highlights. Shame on US President city centre residents and hundreds of people have be agreed. signed petitions in opposition. Greens say that the The areas most affected are North Laine,West George W. Bush for his sponsorship of the war and for large zones will cause congestion, pollution and Hill, Clifton Hill and streets near Western Road in his $2.2bn per annum military aid to Israel. Shame, increase pressure on parking spaces in the most Brighton. What do you think? Let us know. central areas. People who live further away in the More information is available at the Regency also, on British PM Tony Blair for once again blindly zone may be tempted to drive into the city centre Green website: www.regency-greens.org.uk backing the Bush administration. We are the only country in the world to do so. Labour’s unquestioning appeasement of the Bush administration brings shame on us all. City’s HIV/AIDS budget cuts righton and Hove has just been confirmed as the city with the highest prevalence of BHIV/AIDS in the country. To cut HIV services by a third and substance misuse services by 10% in this context is the act of a callous bureaucracy which our elected politicians - MPs and councillors - should stop. If you have any comments or would like to advertise, call us on Fun-ttucstic travel 01273 766670 or visit us at W.: www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk E: [email protected] A solution to Brighton & Hove’s traffic problems? City residents are getting used to or write to: GreenLeaf Editor, Brighton and Hove Green Party, the Tuc Tuc, the colourful and low-emission three-wheelers now on our streets. 39-41 Surrey Street, Brighton, BN1 3PB, Opinions expressed in GreenLeaf are not necessarily those of Brighton and Hove Green Party. Copyright is Brighton & Hove has been chosen as Europe’s launch city for this new service, which affirmed. No articles or images to be used without permission. is due to be rolled out across the rest of the UK and Europe by 2008/09. Seals are safe at last Greens and animal rights campaigners are celebrating after the Brighton Sea Life Centre abandoned its plans for a captive seal and otter pen at the aquarium. Brighton & Hove City Council had granted opposed the development that this is planning permission for the pens in May, despite absolutely the last place that these animals strong opposition from campaigners. But as should be housed. reported first in The Argus, the Sea Life Centre has “They would be living in the middle of a withdrawn its plans to build the pens. busy visitor and traffic hotspot, and in a semi Green city councillor Georgia Wrighton said, basement area where they would never expe- “I’m delighted plans for the seal and otter rience the sea.” enclosures have been dropped. Georgia explained that the coalition of Relieved: Councillor “I am glad that the Sea Life Centre seem to campaigners would continue to press for Georgia Wrighton have listened to the concerns raised, and which we clarity on the issue of whether the ‘function’, were told could not be taken into account under the plan- as a place to house animals, could be taken into account ning and licensing regimes. under the planning system for similar developments up and “This was especially frustrating for objectors, who down the country. “There’s clearly a massive gap here that could see no way for their concerns to be considered needs addressing and we will do all we can to press for through the planning process. this.” According to The Argus, the seals have now been “There was a strong feeling among those who housed in another part of the country. GreenLeaf Autumn 2006 page 3 News in Brief Local HIV/AIDS £1k grants for solar heating budget cut by a third £1,000 grants for solar water heating are available from overnment spending cuts Brighton and Hove City Council that have seen the HIV/Aids for homeowners. Gsupport programme in The grants help with the cost of Brighton & Hove slashed will be the installing solar water heating sys- subject of a motion of censure from tems. Full advice and guidance on Green councillors at the next meet- the grant application process is ing of the city council in October. available from trained advisors free The cuts, which have taken spending on 0800 107 4100. from £437,000 in 2002/03 to £307,380 for this financial year, total more than 30% of Caroline Lucas’ the budget if inflation is included. This fol- animal welfare award lows a change in government policy over the past four years to reflect a national The RSPCA has awarded Green increase in HIV/Aids among women and Euro-MP Caroline Lucas The Michael children and a greater concentration of Cllr Bill Randall Kay Award for her contribution to resources to meet their needs. European animal welfare. However, Brighton and Hove, which is Government cuts in the city’s health budget could mean some The UK’s largest animal welfare group home to a lesbian and gay community of patients miss out on life-saving drugs or services singled out the South-East England MEP for about 30,000 people, bucks the national her work to introduce bans for live trend. The annual increase in HIV/Aids in threat to the welfare of those with In another cruel cut, the New exports, animal tests and the sale of cat and the city's gay community is 12%.