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Day: December 13, 2013

Council cleansers clean up at the Loo of the Year Awards 2013

Posted on by Besi

Brighton & Hove has been named as the overall UK Loo of the Year Award 2013 winners, beating global businesses such as Asda, Wetherspoons, McDonalds and other leading authorities to the top spot.

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The awards were for:

  • National award for toilets in Crematoriums
  • National award for toilets in Historic buildings
  • Premier League Winners
  • Championship League Winners
  • National award for Pubic Toilet Entries
  • UK award for Public Toilet Entries
  • Overall Loo of the Year Award (including both public and private sector)

This year 34 loos were visited, 19 entries were nominated for Platinum awards and 16 for Gold. Last year the authority was awarded 14 gold awards and 18 silver. Three of the loo’s that have been awarded with a grade this year are Western Esplana, Rottingdean Undercliff and Kings Esplanade Hove.

Cllr Pete West, Chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, said: “All credit must go to the dedicated team of staff from Wettons Cleaning Services who work so hard to achieve these constant high standards which continue to rise year after year.”

Loo of the year

A spokesperson from Wettons, said: “These awards have been the culmination of Wettons teamwork and our partnership with Brighton and Hove City Council. We are all very proud of the achievements”

Mike Bone, Loo of the Year Awards managing director, said: “For the third year running a council has deservedly won the top award – the Overall Winner Trophy. Brighton & Hove City Council places significant importance on provision of a range of public toilets that meet the needs of all types of users including Changing Places Toilets. Although not all new, the toilets are cleaned and maintained to a high standard and provide much needed facilities throughout the city, vital to residents and visitors”.

Local estate agent wins top awards

Posted on by Besi

Justin Lloyd received top awards for both sales and lettings at the 2013 International Property Awards.

Justin Lloyd Estate Agents

Justin Lloyd Estate Agents received two awards, one for Sales and one for Lettings from the International Property Awards.

The UK’s finest estate agents and property consultants gathered at the glamorous Grosvenor House Hotel in London to attend a glittering gala and to hear the long-anticipated results of the competition.

The International Property Awards are the world’s richest competition when measured by the value of the projects entered. The award winners’ logo is recognised as a symbol of excellence throughout the global industry. A high calibre of international experts identifies the most significant building projects as well as the highest quality UK estate agencies.

Speaking after the event, Justin Lloyd commented: “I am delighted to receive these prestigious awards which are testament to our fantastic team and recognise the great feedback we receive from our clients every day. As members of The National Association of Estate Agents, The Association of Residential Letting Agents and The Property Ombudsman, we operate to the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. We look forward to 2014 being another year of successful sales and lettings on behalf of our clients and building even further on our already exacting levels of service”.

New guide for international equality activists

Posted on by Besi

Stonewall launches guidance to provide advice on engaging with the UK government.

Stonewall

Stonewall, the LGB equality charity has launched a guide for equality activists worldwide on how to engage with the UK Government. It provides the practical information they need to work effectively with the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development to advance the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in their countries.

The guide, being sent to over 1500 activists as well as British High Commissions and Embassies around the world, features case studies of how the UK Government has supported LGB and T activists to date.

Stonewall has worked with activists in over 35 countries worldwide since 2011 to support them in their own campaigns and share their expertise from over two decades of campaigning.

Stonewall’s Senior International Officer Jasmine O’Connor, said: “We know from our work with dozens of LGB & T organisations globally that they look to the UK as a beacon of gay equality and therefore a key ally in their own campaigns for fundamental rights. The UK Government has said it wants to work with activists in their own countries and we hope that this guide will help bring activists and the UK Government together on the ground.”

The guide is free to download.

To see further details of Stonewall’s work with international LGB and T activists CLICK HERE:

20mph speed limit to be rolled out further across the city

Posted on by Besi

A cross-party committee meeting on December 11 agreed to introduce a 20 mph speed limit in desired areas across Brighton and Hove.

Cllr Ian Davey
Cllr Ian Davey

The meeting consisted of views gathered earlier in the year from residents in the second phase of the proposal. The new plans will now see 6 out of 10 people gaining the speed limit they wanted in their street of residence.

Councillor Ian Davey, Lead Member for Transport said: “We are delighted that that the majority of our proposals for 20mph speed limits on residential roads across more of the city have been supported by residents and accepted by opposition councillors.

“We listened carefully to all comments in the consultation and tailored the next phase of 20mph to those streets where most people want it and where it’s most needed to improve road safety.

“As a result of today’s decision, more of the city’s residents will in the future be able to benefit from slower speeds and safer streets where they live, work, shop, play and go to school.”

A final decision upon roads included in the proposals which were opposed by the Conservatives and Labour groups: Portland Road, Surrenden Road, Preston Drove and Stanford Avenue, and large areas of Patcham and Hollingbury will come back to the committee in March.

Ian added: “We are deeply disappointed that Conservative and Labour councillors decided to carve up the proposals, disregarding residents’ views and the safety data.”

Cllr Geoffrey Theobald
Cllr Geoffrey Theobald

Cllr. Theobald leader of the Conservative group, said: “We have always supported 20mph limits where local residents want them and so we agree with the vast majority of the proposals for phase 2. However, in Patcham and Hollingbury, 63% of residents in the so-called Area 5 voted to retain the existing 30mph limit, hence our amendment to remove it from the scheme.

“With regard to Carden Primary School, there is already a 20mph limit around the entrance. In general, I believe that the Phase 2 proposals have been rushed through by the Green Administration before there has been a proper bedding in and evaluation of the Phase 1 scheme. I can only think that they are trying to push this, and phase 3, through before they are voted out of office in 2015.”

Cllr Gill Mitchell
Cllr Gill Mitchell

Gill Mitchell, Labour’s Transport spokesperson, added: ‘These were always going to be difficult decisions but from the outset we were clear that the key routes for public transport had to remain outside the scheme in order for buses and taxis to run to time and remain as an attractive transport option for residents and we are pleased our amendments have passed that allow that to continue.’

“This peevish response from the Greens highlights their unwillingness to work collaboratively on strategic issues such as transport where their arrogant approach has successfully resulted in a complete polarisation of views’

 

 

  

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