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Charity bicycle initiative ticks all the boxes

A new recycling project instigated by Martlets Hospice and Brighton Station reaps great rewards.

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A perennial problem at Brighton Station has been bicycles abandoned in the station’s bicycle racks which previously had to be stored and then disposed of.

A charity partnership between the Station and the Hospice has solved this problem as abandoned bicycles, which are not reclaimed after 3 months, are now donated to the Hospice for a brand new fundraising project.

The Hospice have teamed up with RYC, Recycle Your Cycle, on an innovative new scheme whereby old bicycles are repaired and restored by local prison inmates. The reconditioned bicycles are then sold in the Martlets furniture warehouse and charity shops to raise income for their patient care.

Eve Collins, Head of Retail at Martlets Hospice, said; “This is a fantastic fundraising scheme for the Hospice. We simply collect the bicycles from Brighton Station, drop them off at RYC and local prison inmates do an excellent job of repairing and servicing them and getting them back to their former glory. The bicycles sell like hot cakes in our warehouse and shops and the last lot of bikes we picked up raised almost £700 for our patient care.”

The initiative has been a winner all round as not only does it raise funds for Martlets Hospice and solves the problem of bike storage at Brighton Station, it also gives the local prison population the opportunity to learn skills and is fantastic for the environment as the bikes are repaired and recycled rather than ending up in the scrap metal yard.

Beth Holbrook Manager of Brighton Station, added; “We are delighted to be involved in this project which has solved our storage problem and is raising money for the Martlets, one of our chosen charities. I understand the bikes sell quickly and customers are delighted to get reasonably priced bicycles. The charity partnership with Martlets has been excellent and we have raised almost £20,000 for them in the last 2 years. We know how important their vital care is in the local Brighton & Hove community and are proud to be able to continue to help them raise the money they need via this project.”

Mark Abrahams CEO of Recycle Your Cycle, concluded saying; “With this scheme, prison inmates are offered the ability to gain a valuable skill to help with their rehabilitation and future employment prospects, moreover it also enables local people to gain the social and health benefits of cycling by offering them refurbished bicycles at a competitive price.”

Pictured are Martlets retail staff with some of the latest batch of bicycles to be restored. There is a good range of bikes for adults and children and they are for sale in the Martlets Hospice Warehouse off Old Shoreham Road.

 

Council take action on Madeira Terraces

Studios forced to close on Madeira Terraces after years of neglect by successive council administrations.

Concorde 2
Concorde 2

Brighton & Hove City Council is taking action to prevent sections of the Madeira Terraces from collapsing after a survey revealed further major structural defects.

Parts of the Terraces were fenced off earlier this summer, but the situation has become much more serious as elements within bays one to five of the Terraces are now severely corroded and the Council say they are beyond repair and in danger of collapse.

The condition of the Madeira Terraces is one of the biggest issues facing the seafront and the Labour administration say piecemeal repairs to the structure are no longer viable and are taking immediate action to ensure the area is safe for tenants and the public.

The work will mean the JAG Gallery, which is located within the terraces, will have to close at this location. Investigation works have revealed that it is no longer feasible to undertake works to make the gallery safe to use.

Work has begun to structurally support a corroded beam in one of the Terraces but there is still a risk of a progressive collapse. This could affect the access stairs, and the remaining tenants within the Terraces – Studio 284 and Concorde 2.

Although Studio 284 is located within the retaining wall which is not at risk of collapse, it is accessed by a staircase which is reached underneath the Terraces, so this tenant has been also been asked to vacate.

The council is working with the tenants to help find a suitable new location.

Over the next 6-8 weeks, work will also be carried out to stabilise the arches either side of Concorde 2 which will remain open. A structural inspection will also be undertaken of the Concorde 2 building.

To enable large audiences to queue more safely, a Traffic Order has been approved for a temporary road closure adjacent to the venue on Friday and Saturday nights.

The temporary fencing along the length of the Terraces will be replaced with a more permanent anti-climb fence in the autumn/winter following the busy summer season.

Councillor Gill Mitchell
Councillor Gill Mitchell

Councillor Gill Mitchell, chair of the city’s environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “The survey into the condition of Madeira Terraces has revealed what we had feared – that the structure is now in danger of collapse and in need of emergency work. The safety of traders and the public remains our highest priority, which is why we have taken the decision to ask two of the businesses to vacate their premises. We understand the concerns of the affected businesses and will be working with them to help find suitable new locations.

“We are also working on practical solutions to rebuild and regenerate the Terraces and secure the long-term future of the seafront as a whole.”

 

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