Brighton & Hove council’s Housing Adaptation Service spent almost £1.2 million in the last financial year, adapting council homes for disabled residents.

These grants enabled disabled residents to stay in their own homes and maintain independent lives for as long as possible.

These included almost 800 minor adaptations, such as fitted hand rails and raised electrical sockets, and 329 major alterations costing over £1,000 each, such as replacing bathrooms with wet rooms, fitting stair lifts and ramps.

As well as helping council tenants the council also helps those who rent privately and own their own homes. Major housing adaptations in the private sector are largely funded through the Disabled Facilities Grant, (DFG), which made awards totalling £962,826 to the service to deliver adaptations last year.

In total 107 grant applications were completed, with the average amount of grant awarded being just under £9,000.

Councillor Bill Randall, Chair of Housing, said: “These adaptations drastically improve quality of life, allowing people to stay where they want to be: in their own home, in their own community, remaining independent, as well as near family, friends and familiar support networks.

“The team has worked really hard to ensure the service we offer has speeded up, with priority cases allocated within 2 weeks. This means that the whole household, the disabled resident, and those who care for them will gain the fullest value from the improvements to their home.”

The council’s Housing Adaptation Service has been working with the Tenant Disability Network, (TDN), to improve and update the information for council tenants about the service.

Alison Gray, Chair of the TDN said: ”It has been a great experience to collaborate with the council on this project. I am delighted that we have had our say and our knowledge and experience will make all the difference in making the information as ‘user friendly’ and informative as possible.”

Queen’s Park was once the playground of the rich and upper classes but for over 100 years has been owned by the people of Brighton & Hove.

The local community now has the opportunity to help shape future improvements and preserve the park’s heritage for future generations.

Brighton & Hove City Council has been working with the Friends of Queens Park, residents and local landscape architect Tom Hardiment to develop proposals for the park through a Masterplan.

People can comment on the Masterplan and contribute their views from now until July 23. The completed Masterplan will inform decisions around the day to day management and maintenance of the park and will form the basis to apply for external funding to complete some of the more significant works.

As well as a wildlife garden which includes medicinal herbs, a well-used playground, scented garden and tennis courts, the Grade II listed park also has a large wildlife pond and a clock tower with nesting boxes for swifts.

The Masterplan makes suggestions for carrying out restoration work, opening up views and upgrading lighting and seating. Views will be collated and be put in the final plan for publication in January 2015.

People will also be able to give their views in Queens Park at the ‘Bark in the Park’ event this Sunday, June 15 and ‘Picnic in the Park’ on June 29.

To contribute your views through the website, CLICK HERE:  

Councillor Pete West, chair of the environment and sustainability committee, said: “Queens Park is extremely popular and it is important that we develop a Masterplan with the community who play such a big part in looking after it. Residents feel passionate about the park and their input will ensure this special place continues to be a haven for both people and wildlife for years to come.”

Property owner Thomas Attree bought the land, then known as Brighton Park, in 1825 and developed it into a residential open space with villas, inspired by Regent’s Park in London. A spa opened there the same year. Attree renamed it Queens Park after Queen Adelaide, consort of William IV, as she was a regular visitor to the spa. That site is now occupied by the Royal Spa nursery school.