Brighton & Hove Independent - 2 January 2015 by Brighton & Hove Independent

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Friday, January 2 2015

Br ighton & Hove

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RAILWAY REVOLUTION

IT'S HUGHTON

>> PAGE 12

>> PAGE 30

As prices increase again, Caroline Lucas urges passengers to get on board for a railway owned by the public - not by profiteers

Chris Hughton takes charge of the Seagulls as they face high-flying Brentford in the FA Cup

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO CINEWORLD BRIGHTON PAGE 20

PAVEMENTS FOR PEDESTRIANS An Independent View

There is a lot of discussion about traffic congestion, much of it illtempered and unhelpful - about bus lanes, cycle lanes, and thoughtless motorists. Little serious attention, however, is given to pedestrians. For those of us who are ablebodied, young and fit, the hustle and bustle of our city has a certain excitement as we rush along our way. We never really notice the obstacles that lie in wait for the frail, the elderly, and those with disabilities. Brighton & Hove Independent is making a New Year's resolution: to speak out on behalf of citizens who choose to walk on pavements. And against those who thoughtlessly

cycle - or park - on them. As Graham Chainey makes clear in his brilliant column on page 5, our pavements are cluttered with all manner of obstructions and distractions - including countless tables and chairs essential to our "cafĂŠ culture". And even more essential to people who want nicotine with their caffeine. Let's all try to make 2015 the year when pedestrians reclaim what is rightfully theirs: the pavements.

PAVEMENTS FOR PEDESTRIANS Cluttered pavements: All manner of obstructions and distractions get in the way of pedestrians, see page 5

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Record cost of terrace homes despite seasonal slowdown an average price of £394,861, marginally lower than £396,763 in November 2013. The most expensive - at £936,000 - was 44 Woodland Drive, Hove, BN3 6DL; ■ 106 terrace homes: with a total value of £42,311,463 - and an average price of £399,165. The most expensive - at £865,000 (14% higher than £349,284 in November 2013) - was 9 Denmark Villas, Hove, BN3 3TR; ■ 221 flats and apartments: with a total value of £53,382,831 - and an average price of £241,551 (7% higher than £225,798 in November 2013). The most expensive - at £880,000 - was Flat 4, 6 Percival Terrace, Brighton, BN2 1FA.

Controversial Ofsted report highlights how students who used 'gay' as insult The full extent of the controversial criticism of Brighton Aldridge Community Academy has been revealed. An Ofsted inspection report which, unusually, highlights the fact that some students use the word "gay" as an insult - says that all aspects of the academy require improvement: leadership and management; behaviour and safety of pupils; quality of teaching; achievement of pupils; and sixth-form provision. Brighton & Hove Independent revealed last week that the "requires improvement" verdict the third-lowest of four possible verdicts - had prompted a formal complaint to Ofsted by the academy, which said the inspection report "failed the common-sense test". Since then, the full report has been published on the academy’s website – but not yet on the Ofsted website. The report states that students’ achievement has improved since the last inspection two years ago, but it adds "progress in some classes, year groups and subjects, including mathematics, is not good enough". In 2012, the quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils, and the leadership and management were all described as "good". Other key findings of the latest report - based on an inspection last month - include: ■ Some teachers set the same level of work for all students regardless of their ability. Moreable students are not challenged well enough. ■ The gap in achievement between different groups of students is too variable. Disadvantaged students are not catching up with their peers at consistent rates.

The most expensive home in November - 39 Walsingham Road, Hove, BN3 4FE

The 10 most expensive homes in November £1,950,000 £1,875,000 £1,650,000 £1,590,000 £1,165,000 £1,000,000 £995,000 £936,000 £900,000 £866,250

39 Walsingham Road, Hove, BN3 4FE (Detached) 4 Powis Villas, Brighton, BN1 3HD (Detached) 16 Princes Crescent, Hove, BN3 4GS (Detached) 8 Pembroke Gardens, Hove, BN3 5DY (Detached) 30 Carlisle Road, Hove, BN3 4FR (Detached) 43 Sackville Road, Hove, BN3 3WD (Detached) 162 Woodland Drive, Hove, BN3 6DE (Detached) 44 Woodland Drive, Hove, BN3 6DL (Semi-detached) 7 Dean Court Road, Rottingdean, BN2 7DE (Detached) 31 Cornwall Gardens, Brighton, BN1 6RH (Detached)

The damning verdict of Ofsted inspectors

■ Students’

achievement in the sixth form is not consistently good. ■ Senior leaders and governors hold an over-generous view of students’ behaviour. They have not ensured that teachers have high enough expectations for good behaviour. ■ Teachers are not typically asking probing questions that help students think deeply and learn more effectively. Marking is not always helping students improve their work. ■ Some students do not take note of the academy’s clear message that using the word "gay" as an insult is not acceptable. The report does, however, highlight some strengths, including: ■ The academy is increasingly effective in promoting students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and preparing them for life in modern Britain.

■ Leadership

of the sixth form is good. Provision in the sixth form is improving and students are achieving more than was previously the case. ■ Students typically make good progress in English. ■ Senior leaders know which teachers need support to improve and are making sure the training and coaching provided for these teachers are effective. ■ Students’ attendance is in line with that seen nationally. In a statement last week, an academy spokesperson said: “The governing body of the academy have submitted a robust rebuttal against the process and conduct experienced during the inspection in the form of an official complaint and expects to hear back from Ofsted in the new year.” For the full Ofsted report, visit: www. brightonandhoveindependent. co.uk

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A seasonal slowdown in the number of homes sold in Brighton and Hove - and evidence of a cooling in prices - did not prevent another record from being broken. A total of 435 homes - with an aggregate value of £150.9 million were bought and sold in the city last November, according to the latest Land Registry figures. The average price of properties that changed hands was £346,987 (10% higher than £315,542 in November 2013) - and the thirdhighest monthly average recorded

last year. In July last year, the average was £351,475; in September, it was £350,879. Notably, the average price of a terrace home - £399,165 - has never been higher. The breakdown for each type of property sold was: ■ 44 detached homes: with a total value of £29,974,124 and an average price of £681,230 (26% higher than £539,706 in November 2013) - and the second-highest of last year, just behind the June record of £683,629. The most expensive - at £1,950,000 - was 39 Walsingham Road, Hove, BN3 4FE; ■ 64 semi-detached homes: with a total value of £25,271,095 - and

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04/12/2014 17:33

4 Brighton & Hove Independent Friday, January 2 2015

@BrightonIndy

Br ighton & Hove

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Student aims to become Britain’s youngest MP An 18-year-old Brighton student is standing for Parliament at the general election. If elected, Solomon Curtis, a Sussex University politics student, could become Britain’s youngest MP. Mr Curtis has been chosen as the Labour candidate for Wealden. The constituency includes the towns of Crowborough, Uckfield and Hailsham. The university said: “Solomon Curtis probably won’t have to choose between Parliament and his studies. “Rural Wealden is a safe

Conservative seat and the current MP, Charles Hendry, had a majority of more than 17,000 at the last election in 2010.” The former Youth Parliament member, who comes from Hastings, told his local newspaper: “I want to be an MP in the future so this will give me a lot of experience. I am looking forward to the next five months.”

Marina RNLI shop to relocate The RNLI wants to move its shop, currently in Brighton Marina, to a location east of Brighton Pier. It is hoped that moving to a busier area will help boost funds. The Brighton Marina shop has been told by RNLI headquarters to close after trading finishes on Sunday, January 4. The RNLI has decided to close its current shop during the winter, with plans to open again in spring. The RNLI’s visitor experience manager, Tatti McNally, said: “It’s a temporary building that’s been there for many years and has now reached the end of its life. “This [moving] will help us raise

And for advertisers, it provides the best value *ABC (Audit Bureau of Circulations) August 2014

greater awareness of the RNLI in Brighton and encourage more people to shop with us, so we can raise funds for our volunteer lifeboat crews to save lives at sea for many years to come.” You can support the RNLI online at www.rnlishop.org.uk Miss McNally added: “Brighton Marina is lovely, but we’re missing out on a lot of potential customers being so far away from the centre. “This will help us raise greater awareness of the RNLI in Brighton and encourage more people to shop with us, so we can raise funds for our volunteer lifeboat crews to save lives at sea

Drone photographer arrested A freelance photojournalist, Eddie Mitchell, 49, of Worthing was arrested after attempting to gather images using an aerial drone following a fire at a mobile home in Surrey. Mr Mitchell has said he had

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verbal permission from the landowner to fly the drone. He was approached by three police officers, who took the controller, before handcuffing him and landing the £1,000 drone themselves.

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Brighton & Hove Independent is our city’s best-read newspaper, with a circulation of 12,770 copies and 19,155 readers – every issue.* Brighton & Hove Independent is available free every Friday from more than 300 pick-up points, including train stations, supermarkets, newsagents and Churchill Square Shopping Centre. *The average circulation of Brighton & Hove Independent in August 2014 - verified by ABC, the industry-standard Audit Bureau of Circulations (www.abc.org.uk) - was 12,770 per issue. Readership calculated using JICREG RPC figure of 1.5.

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Friday, January 2 2015 Brighton & Hove Independent 5

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Running the gauntlet on cluttered pavements in Brighton and Hove Graham Chainey

PAVEMENTS FOR PEDESTRIANS

Years ago, I belonged to an organisation called the Pedestrians' - café tables, chairs, and smokers’ Association. Members of our local fenced sanctuaries have multiplied Cambridge branch included a Nobel in recent years. As I set off up the street from my economics laureate, a knighted international judge, the professor home, I have gone only 100 yards of Latin, David Kindersley (the when I reach a spot where a pub’s sculptor), and an eccentric bus- oversize A-board obstructs half the obsessed mathematical prodigy, footway, with parked cars blocking Simon Norton, who could recite the other half. The opposite footway from memory all the local timetables is not much better, with a café’s bins (he is the subject of a 2011 book by and a fallen chained bike restricting one’s passage. Everyone is forced Alexander Masters). Our main concerns back then were pavement parking As I walk around and pavement cyclists and, generally, the abnegation of central Brighton, it pedestrians’ rights by carcentric planners and local seems to me that precious authorities. We were not little progress in securing ashamed or embarrassed to be pedestrians. We saw ourselves pedestrians’ rights has as part of a great tradition of been achieved” Cambridge footsloggers that included Wordsworth, Cowper Powys, Bertrand Russell, and the into the road. St James’s Street, where I usually Trevelyans, people who thought nothing of walking to London and shop, must have 50 A-boards along back. I think I dropped out when the its length, some of them blocking half national association’s leading light, the pavement, as well as a number of Terence Bendixon, resigned, and cafés and bars with furniture outside. the outfit was rebranded as Open Kamikazi wrong-way cyclists add Streets. I was a pedestrian, not a to the perils; pedestrians have been knocked down. street. To stroll through The Lanes, Three decades on, as I walk around central Brighton, it seems to me that particularly in the summer, is to run precious little progress in securing a constant gauntlet of obstructions. There are, for example, two pedestrians’ rights has been achieved. One or two streets have restaurants, Bella Italia and Café been trendily pedestrianised - or, to Rouge, opposite the town hall, be more exact, made non-designated which seem to think they own the open thoroughfares (the last time adjacent footways. Café Rouge’s vast I walked along New Road I was A-board, straddling the pavement continually being buzzed by bikes near a dipped kerb, has to be one and vans). But vehicles parked on of the most anti-social in the city. the footway remain just as endemic, It is also, like so many of these the hazard of bikes whizzing along monstrosities, quite unnecessary, footways seems if anything much since it advertises something right worse than I remember it, while there, in our faces. Black Lion Street and Union a whole lot of new obstructions that we did not know back then: Street have similarly in recent A-boards, bottle bins, recycling bins, years been turned by their eateries tourist map-boards (a complete and drinkeries into a chicane waste of £108,000), and - above all for pedestrians. Duke Street,

a supposedly pedestrianised thoroughfare, is in summer almost impassable, what with externalised cafés and bars, freestanding footwear displays, bikes, poles, planters, bins and boards; at one point it often gets narrowed to a single-file pedestrian bottleneck. In Market Street, furniture has

gradually encroached over the entire footway, forcing pedestrians into the road. As you pass the Sussex pub and reach English’s restaurant, the entire area, once an open promenading space, is nowadays abrogated by regiments of tables, with another single-file passage snaking through.

I cannot believe a lot of this is even legal. It is certainly time the authorities tightened up the rules and clamped down on some of the more flagrant offenders. Graham Chainey is a freelance writer living in Brighton and Hove

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6 Brighton & Hove Independent Friday, January 2 2015

@BrightonIndy

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A 5.9% increase in council tax can help protect vital services in control here - would provide about £4.2 million in additional funding and allow us to protect vital services including children’s centres, community grants, public toilets, supported For Labour and Tories locally to bus services, access to advice bemoan the effect on working for those in need, rates relief to people of a possible 5.9% council charities, and community safety. tax rise, following a referendum, But we are also very aware that reflects an extraordinary no reasonable level of council tax capacity for political cynicism rise can protect against the real and hypocrisy. Just three weeks depth of cuts to services. ago these parties voted The most important together to impose This is a fight for nothing work now is to continue - that’s without a to campaign hard, referendum - a colossal less than the future of together with others, for 76% rise in council tax the re-instatement of a contribution on the locally-accountable and locallyreasonable level of funding 16,000 poorest working- delivered public services” for local government. It’s age households in the unthinkable that this city. Brighton and Hove City Council funding - a national mechanism Local government finances around the United Kingdom are has had to cut £70 million from for needs-based allocation of in trouble because of relentless its main budget over the past resources dating back to the cuts in funding from central four years. It is likely we will 1950s - will have completely see another £100 million taken disappeared within five years Generosity of Domestic and General staff A council tax referendum that in the next five years. In 2015/16 under current government plans. can’t be won, afforded, or justified This is a fight for nothing alone, the city's £26.3 million shortfall will be more than the less than the future of locallyand locallycombined annual cost of child accountable protection, community safety, delivered public services. It is a parks, planning, highways fight at a national level, though maintenance, and libraries. And, played out locally, and one we at the same time, the demands cannot win before the next on our services are increasing financial year begins. We can, however, seek to daily, particularly in the services provided for adults and children change policies going into an election and my hope is that at in need. least one of the local opposition My frustration is that these Independent basic facts are simply glossed parties will work with us on this. TORIES BACK COUNCIL TAX over by Labour and Tories locally. REFERENDUM Greens understand the Ollie Sykes, a councillor for situation and we are acting in Brunswick and Adeliade, is the response. A 5.9% council tax Green lead member for finance Brighton rise - much less than the 8.3% on Brighton and Hove City Daniel Yates, for Labour, in last week's Independent average under Labour’s 10 years Council newspaper PUBLIC MEETING Ollie Sykes @Brunswick_Green

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In Groundhog Day, Bill Murray uses his endless number of repeats to rescue his career and win the girl - a classic theme of overcoming impossible odds. In Brighton and Hove's own Groundhog Day, however, I cannot see a happy ending. Last year, the three city council parties made their positions clear and since then little has changed. Indeed, if anything things have become worse. Council finances face ongoing challenges that threaten services being slashed and the three parties continue to maintain the same basic positions regarding solving the funding gap. My own Labour party continues to believe that, in the most challenging financial times, we cannot pass the burden of above-threshold tax rises onto residents. We have even made this view a crucial part of our ongoing contract with the city. The Conservatives have made clear repeatedly that they believe a council tax freeze is possible. The Greens argue that to deliver services requires a council tax rise of 5.9%. But this is more Whitehall farce than Hollywood blockbuster. For the Greens to deliver a 5.9% rise, there would need to be a citywide referendum. This is something one of the other parties would have to allow in order for it go ahead. So now some Tories (keep up at the back!) are suggesting allowing the Greens' 5.9% proposal in order to have a referendum about the proposed

Friday, December 26 2014 Brighton & Hove Independent 9

@BrightonIndy

rise. Which they believe would be heavily lost. I agree entirely with the Labour position that this is not a referendum that can be won, afforded, or justified. Indeed, the referendum would be held on May 7 - the same day as citywide council elections and, of course, the general election. Are these not setting the agenda for the next four to five years? But the farce does not end there; like the best farces, it has a final twist. To hold a referendum will cost more than £150,000 in election costs alone. A year ago the estimated cost of the referendum being lost was an additional £800,000, to cover rebilling and administration. So we have three positions: a Green administration that wishes to speculate £150,000 to "win" a three-times inflation council tax rise from the public. Then there's a Tory group, some of whom now may wager £950,000 in the hope of losing it all and cutting our services. I'm not a gambler with your finances - I'm Labour. I want elected councillors to do their duty and set a responsible FRI 10o

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Friday, December 19 2014

government. That’s the opinion of the Institute for Fiscal Studies and also the National Audit Office, which this winter raised the real possibility that major councils could go bankrupt within five years. The Financial Times recently calculated that local government funding had been cut by more than any other part of government under austerity.

budget for next year. That's why backing an unwinnable referendum is a flutter too far. It will lead to an extra round of service cuts which is the last thing we need. Happy New Year? I doubt it, but let's try. Daniel Yates is a Labour Party candidate in Moulsecoomb and Bevendean

Employees at the Domestic & General contact centre in Brighton have given clothes, toiletries, food and gifts to St Anne's Day Centre in Kemptown. Fourteen bags of clothes, including hats, gloves, warm jumpers and new items such as underwear, were given to the day centre in St James’s Street. Lawrence Quinn, a Domestic & General employee, volunteers at the day centre and raised awareness of its work among colleagues. He said: “I’m really overwhelmed at the generosity of everyone at Domestic & General,

I never expected we’d collect so many items.” Employees also gave £300 in cash, which went towards warm cooked meals for those who visited the day centre over Christmas. Nicki Perry, HR Manager at Domestic & General said: “I’m extremely humbled that, as a company, we’ve been able to make a big difference to those within our community who need support.” For more information about St Anne’s Day Centre, visit: www.stannesdaycentre.org.uk.

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CHEERS TO THE BEVY

After three years of hard work, a community-owned pub - with more than 700 shareholders - opens in Bevendean

>> PAGE 3

www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk

BRIGHTON i360

Amazing photographs of how the monumental attraction is being built in Spain, the Netherlands, and France

>> PAGE 10

D-DAY FOR SAMI Johnny Cantor looks ahead to Hyypiä's most important game as Seagulls manager

>> PAGE 39

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO CINEWORLD BRIGHTON PAGE 26 Kevin Smith

Greg Hadfield @BrightonIndy

Shameless drivers who misuse "blue badges" for people with disabilities will be tracked down and punished in Brighton and Hove. The city council has won £183,000 of government funding to help enforce laws aimed at ensuring there are enough spaces for those who genuinely need them. The Audit Commission, the government financial watchdog, estimates one in five blue badges

is abused. According to the latest council data, there are about 13,000 blue badges in Brighton and Hove. That means at least 2,600 could be being used fraudulently. With many fraudsters anecdotally, at least - using 4x4s and high-value vehicles, a council spokesperson said no data was collected about the make or model of car used by blue-badge-holders. She said: “This is because the blue badge does not include the vehicle registration.” The abuse of blue badges is particularly shocking, because there are only 668 parking bays

for use exclusively by people with disabilities. In addition to these, blue-badge-holders can as the criminals know - park in pay-and-display bays or for up to three hours on double yellow lines. Blue badges are available for those who are “unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty in walking” and those who receive benefits because of lack of mobility. The split between the two categories is about equal. The most recent council parking report reveals 79 people were found to be using badges belonging to dead people. The council will now be the first

B&H Independent 175x64mm - Xmas.indd 1

in the country to offer offenders the option of a community resolution order - which would highlight in a video the effects of depriving disabled people of parking spaces - together with a financial penalty (instead of them receiving a criminal record). Working with Sussex Police and East Sussex County Council, the city council will use the funding to help track down people who are misusing the badges. The two councils are both providing additional funding of £30,000. Councillor Ian Davey, lead

The new face of UKIP

UKIP has chosen an Indian-born businessman as its parliamentary candidate for Hove

>> Continued See page

>> See page 6

16/12/2014 11:33

Our exclusive report in last week’s Brighton & Hove Independent

Have your say about the council budget

HAVE YOUR SAY

7.30pm on Tuesday, January 27 Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton BN1 1YD Free admission.

Public Meeting JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 17

Tickets available from: www.brightonandhoveindpendent.co.uk #BHIndyRef

Br ighton & Hove

Independent

HAVE YOUR SAY ABOUT THE COUNCIL BUDGET 7.30pm on Tuesday, January 27 Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton BN1 1YD Free admission. Tickets available from:

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HAVE YOUR SAY JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 17

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Friday, January 2 2015 Brighton & Hove Independent 9

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Dr Glynn Jones among city figures recognised in New Year's Honours Greg Hadfield @BrightonIndy Dr Glynn Jones, who is chair of the West Pier Trust, has been awarded an OBE for services to the community in the New Year's Honours. He is a former chief executive of Brighton and Hove City Council and former chair of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust. Dr Jones, who was vicechairman of Brighton Festival and an independent member of the council at the University of

Sussex, is involved in a number of charitable organisations. Giles York, the chief constable of Sussex Police, has been awarded a Queen’s Police Medal. Mr York, 47, started his service more than 24 years ago with Kent Police before being appointed as an assistant chief constable with South Wales Police. He became deputy chief constable of Sussex Police in 2008 and became chief constable in June last year. He said: “It is an absolute privilege and honour to give so much to policing and to have it

The Book Doctor

Laura Lockington @bookloversupper

Sugar Hall by Tiffany Murray I don’t know why, as humans, we enjoy being scared. But we do. Think of the screams of horror and pleasure on a roller-coaster, or the queues for the fright-fest double-bill horror films. That is pure adrenaline terror. Then there’s the quiet kind of terror, the kind that creeps up on you and weaves a spell of such believable atmosphere that you can be chilled to the bone. A half-remembered dream or nightmare that stays with you during the day, then with a sickening lurch to the stomach - springs fullyformed back in the memory. This book is one of those. I strongly advise you to read it, but maybe read it in the

daytime. It’s Easter 1955 and we enter the crumbling, decaying world of Sugar Hall. Britain is waiting for a public hanging and Dieter Sugar discovers a very strange boy in the red gardens of Sugar Hall. A boy not quite like any other. Dieter’s mother, Lilia, starts to scrape the mould and moths off the walls of the great house, but she knows that history and the past cannot be so easily removed. There is a very satisfying and utterly unforgettable conclusion to this fantastic book that will shock the daylights out of you. This is a dark tale indeed and had me shivering with half-remembered terrors of my own. It’s beautifully written and hauntingly moving. I dare you to read it. You have been warned.

Announcement Jean Savell Peacefully passed away on 24-12-2014 with her family by her side. Funeral to be held on Friday 9th January 2015 at Woodvale Crematorium at 3.30pm. Family flowers only, donations to the Martlets can be sent to Caring Lady Funeral Directors, 217 South Coast Road, Peacehaven BN10 8LA or be made online at www.themartlets.org.uk/donate Telephone: 01273 585818

To place your announcement in Brighton & Hove Independent, call: 01273 358889, or email: notices@brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk

recognised in this way. Over the years I have enjoyed working with a huge number of amazing colleagues and partners who give so much to Sussex. They have made it a pleasure to come to work every day.” Virginia Barnacle, 52, of Hove, was made a BEM for her services to Brighton Sailing Club, Brighton Surf Life Saving Club, and to the community.

She has been praised for "reinventing" the Brighton Sailing Club, which she has been involved with for 20 years; she was the club’s first female commodore. In 2005, she was the founding member and trustee of the Brighton Surf Life Saving Club, a voluntary service to teach life-saving skills and watersafety awareness. Dr Glynn Jones is chair of the West Pier Trust

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Friday, January 2 2015 Brighton & Hove Independent 11

@BrightonIndy

Parenting

SOUTHCOAST

Time Waits For No Mum

WINDOWS

Mummy K @no_mum

Hidden talents. We all have them. We just need an opportunity for them to be revealed. In my experience, parenthood seems to have been a rich source of hitherto-undiscovered talents. Just the other day, another one emerged that left me feeling rather inordinately proud you’ll see why the pride was inordinate when you read what the “talent” in question was and how I acquired it. But I digress. We took Tibbons to one of the “warm-up” activities for the annual Burning the Clocks procession in Brighton, which included making a paper-bag lantern (which we would later put a light-up squirrel inside - Take that, modern art!) and playing with lots of different forms of light. The highlight though, was

making shadow puppets on the wall. As we approached the shadow puppetry, one of the women involved in the event was showing a girl how to make a rather convincing horse and then a dog. Naturally, I decided to join in by making a reindeer with my hands and getting it to bite the girl’s horse. What can I say? I got a bit carried away. Thankfully, the girl found this hilarious/slightly amusing - or we would have had a tale of Christmas woe on our hands - and soon asked me to show her how to make the reindeer herself. In fact, shadow Rudolph was quite the hit and I felt oddly

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proud of my latent shadow-puppet skills. As we moved away, four shadow Rudolphs gracing the wall, Daddy-O asked me where on earth I’d learned to make a reindeer out of my hands anyway. I confessed, my pride a little dampened, that this knowledge had been gleaned during a particularly unproductive afternoon watching CBeebies. Here’s to you. Cat. You always were my favourite.

THROUGH

Beauty Pretty Good Thinking

FENSA

Sarah Morgan @sarah_morgan

Instead of rounding up the terrific brands featured in 2014, I am going to outline some of the lines that remain on my wish-list. I haven't indulged much in chemical-free nail polishes yet, but as a great manicure never goes amiss I will round up some of the best for spring. There are way more brilliant haircare ranges than I have had time for, so I will try to have look at premium brands such as John Masters to update you on their performance. As savvy consumers, we are blessed with a huge array of websites to buy from - and blogs to learn from. Whether you want to go DIY and make small batch supplies at home or shop for classic brands, I will continue to flag the key products that impress me in terms of their key actives and value for money. I always enjoy a realistic look at the affordable end of the market for everyday use, so I will try to flag some hero products from Jason, Weleda, and Faith in Nature. You can often find bulk offers on their staple lines at Infinity Foods in North Road, Brighton. I was wandering through the lanes with my family over Christmas and realised that Kiehl's used to be an old-world apothecary in New York's East Village over

150 years ago. Its unique blend of cosmetic, pharmaceutical, herbal and medicinal knowledge has developed over generations, so I will have a look at their ranges and update you on what you can source from the shop right here in Brighton. Sometimes people are put off because organic brands cost more, but they don't necessarily have to if you shop with care and read the labels. I am never immune to a natural bargain and often find wonderful end-of-lines upstairs at the TK Maxx Homesense shop by the Clock Tower. Last year, I picked up some lesser-known brands; a few are easy to spot with Ecocert symbols on. An American favourite was a brand called Petal Fresh, which I discovered through a superb Rosemary and Mint hand and body lotion that was under a fiver. I also sourced some heavilyreduced Neom hand cream and candles, which are normally available only at the scary upperend of premium prices. There are plenty of Argan oil hair products in here as well, but check carefully if you want the whole product to be organic, because most of them aren't. I regularly buy Savonnier de Provence soaps from Homesense. The fabulous flavours include fig, olive, Argan oil, and, of course,

10 YEAR GUARANTEE lavender. I was a late convert to liquid soaps, probably because I preferred the packaging for bars and I tend to bury them in lingerie drawers to unearth and use throughout the year. The liquid dispensers, however, are far more useful when you need something mild and fragrant to hand in the kitchen or for showering after a busy day. These days, I tend to see packaging in more environmental terms and can do without it in excess, despite the obvious beauty of some soap-wrappers, which can live on to line your sock drawers if you hoard them for a second life. I am always attracted to lovely scents and spotted the new Eden shop with a huge array of perfumes to customise. I will go in and meet the team on Western Road to learn more about how they operate. I haven't covered Odilique yet, and their ranges look seductively effective. Another established brand that I haven't reviewed yet is Dr Hauschka. There isn't enough space for my long list. If readers have any particular favourites to recommend, don't hesitate to share them. Have a happy and healthy new year everyone.

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12 Brighton & Hove Independent Friday, January 2 2015

@BrightonIndy

www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk

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Caroline Lucas @CarolineLucas

If, on Monday morning, you hop aboard a train, you’re in for a nasty surprise. Or not, perhaps - the New Year rail fare rise is, sadly, no shocker. In fact, it’s become a biting post-Christmas tradition. Every year, private rail firms dole out the same gift: a nice, fat price hike. We have some of the highest fares in Europe, and they continue to rocket; the average ticket price has soared 25% under the coalition government, vastly Caroline Lucas will be protesting against the latest rises in rail fares out of line with wage rises. Brighton’s commuters to the around £1.2 billion is lost each there’d be little competition at all. Either you believe in a public capital are coughing up serious year as a result of fragmentation cash for their journeys - to the and privatisation. This is money railway, or you don’t. Franchises should be brought tune of more than £5,000 a year that could - and should - be reinvested to improve our services back into public ownership as for some. they either fail or their contracts It’s an especially bitter pill, with and reduce fares. Yet just last month, the expire. As it stands, our hands private rail companies dependent upon public subsidies to run their government announced plans (and wallets) are being used services (these same companies to re-privatise the East Coast to prop up a failing system for then turn over an estimated mainline - a dreadful deal for private gain. Many of my constituents - lots 90% of their operating profits to passengers and taxpayers. In of whom rely on the services shareholders). regularly - are struggling with In a nutshell, we Franchises should be the constant unfair price hikes. pay for rail-boss bonuses, and we’re brought back into public On Monday morning, I’ll be joining them to rally against the left with cramped rises. trains, unreliable ownership as they either fail I’ve met with rail operators and services and or their contracts expire” have made the case for a freeze on miserable, all too fares and more flexible, part-time familiar delays. Not the five years it’s been run by season tickets, as well as lobbying the best deal. Privatisation has been a the public sector, East Coast for services to be expanded and comprehensive failure. We can returned nearly £1 billion to the for a second Brighton mainline, keep puffing along with the same taxpayer, as well as increasing to ease overcrowding. But the punctured system, ignoring the passenger numbers, introducing only long-term solution to high check engine light, patching up a new timetable, improving fares and poor services is to problems, and paying ever more punctuality, and establishing bring the railways fully back into industry-leading approaches to public hands. for ever less. There’s a great deal of public Or we can fix the fault at the waste recycling and reducing carbon emissions. The decision to and political support for my bill. source. It’s time to shift gear and bring re-privatise was clearly not made And we know that with the right political will and public pressure, our railways back into public in the public interest. Passengers and taxpayers reform can happen. hands. Change will not come easily; it Which is just what my Railways should be at the heart of such means admitting the system has Bill, which gets its second reading decision-making. Thankfully, Labour has failed. next week, seeks to do. But demonstrating that courage And it’s no dewy-eyed hopped back aboard. Well, a bit. throwback to a 1970s British Unwilling to fully commit, they of conviction would make for a Rail. The modern, efficient, clean, appear to have one foot on, and railway to be proud of again. And, affordable services enjoyed in one off. Tricky on a train. just possibly, even a parliament. They’d invite public operators other parts of Europe offer a All aboard? much better blueprint than our to compete against private companies for lucrative rail Caroline Lucas is the Green MP own past. At a conservative estimate, contracts. In reality, of course, for Brighton Pavilion

On This Day

Excerpts from the recentlypublished book

Dan Tester @DJDanteBrighton

2002 | Wednesday, January 2 The renowned Hanover Band – widely regarded as the finest orchestra playing period instruments in the world – faced a financial crisis. The Hove-based group needed to find £150,000 by the middle of the month to survive. Chief executive, Stephen Neiman, said; “It has taken 22 years to build the orchestra, and it would be a tragedy if it were to disband.”

www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk

@BrightonIndy

Friday, January 2 2015 Brighton & Hove Independent 13

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It is our aim to provide stylish affordable bespoke sliding fitted wardrobes for those with storage problems in the home. In 2014, all these photographs merited the front page of Brighton & Hove Independent (clockwise, from top left) : Davy Jones, Green Party candidate and yoga teacher; graffiti at the site of the i360; the soldier whose medal was found a generation after his death; a defiant kiss at Sainsbury's; the menu for dogs at Stanmer House; and a view of Brighton Wheel, from the drone of photographer Eddie Mitchell.

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Friday, January 2 2015 Brighton & Hove Independent 15

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Give a dog a home ¨ Brighton & Hove Independent has teamed up with New Priory Vets, Vets 2 Home, and Dogs Trust Shoreham to help find homes for some of Brighton and Hove’s unwanted dogs. This week is Camilla

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1mm in size can be seen where as on x-rays nodules need to be 4-5mm in diameter to be seen. CT is used to search for spread of cancer and in some patients we have been able to avoid surgery that would not have been appropriate because of CT guided biopsies which are performed routinely. CT can also be used for looking at the abdomen and is really useful for looking at very big or fat dogs where

ultrasound can be very difficult. Just as in human medicine, CT has now become a routine part of our veterinary investigations. Andrew Denning is a veterinary surgeon at New Priory Vets Brighton and an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Diagnostic Imaging. Only 10 UK vet practices have a specialist in diagnostic imaging

16 Brighton & Hove Independent Friday, January 2 2015

@BrightonIndy

www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk

Elections 2015: How will Brighton and Hove vote? Key

Ward Main road

Key

A23

Councillors: Conservative Ward

Green Labour Liberal Democrats MainIndependent road

Councillors: Conservative Green Labour Liberal Democrats Independent UKIP

Withdean North Portslade

Patcham Hangleton and Knoll

A27

Hollingdean and Stanmer

Lewes Road Moulsecoomb and Bevendean

Hove Park South Portslade

Preston Park

St. Peter’s and North Laine

Westbourne

Central Hove

Woodingdean

Hanover and Elm Grove

Goldsmid

Wish

Brunswick and Adelaide

East Brighton Regency

Queen’s Park

Rottingdean Coastal

Greg Hadfield @BrightonIndy

Now that it is 2015, anyone interested in democracy can look forward an historic year. In just over four months - on the same day, on Thursday, May 7 citizens will have the opportunity to vote for whomsoever they want to run our city and govern our

country. Inevitably, even understandably, many will choose not to exercise their democratic right. In the last city council elections in 2011, turnout was only 41%; that’s right, nearly six in 10 did not bother to vote. Not that this has stopped many of them complaining about the failures of local politicians. Nationally, the turnout at the 2010 general election was better at 65%. Only about one in three

We’re bringing cleaner seas to Sussex

stayed at home. It doesn't have to be this way. As Scotland showed. When the stakes were high, well over four in five made their votes count. Well, the stakes have never been higher than here and now. As Brighton & Hove Independent has repeatedly highlighted, our city is facing a crisis - a time when difficult and important decisions have to be made. Some of these decisions – for example, those to be made about

next year's council budget will be made by the current city council, on which no party has majority control. There are 20 Green councillors, 18 Conservative councillors, 13 Labour councillors, one UKIP councillor, and two independent councillors. It is entirely possible that the council elected on May 7 will be similarly divided, leading to another minority administration that finds it difficult to push through its own agenda.

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This may or may not be desirable. It may or may not what we collectively want. On the same day, it is entirely possible that the government elected on May 7 will be either a coalition or a minority government operating on a vote-by-vote basis. Again, this may be desirable. Just one thing is certain: we can control only how we exercise our own votes - locally and nationally. Not how others exercise theirs. It is our democratic right.

www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk

Friday, January 2 2015 Brighton & Hove Independent 17

@BrightonIndy

Ward profile: Hollingdean and Stanmer Sitting councillors Councillor Jeane Lepper (Labour) Councillor Sven Rufus (Green) - @SvenRufus Councillor Christina Summers (Independent) - @Cllr_Christina

Declared candidates for three seats Every party and candidate will be covered on www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk

It is also our democratic aimed at helping you decide who to entrust with your vote. responsibility. Never has this responsibility The first of our ward profiles been greater; never before have is published today (see right); there been city council elections others will follow every week. At the heart of all this, however, on the same day as a general will be what you tell us you election. In the next four months, want, what you need to know, Brighton & Hove Independent and which questions you want will make itself available - in print answered. Specifically, we want to hear and online - to all those who wish to engage in this unprecedented from community organisations, exercise in democracy. Moreover, businesses, trades unions, and it will organise public meetings individuals about what matters across the city to enable citizens most to them. to hold office-seekers to account. One thing is certain: In print, we will we can control routinely make available space inevitably only how we exercise our limited - to politicians of all parties so they can own votes - locally and put their arguments in nationally. Not how others their own words to the citizens of Brighton and exercise theirs” Hove. Throughout, we will remain independent And the goal? and unbiased - but not anodyne At the very least, we have or unopinionated. Online, starting today, we to work together to dispel will build the most informative apathy, to increase turnout, environment possible for the to support informed decisionmaking, to interrogate dogma, people of our city. In the coming months, and to incentivise honesty and we will devote discrete honour in our politics and our areas of our website - www. politicians. Together, regardless of our brightonandhoveindependent. views, we have to do what we co.uk - to each political party. We will publish online all can to breathe new life into their press releases and leaflets, out politics. If we can do that promote all their public events, whatever else is the outcome and link prominently to their then that will be the victory that democracy deserves. own websites and social media. We will create a page for every candidate, on which you will be able to read all their statements and follow all their activities. For each of the 21 council wards and the three parliamentary constituencies, we will publish data and other information

ELECTIONS 2015

Hollingdean and Stanmer

Jack Hazelgrove (Green) David Walker (Green) - @David4BHCC Councillor Christina Summers (Independent) - @Cllr_Christina Tracey Hill (Labour) - @TraceyMHill Michael Inkpin-Leissner (Labour) - @mikeleissner Caroline Penn (Labour) - @ThePennyDrops

2011 election results Poll watch One of the biggest shocks of the 2011 city council elections was the failure of two of the three Labour Party candidates to be elected in what had previously been regarded as a stronghold seat. Jeane Lepper - a long-serving councillor and wife of David Lepper, the former Brighton Pavilion MP scraped through as a well-organised Green campaign saw the party's surge in popularity spread out from the city centre, thanks in part to the increased studentification of a traditional working-class area. In the last four years, a lot has changed: Christina Summers, expelled by the Greens after opposing gay marriage, is now an independent councillor and lacking an organised party network; Sven Rufus, a Green councillor who has made little impact, is standing down; and Ms Lepper is retiring. It is no coincidence two of Labour's most determinedly-ambitious candidates managed to be selected by a city party over which they hold significant sway. If Labour does not score a hattrick of wins here, then they will have little chance of forming even a minority administration. It is likely to be an uphill struggle for the Green candidates: David Walker, a socialist; Jack Hazelgrove, a veteran former Labour councillor; and a woman who has still to be chosen. Siginficantly, no other party has yet chosen their candidates.

Candidates

Votes

(%)

Sven Rufus (Green- elected)

1,753

(14%)

Christina Summers (Green - elected; now Independent)

1,748

(14%)

Jeane Lepper (Labour - elected)

1,681

(13%)

Pat Hawkes (Labour)

1,557

(12%)

Luke Walter (Green)

1,523

(12%)

Christine Simpson (Labour)

1,511

(12%)

Rachel Emma Bates (Conservative)

767

(6%)

Patrick Lowe (Conservative)

761

(6%)

Rob Labs (Conservative)

732

(6%)

Nigel David Carter (UKIP)

166

(1%)

Oliver Richard Henry Eke (Liberal Democrats)

138

(1%)

Emma Claire Louise Harrop (Liberal Democrats)

127

(1%)

Tony Greenstein (Independent)

126

(1%)

Phil Clarke (Independent)

120

(1%)

Lillian Odette Harrop (Liberal Democrats)

105

(1%)

Dave Hill (Independent)

Factfile

Christians: 40% No religion: 45% ■■ Number of same-sex civil partnerships: 57 ■■ Divorced: 8% ■■ Living as co-habiting couple: 12.8% ■■ Married: 25.4% ■■ One family - all aged 65 and over: 4.7% ■■ Lone parent - with dependent children: 10% ■■ No adults in employment - with dependent children: 7.5% ■■ Long-term unemployed: 1.4% ■■ Activities limited a lot by poor health: 7.6% ■■

Households: 5,290 Density (people per hectare): 53 ■■ Women: 51% (8,010) ■■ Men: 49% (7,671) ■■ Average age: 33 ■■ Higher managerial occupations: 5.4% (705) ■■ Unemployed: 15.5% (1,114) ■■ White: 85.2% (13,353) ■■ Black/African/Caribbean/Black British: 2.6% (413) ■■ Asian/Asian British: 6.7% (1,050) ■■ Number who cannot speak English well: 158 ■■ Dependent children in household (% of all households): 31.3% ■■ ■■

■■

Source: Census 2011

There is a tunnel 100ft below the beaches of Brighton and Hove, three miles long and 20ft in diameter – big enough to drive a double-decker bus through – that holds storm water during times of heavy rain to prevent polluting the beaches and sea

Flush only pee, poo and paper 368_3.14

Miss Bin-It says ...

3745_07.14

Did you know...

18 Brighton & Hove Independent Friday, January 2 2015

@BrightonIndy

www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk

Martlets Hospice awarded £50,000 in grant aid from the Cabinet Office Frank le Duc @BHcitynews Martlets Hospice has been awarded £53,813 by the Cabinet Office to help it provide compassionate support to patients and their families. The hospice in Wayfield Avenue, Hove, will use the money to develop the Martlets Home Visitors Service, which provides social contact and practical support to people living at home. The service also helps people through the process of leaving a hospice to return home. A Cabinet Office fund of £800,000 is going to seven organisations around the country to tackle loneliness and isolation, which people at the end of their life can often experience. Volunteers will provide companionship and emotional support, as well as practical support to help people reconnect with their own communities. A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “The support offered by winning projects include providing transport to

community groups and teaching people how to contact distant family members online.” Rob Wilson, the minister for civil society, said: “I am delighted to announce the recipients of the Social Action End of Life Fund. “Often medical appointments, care needs and financial considerations can obscure the emotional needs that people face at the end of their lives. “These projects are great examples of how we can use volunteers within communities to make sure that nobody feels alone or unsupported, helping people live with compassion and dignity.” Imelda Glackin, chief executive of Martlets Hospice, said: “We’re thrilled to have been awarded a Social Action End of Life Fund grant which will expand our existing home visiting service using more volunteers to help more people at the end of their lives. “Our volunteer visitors will provide social contact and practical support to patients living at home. “The service will promote wellbeing for patients and their

Martlets Hospice will use the money to develop its home visitors service

families reducing isolation and meeting emotional needs.” Hospice UK, the national charity for hospice care, will manage the £800,000 fund, which will also support Sue Ryder National Befriending Service; Compassionate Communities in

East London; Aquarius in the West Midlands; St Michael’s Hospice in Hampshire; The Herts Neighbour’s Network; and St Michael’s Hospice in Harrogate. For more information, visit: www.themartlets.org.uk

Cameron praises beach hut priest David Cameron has praised a Brighton priest for organising the Hove beach huts advent calendar. Rev Martin Poole, 55, the priest at St Luke’s Prestonville in Brighton, was recognised with a Point of Light award from the prime minister. The awards are given to outstanding individual volunteers "who are making a change in their community and inspiring others”. Rev Poole first masterminded the beach hut advent calendar community arts show in December 2008. The life-size advent calendar uses the coloured doors of the beach huts lining Hove esplanade, with each hut showcasing an artistic festive surprise. Each hut represents the door of an advent calendar and showcases an artistic festive surprise. This year’s calendar included a hut filled with work decorated by local schoolchildren from Deepdene School, art exhibitions, Morris dancers and even a mini pub called The Holly and the Ivy. The project was conceived to raise awareness of the meaning of advent and to give people an opportunity to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas together.

D DAY So the Christmas tree is looking a bit sad, you can’t face another turkey inspired leftover dish or just one more mince pie! Me neither. But a new year beckons and with it new possibilities and a renewed sense of energy.This is for most of us a strange in between time. In this week after Christmas I like many Family Lawyers am stealing myself for one of the busiest periods of the year. Monday is known in the legal profession as D Day – the day of the year when more couples consult a lawyer about divorce than any other.Why – well sadly for many couples the festive period will have brought with it the realisation that their relationship no longer works. Some will have agreed to keep things going for the sake of the children and the split is planned for the NewYear. For others time together over Christmas will have made them want to finally call it

a day. Either way it is a difficult time for all involved. I often reflect that this period after Christmas and leading into the NewYear with its mixture of lethargy, nostalgia and a need to change ourselves and our situation mirrors how many of the couples I work with feel about ending their relationship. It is a time of regret but also hope. I have to be very sensitive to this and help couples look ahead not back.To believe that change is possible. Many couples think that the divorce process has to be about point scoring where one party wins and the other loses. So when they come to me I help change that attitude. Collaborative law is a way of doing things differently. Each partner has their own lawyer, we all sit down together to work out a way forward. The whole process is built on trust and transparency; all

Jo will be delighted to discuss (free of charge and confidentially) how she can assist you and your family. Call today: 07780 676 212, Email: jo@osullivanfamilylaw.com or visit her firm’s site on www.osullivanfamilylaw.com

advice is given openly, meaning there is less confusion and expectations are managed. We try and maintain a positive, practical attitude throughout. Like new years’ resolutions a commitment to doing things differently can go a long way to a positive way forward. As with any big change or loss to make something good out of something difficult takes hard work but change is possible. My experience of Collaborative law has been rewarding because I see many couples resolve to work together and in so doing they are able to move on from the past. Like the NewYear and the month of January itself it can be tough and depressing but with a fresh attitude better times can be ahead. In between times are hard no one finds being in limbo easy but this period doesn’t last for ever and with time and support 2015 for many will bring happier times.

www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk

Friday, January 2 2015 Brighton & Hove Independent 19

@BrightonIndy

Brain Gym

No.203

Double Crossword

Last week’s solutions: CRYPTIC - Across: 1 Pass; 3 Spyglass; 9 Learned; 10 Often; 11 Imprecations; 13 Turtle; 15 Aghast; 17 Rough diamond; 20 Crown; 21 Pension; 22 Disperse; 23 News. Down: 1 Palliate; 2 Sharp; 4 Pedlar; 5 Growing pains; 6 Antenna; 7 Sons; 8 Intelligence; 12 Students; 14 Riotous; 16 Adopts; 18 Opine; 19 Acid. QUICK - Across: 1 Sobs; 3 Advocate; 9 Abscess; 10 Ensue; 11 Dispossessed; 13 Rarest; 15 Recess; 17 Improvidence; 20 Egret; 21 Ignored; 22 Fiendish; 23 Lend. Down: 1 Standard; 2 Basis; 4 Desist; 5 Overspending; 6 Austere; 7 Even; 8 Remonstrated; 12 Ascended; 14 Remorse; 16 Avoids; 18 Nurse; 19 Deaf.

Choose either quick or cryptic clues.

Cryptic Clues:

Codeword Each number in the grid represents a different letter of the alphabet and every letter of the alphabet is used. Use the given letter(s) to the right of the main grid to start you off.

Last week’s solutions: 1

J D S Y T

N G C O Z

Q A P X K U

L H B M R W V

Wordsquare

Across 1. Approve a human face (11) 9. One gets nothing for it (3) 10. Will it shoot itself? (9) 11. General secretaries? (5) 13. Fresh letters of support? (7) 14. Yet his talk is far from uplifting (3-3) 16. Specify how a token may be regarded? (6) 18. A dancer on tour perhaps (7) 19. It may be a nasty demonstration, though in play (5) 20. Taking in and finding very interesting (9) 21. Apt to have a sudden attack (3) 22. Scottish family needs it made secret (11)

Down 2. You have to do so (3) 3. Gets close in linear size (5) 4. Set out and consumed what was left? (6) 5. A smile’s unambitious outcome (7) 6. Good barbers do it - only just in time (3,2,4) 7. Immediately erect Quick Clues: a road (11) Across 8. The shooting of 1. Unwise (11) unknown persons? 9. Pinch (3) (11) 10. Enchant (9) 12. Sacking one 11. Upright (5) ship in dreary 13. Chronicler (7) surroundings (9) 14. Suit of woollen cloth (6) 15. Sold by chemists in Paris perhaps (7) 16. Pious (6) 18. Intrigue (7) 17. Possibly aspire to 19. Attack (5) commend (6) 20. Garment-making (9) 19. Seeing sense (5) 21. Also (3) 21. Cool an ardent admirer (3) 22. Powerful (11)

Kakuro 10

How you rate:

16 9

6 21 14

34 12

6 13 9

beer, bier, biro, bore, borer, breve, brier, brio, ever,

10 words - average; heir, herb, herbivore, here, hero, hire, hirer, hover, over, rehire, reverb, rive, river, robe, rove, rover, 15 words - good; 20 words - very good; veer, verb, vier, vireo. 25 or more - excellent.

Doze (3) Unsuitable (5) Interior (6) Copy (7) Of one mind (9) Barrenness (11) Reinstatement (11) Height (9) Plunder (7) Complete (6) Should (5) Beverage (3)

11 16

Last week’s solutions:

12 31

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 12. 15. 17. 19. 21.

Fill in the white squares with numbers 1 to 9. Each horizontal block must add up to the number in the shaded square to its left, and each vertical block to the number above. Numbers may be used once in each block. Last week’s solutions:

13 28

A L T F A C N I A

Down

Scribble pad

Give yourself ten minutes to find as many words as possible using the letters in the grid. Each word must use the central letter and at least 3 others, and letters may be used only once. You cannot use plurals, foreign words or proper nouns, but verb forms ending in ‘s’ are permitted. There is one 9-letter word to be found.

Circlegram

5 1

9 10

11 4

26 15

6 9

6 4 6 9 5 9 5 2 7 1 8 7 8 9 5 2 1 5 6 2 7 5

2 8 6 9 5 5 2 4 9 7 1 2 3 3 6 9 3 4 2 2 9 3 6 8 1 5 1 3 4 8 9 1 2

Replace the question mark with a letter so that the letters within each circle can be arranged to form words on a common theme. What are the three words, and the letter represented by the question mark?

S E A R

✍

E R D

N E

Last week’s solutions: The letter represented by the question mark is D. Airdrie, Aberdeen, Dumfries, all Scottish towns or cities.

Alphamuddle Rearrange the letters in the grid B to make five words that read both across and down. Five letters have been placed to start you off.

A U N

Sudoku Fill in the grids below so that every column, every row and each of the 3x3 boxes contains all the digits from 1 to 9.

Simple

T ?

E E

Intermediate

Difficult

Last week’s solutions: >

From top to bottom Simple, Intermediate, Difficult

V G R A R

E E U L E

N N U A N

G T L M T

E S A O A

Last week’s solutions: Radio, Arena, Deeds, Indue, Oases.

20 Brighton & Hove Independent Friday, January 2 2015

@BrightonIndy

www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk

Entertainment This week's must-see Holiday on Ice - Platinum Brighton Centre January 6 - 11 The most visited ice show in the world, Holiday on Ice, is back at the Brighton Centre. This year’s show takes the audience through the history of figure skating. Platinum is a tribute to 70 years of Holiday on Ice, with a special guest MC to guide as the show gracefully glides through skating traditions past and present. Popular elements and surprising moments come together on the ice for an incomparable show experience, which will enchant audiences of all ages.