🌳Green Wall consultation, Dutch Elm infestation, Sea Lanes excavation and more🏊‍♀️

Good morning, and welcome to the Brighton Seagull's Monday Briefing! We hope you all have a nice day—here at Seagull Towers we're moving into a shiny new office*, which we're very excited about. Onwards and upwards!

Twelve more elm trees cut down due to disease

More trees have been cut down in Brighton to try and stop the spread of Elm Disease.

There are 12 trees at Downs View Life Skills College on Old London Road that had to be removed, due to the level of infection found.

Councillor Elaine Hills, a member of the Environment, Transport & Sustainability committee, said:

It’s very sad that we’re losing more of our much-loved trees to Elm Disease. Unfortunately, our only option is to remove all 12 trees to stop the infection spreading further.

It’s the third summer in a row that we’re seeing very high levels of Elm Disease and it’s devastating to see it having such an impact in the city again.

It is crucial that we do everything we can to maintain the city’s tree population and reduce the impact on biodiversity from trees lost to disease. This is why we are planting thousands of young trees in the city every year.

If you’re concerned about an elm, do get in touch with the team to let them know.

The council ask that residents:

• Don't buy logs if the supplier cannot guarantee that the wood isn't elm
• Don't bring any elm timber into the city
• And to let them know about any elm tree they spot with leaves turning from green to yellow or brown or with a scorched look in the spring, and report any dead trees.

If you’re concerned about an elm tree, email [email protected].

🖋 News in Brief 🖋

• The Seagull understands that the planned Sea Lanes outdoor pool will begin construction on Saturday, October 1. The pool will be 50 metres long by 12 metres wide and approximately 1.2 metres deep, with six lanes, freshwater and partially heated. Expected completion is March/April 2023.
• If you enjoyed Gareth Lloyd's story for us about how Albion fans helped save Wrexham from having their stadium sold off, you might be interested in a new documentary about Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny's purchase of the club.

What's happening? People are being invited to have their say on the restoration of Madeira Terrace and its green wall.

Exciting! Very! The Grade II* listed terraces have been closed to the public since 2012, and now on the 150th anniversary of the green wall planting, the planning application to restore them is finally live.

What are the plans? The restoration aims to bring back a viewing terrace for events on Madeira Drive and improve pedestrian access from Marine Parade to the seafront. Madeira Terrace will be part of a linear ‘park’ along the eastern seafront. The project will link in with the Black Rock rejuvenation scheme, which has prioritised planting and physical access to the eastern beachfront.

The plan is to:

• Repair and protect the cast iron
• Redesign the mid-deck walkway
• Restore decorative elements such as the spandrels at the front of the arches
• Meet current building regulations to make things safer
• Install new seating, lighting, and space for pop-ups on the deck and at ground level, to accommodate events such as food festivals or live music
• Safeguard and retain the historic Japanese green spindle plants to re-establish the Green Wall at the back of the terrace.

There are also plans to improve accessibility by restoring the lift and creating a new staircase.

What happened to close off the arches? It was originally a covered promenade and viewing platform, designed to attract London tourists when the new railway opened in the late 1800s. Over time, the marine environment caused deterioration, as well as cracks in the concrete decking and fractures in the cast iron which have made the structure unsafe.

What have people said so far? There is currently one public comment asking that drinking water fountains are put into the plan. Knowing Brighton, we expect many more to follow.

How can I give my views on the planning application? You can view and comment on the Phase 1 planning application through the council's Planning Register portal (search for reference number BH2022/02577) or click here.