Council failed to listen to our seafront warnings say Councillors

5.45.23pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 24th Aug 2005

Liberal Democrat Councillors are angry that the Council failed to listen to their warnings over problems on Hove seafront. For over six years, Councillors Paul Elgood and David Watkins have warned the Council over problems with barbecues, cycling on the Prom and large football matches on the seafront. Now, there have been a series of incidents involving burnt children and barbecues and also reports of a man injured by footballers on Hove Lawns.

David Watkins on Hove Lawns

Brunswick & Adelaide Councillor Paul Elgood said: 'For over six years we have warned the Council of problems associated with the Hove Lawns area. So serious did we view these problems that four years ago there were a series of meetings between the then Culture Director and local Residents Associations. But the Council did absolutely nothing and sadly our warnings are now coming true. The Council decided not take up these concerns and now look what has happened.

'Last year I raised the problem of barbecues at a full Council Meeting. It took a whole year for new signs to be put up on the lawns warning people not to use barbecues there.

'For many years these problems have plagued residents and seafront users. We kept raising these issues and the Council did precisely nothing. We are all waiting for the long promised review of by-laws, but there is no guarantee that these problems will be dealt with in this process because of the lack of will within the Council to tackle these problems. Officers have ignored our pleas in the past, will they now listen after these accidents have happened?

Brunswick & Adelaide Councillor David Watkins said: 'What do you have to do to get the message across? These activities are dangerous and causing a menace to residents. We have repeatedly warned that these aggressive football matches would result in a traffic accident. It's the wrong place for such matches and we want to see the lawns returned to residents and seafront users.'

Paul added: 'We are very sorry that the Council failed to act as these incidents have resulted. We take no pleasure in saying this as accidents have now resulted. The Council has neglected this issue and failed seafront users. We call on the Council to take firm action to finally dealt with these menaces before any further accidents.'