Part of London Road high street

Brighton & Hove has Local Action Teams (LATs) across the city.

These are an opportunity for local residents, businesses, neighbourhood policing teams and council representatives to get together and talk about issues for the area.

Last week I attended a meeting of the London Road LAT, which covers the northern end of the St Peters and North Laine Ward.

I started with an update on how my work in Parliament links to the work of the LAT.

For example, I’ve called on the Government to make greater progress towards EU targets on air quality, as air pollution is a huge concern in many parts of Brighton, including London Road.

The easy availability of cheap alcohol is also of great concern to residents in this area, so I talked about a relevant Early Day Motion and my campaign to target the availability of ultra low priced alcohol in supermarkets and off licenses.

The LAT also heard the latest on the Portas Pilot project, as London Road is set to benefit from funds to regenerate the high street under the Mary Portas Pilot high streets initiative.

I supported the London Road project at bid stage and am delighted to see work going ahead.

The major issue under discussion was the old Co-op site on London Road.

The plans show that the developers have listened to a number of the concerns that were originally voiced by local residents, but I still remain to be convinced that the best way to regenerate that area is through accommodation for over 300 students who, by their nature, will be very transitory.

Mixed housing surely offers a more promising way of getting the kind of long term social investment in the future of the London Road which is urgently needed.