Big Beach pound per head to improve Madeira Drive
6 February 2008
Green councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council are calling for a £1 levy on ticket sales for the 'Big Beach Boutique 4'.
The councillors want to kickstart a restoration fund for Brighton's Madeira Drive, a neglected seafront stretch yet to benefit from the level of investment enjoyed by more central areas.
An amendment was tabled by Green councillors at the council's Culture Recreation & Tourism Committee on Wednesday 6 February to establish the fund [1].
Green Councillors recognise the importance of Madeira Drive as a heritage seafront boulevard and a showcase events space.
They are concerned by the dilapidated state of repair and lack of cultural attractiveness and are proposing the establishment of a fund to deliver restoration and enhancements.
Suggested improvements include public art to celebrate the rich tradition of the events held on Madeira Drive.
The London to Brighton Bike Ride, the Vintage Car Rally and a beach sculpture area featuring a woodhenge, in tune with the modern folklore of Same Sky’s annual Burning of the Clocks are all worth commemorating with improvements to street infrastructure.
Councillor Pete West, Green CRT spokesperson (pictured above at Madeira Drive), said: “The Drive is neglected and is in great need of restoration and improvement.
"This is Brighton’s principal outdoor events space. In its current shabby state it's letting us all down.
“It’s clear that the excellent improvements to the seafront between the piers have been a real driver in Brighton and Hove's rejuvenation; it’s time to turn our attention to the eastern stretch of our seafront.
“We would like the events which benefit from the use of Madeira Drive to contribute to its restoration and improvement, which will include public art to celebrate such events.
“The world’s longest-running Vintage Car Rally has been coming to Brighton since 1896, and over 650,000 cyclists have taken part in the London to Brighton Bike Ride since it began in the mid-seventies.
"Both these major events have helped to put Brighton on the map, yet there is no permanent tribute to them.
“Madeira Drive also hosts Same Sky’s annual Burning of the Clocks, which has become part of our modern cultural heritage, reflecting the ancient traditions and beliefs of Sussex, and we would like to echo this with a permanent beach sculpture park featuring a woodhenge.”
Councillor West added, “The improvements carried out with monies from Madeira Drive Restoration and Improvement Fund will not only enhance the marketability of events and customer satisfaction.
"It will also ensure that the residents who lose the use of Madeira Drive while events take place are compensated by improvements which can be enjoyed all year round.
“Madeira Drive really is in a shocking state, with huge concrete blocks lining the roadside, and ugly fencing bordering the beach.
"Public art is integral to this vision, as is a focus on Madeira Drive's heritage - the Volks, the beautiful ironwork and the ambitious Victorian precision civil engineering of the cliff face all deserve to be celebrated.
"We expect to work closely with the Volk’s Electric Railway Association and civic societies in terms of the over-arching plan for Madeira Drive.”
Greens are calling for a ring-fenced funding pot for the overall regeneration of Madeira Drive, with monies accrued from a £1 per ticket levy on events such as the Big Beach Boutique, in addition to seeking voluntary contributions from events organisers.
In the case of Big Beach Boutique 4, an estimated 22,000 tickets will be sold for two nights running, which would generate £44,000 for the fund.
Greens have previously asked for "sliding scale" fees to be considered for the events in Madeira Drive, based on pollution quotient at one end, and charitable status at the other.
If agreed, the extra revenue generated by these fees will also go into the fund.
It is also expected that significant contributions will be sought from the developers of the Black Rock site and the Marina.
Notes to editors:
Media contact: Lizzie Deane, Communications Co-ordinator, 07899 843206Notes:
[1] Culture, recreation and Tourism Committee Agenda Item 51 – Big Beach Boutique 4 Amend Recommendation 2.1.1 to read:
“Grant landlord’s consent for the staging of BBB4 on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th September 2008 subject to the promoter meeting the costs of all safety measures and operational plans recommended by the interagency Safety Advisory Group, raising a levy of £1 per ticket sold payable to the new Madeira Drive Restoration and Improvement Fund, and entering into a formal contract with the Council.”
Append new recommendation 2.1.4
“Create a new Madeira Drive Restoration and Improvement Fund which will accrue funds from levies on events such as BBB, increased revenue from other events using Madeira Drive and/or voluntary contributions from these event organisers, and contributions from S106 agreements from the Black Rock and Marina developments.
"The fund will be used to assist much needed restoration and improvement to the heritage and cultural elements of Madeira Drive.”
[ENDS]
