NHS and council chiefs have pulled out of a public meeting that is due to take place in Portslade this evening (Thursday 13 October).
Their decision follows an angry meeting in Portslade Old Village last night about plans to house up to 60 people with complex mental health needs in luxury flats in the old brewery.
About 300 people crammed into the Village Centre, formerly known as the Courthope Centre, with many complaining about the lack of consultation.
They were also concerned about the prospect of recovering alocholics and drug addicts being housed in an area where there were two pubs but few other places to go.
The row comes after the integrated care board, known as NHS Sussex, and Brighton and Hove City Council signed a 10-year lease on the flats at the old brewery, also known as Le Carbone, in High Street.
Sussex Police were present at the start of the heated meeting but left before the end as Councillor Alan Robins, who chaired the meeting, repeatedly thanked people for staying calm.
One of those who attended, Lisa Alcorn, is the chief operating officer of Saint John of God (SJOG) Hospitaller Services.
SJOG has been given the job of running the new service. It is taking over contracts currently held by BHT Sussex, formerly known as Brighton Housing Trust, and the housing association Sanctuary.
Today Dr Alcorn is understood to have said that the public meeting was not a good way to engage so those taking part yesterday would not go along and listen to the community this evening.
But she said that she and her colleagues had listened last night and noted the concerns of those who were squeezed into the hall.
Councillor Les Hamilton is due to chair the meeting this evening in the Parish Hall, by St Nicolas Church. It is due to start at 7pm.
What a fiasco and this stinks of cowardice on behalf of the Council, NHS and SJOG. So last nights meeting was not ‘a good way to engage’? Yes I guess 300 locals telling you your utter failure to consult and sneak this through the backdoor was utter incompetence was painful to hear, but at least it was honest. What’s next a faux consultation that we have seen in reecnt transport schemes where there is not a ‘no’ option and you basically tell the residents stick it.
What has this woeful council come to (rethorical – we all know how useless and running wild they are under ‘delegated powers’). So we now have a total fit-up between them, the NHS and this religion-based SJOG outfit, who should have no place here, without any prior engagement with councillors or consultation/discussion with neighbouring residents. As I have said before on this forum, councillors, who are allegedly in charge of the council, need to and must curb the delegated powers of officers and institute proper advance consultation about what these renegade and out-of-control officers are up to. This stinks, as do many other things officers get up to without any oversight.
Problem is we have to wait until the next election to maybe effect favourable changes. If we don’t wait for elections (the outcome of which is uncertain anyway) what are we to do as ‘ordinary citizens to stop the rampage of these corrupt and agenda driven councils and their ‘approved’ associates?
Don’t you just love BHCC!
Always open and transparent and looking after it’s residents
Norman
Blast , i had my best gammon face ready for tonight and my plan was to work myself up into a frenzy, wear a purple shirt and let em have it both barrels .
My mate Brian thinks I’m over-reacting and directed me to a fast show sketch, saying it could be re-written
Harry :” Great respect for the council and help towards those who suffer from mental health issues, but i tell you want if they build summthing in my neighbourhood , i say No BHCC i want to keep my estate peaceful , lets kick the can down the road, and make it someone else’s problem
Paul ” Too right harry ”
Now i have to find another story to go full gammon on
Brian
Too right Norman ,
of the 4 previous comments about a lack of consultation
don’t buy it Norm , that excuse is a fig-leaf
They don’t want the problem near them , is what they really think
classic misdirection , straw man
which is to get angry about something different that masks the bigotry
as they try to look good
fancy a pint mate 🙂