A head teacher has spoken out after learning that the only green space where his pupils can practise football will be unavailable for about two months.
Fairlight Primary School head Damien Jordan vented his frustrated because a circus is due to be based on The Level from April to June, preventing the school from using it for football.
The school, in St Leonard’s Road, Brighton, does not have immediate access to any outdoor green space and The Level is the most suitable nearby park.
Mr Jordan said that he had considered other green spaces but they were either sloped or too far away which would mean losing playing time – and transport was too expensive.
He said: “Once again it would appear the council, without any consultation or any consideration for the local community or the users of The Level, appear to be placing profit and ‘vanity projects’ over community use and young people’s health and wellbeing.
“Our football space will now be out of action from the end of April when they set up through May and June and for several weeks after as the space recovers.
“The last time The Level was ‘destroyed’, it was three weeks after before it could be used safely again.
“We can look for other spaces but they are not flat or not close enough to make it worthwhile.
“Anyone who has tried to play football on a hill will tell you it is tricky and you don’t learn more than it is a game of two halves.”
Apart from the lost space, Mr Jordan is frustrated at the lack of investment in the community using The Level. He said: “The community doesn’t appear to get anything from this.”
The profits from these events were not ploughed back into the community, he added, such as into much-needed 4G football and basketball spaces at The Level – or long-derelict community spaces.
Nor had the council offered to hire a bus to take pupils somewhere suitable and back again for the Friday morning sessions before school when 65 children have football training with Mr Jordan on The Level.
He said: “This is not ruining and destroying Hove Lawns or in Queen’s Park or Preston Park. I am sure the residents there would not be happy if it was and possibly that is why they are not being proposed for these venues?”
Last March, Mr Jordan received the school’s most recent Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) award at the Houses of Parliament and spoke with ministers and peers about the importance of play.
The circus Revel Pucks said: “As a traditionally touring circus company, Revel Pucks have a good history (and continue to make a conscious effort) to authentically engage with and deliver a real benefit to local communities.
“In 2024, we ran successful stands in collaboration with local authorities in the Isle of Wight, Bristol and east London.
“When agreeing to run a venue on The Level, we were not made aware we were taking a football practice space from Fairlight Primary School and of course would have considered this in our production plan if we had known.
“With Brighton Fringe Festival, we will support Brighton and Hove City Council to find a resolution with Fairlight Primary School.
“Revel Puck Circus would also love the opportunity to speak to the head teacher Damien Jordan to see if there’s anything we can offer to help provide an alternative experience for the school’s students during the two weeks The Level will be occupied – whether that be an opportunity to see some of our family-friendly programme or meet performers.”
The Brighton Fringe said: “As a festival, we work with Brighton and Hove City Council and our touring artists and companies, including Revel Pucks, to help secure outdoor sites around the city for large-scale artistic events designed to stimulate, educate and entertain the people of Brighton and Hove.
“Through this process we were not made aware that The Level was also used by Fairlight Primary School and that this booking would impact their pupils’ football practice.
“We will work with Revel Pucks, the council and the school to come to a satisfactory resolution for all parties.”
Councillor Alan Robins, the council’s cabinet member for sports and recreation, said: “We always try to work collaboratively with our school community and have contacted the head teacher to explore possible alternative arrangements but there is no official agreement in place with this school to use The Level for its football club.
“In fact, The Level is not recommended for regular sports use and isn’t designed or maintained with organised sport in mind.
“We do understand the importance of regular physical activity for young people which is why we recently expanded our free swimming scheme for all children and young people under 18 in the city, have invested significantly in our playgrounds and sports facilities and continue to invest in initiatives designed to help children stay active.
“Hosting events on our public spaces provides residents with access to the arts and entertainment.
“Indeed, the last time the circus visited The Level, it gave more than 1,000 free tickets to local people – including many in low-income families.
“Events like this also provide important income for the council which can then be re-invested into local services.
“We want our public spaces to be enjoyed by everyone and will continue to liaise with the school to see if an alternative site can be found to temporarily host its football club.”
Black Rock is empty and not used ! The Level green space has not recovered from No Fit State Circus being held there last August. It looks like a quagmire now how can another circus be held there. Yet again the residents and citizens are second in line with events taking priority of central Brightons green spaces
A £1 levy is needed on the bigger outdoor events ticket sales to create a fund which the local community that hosts the event benefit from .
A tourist tax, if you will. I do wonder if the council could impose that on our hotels and large events. Could be a nice little earner that benefits from one of our most obvious sources.
An accomodation tax is coming but its voluntary. Once devolution happens the newly elected Major could introduce a tourist tax
There is currently some research going on to see if a vote for implementing a tourist tax would be yes for the majority of hotels. If it seems like most hotels would be in favour, it then goes to a vote and then if the vote was mostly yes, then it wouldn’t be voluntary, it would have to implemented by every hotel in the area. i personally think it’s a great idea. when i go abroad on holiday, i think nothing of the extra £2 on top of the nightly rent. It’s a small nightly tax but added up, can be put to really tidying up the city and making the improvements that are wanted.
These events are what makes Brighton great. They are put on for residents and visitors alike, expose people to art and culture, bring money into the city. Just because you personally aren’t interested, doesn’t mean the rest of us are not. If the naysayers had their way, nothing would happen ever in Brighton. Just empty bits of grass. Also – it never takes up the entire level & there are so many other parks near by for people to use.
No one is against events. Its a matter of the right event in the right space and ensure the local community benefit, at the moment they dont .
Where would you put the events yet?
The Level is the right space for accessibility. On a bunch of bus routes, walking distance from the train station and a huge number of residents, and close to the majority of businesses in central London who may experience a halo effect from this sort of event e.g., cafes, restaurants, pubs etc.
I love that the Black Rock area is starting to see an increase in investment, but it simply wouldn’t make sense for an event of this size as it lacks most of the above attributes.
Black Rock has 24hr bus service from Brighton station and Hove. The Reading room, all the cafes and bars in the Marina. Whitehawk and Kemptown residents . A hard surface so no grassed areas are spoilt
It’ll be interesting to see what can be done with Black Rock. I see the potential there as an event space, displacing it away from the centre of Brighton to more along the East, which gets little in the way of love in this aspect; it’ll make some strategic changes along there as well though, so that’s a consideration.
Last year No fit State Circus and Ibiza Concert was booked to use Black Rock site this is no different
Southern Water are still to blame for Blackrock being unavailable.
Benfield Valley 9v9 football pitch
I appreciate that this must be annoying for the school, but the Head sounds ridiculous. The Level has always been used for events.
It’s quite sad to see a head teacher refer to Brighton Festival as a “vanity project”. Does he also think his students studying art and music are a waste of time?
I do think the Brighton Festival takes over too many of our green spaces, it seems like anything goes. As mentioned it not only makes the area out of bounds for usual daily activities, but as much of it is grass ruins it for two months or more, ( I’ve said this before). I guess someone is raking it in. Sorry to say none of it appeals to me.
Having worked for the Warren. I can very much say no one is raking it in. It runs in incredibly tight margins, putting on these sites and productions costs a lot of money. People really are doing it to bring art and culture to local communities.
Yeah, I agree with Dan, I’ve supported a number of events myself over the years in various locations in Sussex and Kent, and it’s not a freeflow of money as you think it is.
We are really lucky to have a good range of events pop up in our parks in our city. Part of Brighton & Hove’s vibrancy. It’s very important that kids and grownups have access to arts and performance and I’m rather shocked at the Head’s aggressive comments.
Exactly!
Could they not use William Clarke Park off Hartington Road? -It’s nearer to the school than the Level anyway…
The head runs this club in the morning before school – I see them when I’m walking the dog. It is brilliantly attended and gives kids whose parents can’t afford weekend clubs or don’t have time to take the out to parks further away, some extra practice. The head is using community resources for his kids creatively to give them opportunities they might otherwise miss out on. It’s not much really is it, to ask that they can get access to a local park for a kick about.