Dear Supporters,
There are a few bits of info to share with you and there is more about our Raffle in the new edition of the Hovarian.
You may know that the Lagoon Paddling Pool has suffered a double whammy and is closed for the foreseeable future. The fairly new liner is being replaced, as it has crumbled and apparently there is a national chlorine shortage, so the pool cannot be used for health and safety reasons, along with almost all the other paddling pools in the City. We have been kept informed by the council, but are very unhappy about the situation, particularly during this hot weather and the school holidays coming up.
The Planting beds by the Lagoon Pavilions and the Big Beach Cafe are blooming wonderful (sorry) now and we have been inundated with positive comments. Thanks so much to the handful of volunteers who are weeding every Saturday from 9-11am. We need more of you to join them!!! 💌 Contact us!
We have just purchased three new picnic benches, which committee member David has set up by the Skatepark and in the playground, to replace the Big Beach Cafe’s benches, needed for their customers. Two are accessible and one is rainbow coloured! We are also in the process of buying one or two FoHL info notice boards to be mounted on the Pavilion walls.The money for these items is from LagoonFest and Raffle profits.
We have been involved in all of the Kingsway to the Sea (Ktts) formal meetings with the Council and West Hove Seafront Action Group. We have done walkarounds and discussed the proposals at Hove Lagoon (there aren’t many!) and we assisted at the council’spublic engagement events. For more information on the project , including the proposals and timescales, go to: https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/news/2022/community-gives-feedback-plans-kingsway-sea-scheme
We were one of the groups involved in the Beacon relighting event and although there was criticism from some quarters, the organisers and the artist received lots of positive feedback, particularly about the musicians and the local community coming together in such large numbers for an event on the seafront. And totally volunteer run!
The closure of the Outdoor Gym has attracted a lot of dismay and we and the Wish Ward councillors are continuing to push the council to provide a replacement. So far, they have said they have no budget (not even from Ktts funds). If you feel aggrieved, do contact the council and/or your local councillors.
Here’s our summer poster for the FoHL/HDSA 2024 Calendar – we want your photos! Follow this link for more info: https://hovelagoon.org/2024-calendar/
Best wishes,
Sue Johnson
Friends of Hove Lagoon CIC 