Round Hill Green Spaces News
From The Round Hill Reporter March 2022.
See Pocket Parks for Round Hill by Dominic Furlong and Jane Power from The Round Hill Reporter September 2019.
Illustration by Peter Gates
Round Hill Green Spaces has been lobbying the council for several years for permission to site planters on the pavement around the southbound bus stop (Ditchling Rd/Princes Cres junction). We were given the go-ahead, then told we had to apply for planning permission, which was finally granted on 6th July 2023.
The man from the council he said 'Yes' (but...)!
In December 2021, we reported on the slowly turning wheels of our project to make Round Hill a little greener and more pedestrian-friendly, with the first step being a 'pocket park' at the southbound bus stop in Ditchling Road. But now we have lots of good news to greet the Spring.
On 20 January 2022 we hosted a visit from Mark Prior, the Assistant Director of Transport and two other senior members of the transport team. Two of our councillors, Pete West and Sue Shanks, came along to lend us support, as did another councillor, Steve Davis, who co-chairs the council’s Environment committee. You might have seen this crocodile of officialdom, and the three of us, wending our way from the bus stop to the bollards at the Richmond/Mayo junction.
And the outcome? We’re delighted to say that Mark gave his agreement to our pocket park plans for the bus stop.
Of course, it’s not as simple as that and there are now lots of questions and actions needed before we can go ahead liaising with other teams such as Arboriculture; confirming if we need planning permission; and getting a license to define the location and what we’re allowed to do. But essentially this is “Go” and everyone we’ve encountered has been very supportive. Let’s hope it doesn’t take too long.
We’re excited that Brighton Buses and Clear Channel are also on-side with the idea of incorporating a bus shelter with a living, beefriendly roof and Brighton Buses will give us £1,500 towards our costs.
Our councillors Pete and Sue have each pledged £500 from their ward funding and we may be able to get some council funding that’s specifically for pocket parks. We’re also now going to get on and fundraise from other sources.
Round Hill Green Spaces
We are Dominic Furlong, Jane Power and Kate Rice.
“Liveable Neighbourhood”
We also discussed with our visitors our next objective - to get Round Hill included in the roll-out of “Liveable Neighbourhoods”. You may remember that this is being piloted in Hanover & Tarner and the central aim is to make residential areas safer for those on foot and reduce through traffic (i.e. rat runs). This might include changes to road layouts, such as use of bollards or narrowing dangerous junctions. We were recommended to take a formal deputation requesting Round Hill’s inclusion to the next Environment committee on 15 March and our councillor Pete West will present that for us. For all these issues we will of course be arranging opportunities to fully share with you our plans and we hope that you support our vision for a greener more pedestrian-friendly Round Hill.
And finally would you like to help reduce cars speeding on the Princes Crescent/Wakefield Rd rat run?
We’re joining the police’s Community Speedwatch scheme, a national initiative where active members of local communities join with the support of the Police, to monitor speeds of vehicles with speed detection devices. Do you fancy donning a yellow jacket and zapping speeding cars? If so contact Jane on Messenger, by email jhwhitehouse@hotmail.com, or you can put a note through our door at 55 Princes Rd.
Thanks to Peter Gates for his lovely illustration.
This page was last updated by Ted on 21-Apr-2026