Agenda item - Chairs Communications

The Chair gave the following communications:

VisitBrighton are delighted to announce that after two years of hard work from the VisitBrighton team, the East Sussex, Brighton & Hove and West Sussex Local Visitor Economy Partnership  (LVEP) has received accreditation from VisitEngland. Joining 30 other accredited LVEPs across England, the Partnership will play a key role in leading, marketing and managing the visitor economy in the region, augmenting the existing work of VisitBrighton whilst working with VisitEngland to shape national strategy and policy.

Working collaboratively with BHAFC, we are once again dressing the City in blue and white, with banners across North St, Wester Rd and Preston St, supporting the Albion as they progress through the UEFA Europa League.

The conference team has been busy and has just secured a new 300 person, 3 day conference for the city in Sept 2025, for a tourism software supplier, which will give us the chance to showcase our destination to the tourism industry.

Naming of Hove Beach Park

Since launching the consultation on the 17th January, many residents voted for their favourite name for the new park at Kingsway to the Sea. A total of 3,901 residents voted on the 9 shortlisted names with a clear winner – Hove Beach Park.

Volks Railway – Has been awarded “Railway of the Year” at the Heritage Railway Association’s annual awards. The iconic Volk's Electric Railway is the world's oldest operating electric railway and a pioneer in sustainable transportation. It was selected for the award in a field of over 200 heritage railways across the UK. The railway celebrated its 140th Anniversary last August. The recognition itself reflects the dedication to providing eco-friendly and efficient transport while also preserving the rich history embedded in its rails. The railway has continually adapted to modern standards while maintaining its vintage charm, making it a standout contender for the award.

New beach chalets

We have our first tenant for the new chalets at Saltdean. The 14 chalets, in seven double units, are located on the Undercliff Walk directly to the west of the Saltdean subway. They are different in design from the existing brick and concrete chalets. The turquoise and white chalets are made from a modern hardwearing composite material, suitable for a marine environment, and will all have access to water and electricity. The new units bring the total number of beach chalets available across Hove, Rottingdean, Maderia Drive, Ovingdean and Saltdean to 119.