Comment by Jessica Courtney Bennett on July 15, 2011 at 5:16pm

Read the most recent press release from East Sussex County Council Post Meeting Press Release

Comment by Jessica Courtney Bennett on July 19, 2011 at 2:19pm

Latest Next meeting to discuss the process for evaluating ideas and decision-making is Wednesday 27 July at 7.30pm in the Council Chamber at Lewes Town Hall. The open day at St Anne's is Saturday 13 August, 10am to 4pm. See the East Sussex County Council's website for more details.

Comment by Jessica Courtney Bennett on July 28, 2011 at 5:11pm

Comment by Marina Pepper on July 28, 2011 at 5:35pm

Can you change the words on the poster to make it sound as exciting as this project really is. Back in April a group of people who noticed East Sussex County Council was wasting a valuable community resource, occupied the space. The derelict, litter strews 3.5 acre site was transformed into a community space where people met, shared ideas and took action to make the world a better place. A few local homeless people came to live on the site alongside activists. Young people used the space to hang out. Some of them grew vegetables. A few of them played the piano. Elderly people visited, bringing cake to share, telling their stories, urging the young to stand up to the authorities who rule us. Then the site was evicted. Now it's going to be open for a day. We are allowed to tend our veg for the open day. I guess we can also bring a cast to perform, music to play, food to share. We can discuss our ideas with others over a cup of tea. We can spend the day in the grounds with our family. We can come birdwatching, we could fly a kite. We could come camping (only joking!).

 

I feel the illustration captures the mood. The words do not. Can we also have the logo for East Sussex County Council prominent on the poster. Maybe also mention Meanwhile Space, the company brought in to oversee the project because the council won't trust the community. I think MS could be useful. But a bit more bottom up organising and facilitating would be good. It was like having to pander to performing seals at last nights meeting. Does that bloke ever stop talking long enough for the community to have their say?

 

But I digress. Is that poster going to be too expensive for us to print out at home? If we go with this using livelier words does it look ok in B&W.

Comment by Marina Pepper on July 28, 2011 at 7:36pm

Ideas for space:

summer camping site/ all year round hostel accomodation. (funded through a local co-operative.

 

Community food growing project to share skills in growing and cooking veg (funded through not costing very much and the odd grant/handout - there are still places to find these).

 

Pop up community centre - open for as many hours on as many days as volunteers allow. Special hours/projects for young people  /the excluded and vulnerable / benefit/pension advice, political meetings, community group meetings, clubs etc. When St Annes Diggers were in occupation, running costs were about £30 a week. That included tea and milk.

 

Can I just say, a grave yard seems a very bad idea for iterim use as Sean Nolan suggests 3 years usage is all the community can expect.

Comment by Marina Pepper on July 28, 2011 at 9:27pm

Facebook event for open day - invite all your friends. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116025958493431

Comment by nicola fee on August 2, 2011 at 5:37pm

yes I have an idea!..why dont we put up a marquee a big tent and make a rocket stove and make tea so everyone can can sit down and be ammusued, and why don't we do food so people can eat together, we could have some musicians playing some music, or gardening or something to lift the spirit and make you feel tall. 

Comment by Jessica Courtney Bennett on August 18, 2011 at 10:55am

Great video of the St Anne's site from Cllr Ashley Price, Lewes Green Party (Priory Ward).

Comment by Jessica Courtney Bennett on August 23, 2011 at 2:10pm

At the weekend I went to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. The space and beauty of the place really reminded me of St Anne's and it really struck me as a beautiful use of the space. An idea to consider maybe? http://www.ysp.co.uk/

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