Event: MEP Caroline Lucas sets out vision for future of Brighton and Hove

Place: Community Base, 113 Queen’s Road, Brighton

Time/date: Thursday, April 17th, 3pm (during centre Open Day, 10am-4.30pm)

BRIGHTON and Hove’s Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas will set out her vision for the future of the city during an Open Day at Brighton’s largest community centre on Thursday.

Speaking during a discussion on the future of the city at the Community Base Open Day she will call for regeneration to be led by community and voluntary groups – rather than town hall bosses and supermarkets chains – and to aim for improving life satisfaction rather than simply economic growth.

Dr Lucas said: “Traditionally, regeneration takes the form of a new large development, often a supermarket, which creates lots of poorly paid jobs for local people – and well paid ones in government agencies, town halls and consultancies.

“This approach might deliver economic growth – but doesn’t necessarily improve people’s lives. A narrow focus on economic growth alone means that as the economy grows the gap between the haves and have-nots all too often widens, and crime, family breakdown and environmental degradation all rise as the benefits of growth are sucked out of local communities.

“We have seen this pattern repeated up and down the country. Brighton and Hove should learn from these mistakes, and ensure that major developments are driven forward by the community and voluntary sector, and deliver the things people actually want and need: better access to healthy food, greater social cohesion, an end to fuel poverty, more efficient transport infrastructure, and so on.”

The Green Party MEP will make her comments during a discussion on Brighton and Hove’s future as part of the Open Day and AGM at Community Base, Brighton’s largest centre for community and voluntary groups.

Other attractions include a series of films produced by Community Base users, a chance to meet dozens of local charities and groups, stalls and exhibitions, including one devoted to local black history, refreshments – and music and dancing with Mel’s Allstars.