The Bates Tasters Try Tantalising Tastes

The Bates Tasters are a new cookery group that have started up and they meet at the Bates Community flat every other Monday. There are sessions when you get to cook and separate sessions to share recipe ideas. The group recently made an excellent Spaghetti Bolognese which was enjoyed by everyone. They have also created a range of tasty dishes such as Chinese food, vegetable Curries, Indian Semolina Pudding and Rice Salad.

The Bates Tasters are currently starting to develop a folder with lots of exciting new recipes. This is an ideal opportunity for anyone who wants to share their recipe ideas, to cook up some delights, to have an excuse to taste lots of delicious food and to meet new people. David Fitzgerald said, "I enjoy meeting and talking to new people and it gives me ideas for cooking at home."

The cooking sessions go from 12.30pm to 4pm and the discussion sessions go from 1pm to 3.30pm. If you live on Bates Estate, love cooking or would like to learn how and pick up a few tips along the way and are interested in being involved, feel free to drop in and have a cup of tea and a chat with the group or call Jan Netley (Community Development Worker) on: 291 672 or 07730 624369 for more information.

West Pier - Heritage or Blight?
Well we had a fantastic response to our question in the last issue of Phoenix, asking for our residents’ views on whether or not the West Pier should be rebuilt or demolished. Below are two fors and againsts that the Phoenix team thought were the most thought provoking reasons from those that we received. The four picked below will all receive a £5 Woolworth voucher for their terrific reasons which they sent in.

Reasons Against :Plans to build commercial premises at the beach end of the pier are abominable! We don’t need any more shops or anything resembling the fast food and gaming outlets by Brighton Pier. We should spend the money on affordable housing for those on a low income (rented and to buy) and more homes designed for disabled especially wheelchair users.

A poor use of public money. The West Pier was never as popular as the Palace Pier. If built now would they be able to generate enough income to keep going over the years? I hate what has happened to the Palace Pier but understand without income the Palace Pier would also deteriorate.

Make the esplanade useful and beautiful and clear away the debris including that metal monstrosity costing £40,000 lottery money (1 nurse a year)!!! I walked with my daughter between the two piers the other day. There has been great improvement on the lower esplanade. The bandstand in Hove looks run down, is it going to be saved? Could it not be used for school bands and orchestras across Sussex to play for the public?

Reasons For :The West Pier is as much a part of Brighton as the Palace Pier and therefore it should be rebuilt as soon as possible. It’s a big part of our history spanning over a hundred years. Put back theatres on the West Pier, bring back the live shows, it will soon pay its way. The Palace Pier is just a gambling machine; a few bars and that’s it. We need a rival so the West Pier should be reborn out of the ashes like Whitehawk. Reborn for the better I hope.

The West Pier is a part of our history and culture. Elegant and a place to meet friends, take the family to, or a date, back when it was in its prime the West Pier holds many memories for many people. It would be a great shame if such a monument of Brighton’s history should be left withered and a shadow of its former self. I have heard from older relatives about what it was like and would hate to see such a beautiful piece of architecture vanish. I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way. I sincerely hope that it will be restored to its former glory so that I and other youths can experience what others have before us. Save the West Pier!!

Written by Shak-T Maragh, Gemma Williams, D E Funnell.