176 Ditchling Road
Empty house or bungalow, reported by Jim Grozier at 13:02, Sunday 4 July 2010
Sent to Brighton & Hove Council 3 minutes later
This is a substantial house which appears to be in reasonable condition but it is boarded up and has broken windows. It has no number but is next to No 176d Ditchling Road. (No 176 is the Jolly Brewer pub, on the other side of Florence Place).
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Updates
Thanks for the report. We are aware of this property. This is a council-owned property included in the current review of council properties working out an effective way to bring it back into use. Please contact me if you would like further information.
The Council officer's reply to my comment indicated that this house is in fact Council-owned. I have since heard that the Council is currently trying to let a large number of its properties to a private landlord, despite the referendum on council house ownership giving a decisive "no" vote a few years back, in order to raise money. I believe this house may be part of the deal the council is trying to make, which means that this large house, consisting of four flats, and rich in local history (it apparently used to be occupied by an official of the tram company, and has stained glass in the porch which is badly damaged) is being used as a political football instead of being occupied.