Good morning, Brighton. Happy Juneteenth National Independence Day (end of slavery) if you’re from the USA (a long shot but worth a shout out). Cracking weekend of sun ahead - crap if you’re inside at the Brighton Rocks International Film Festival, but fab if you’re out at a vineyard celebrating English Wine Week (read more). Either way, have a splendid one, and don’t forget the dads on Sunday.

In today’s Brighton Scoop:

- Phil Reynolds

🚂 O2 has jumped on the Brighton Main Line connectivity train—literally. The mobile operator has partnered with Cellnex to bring proper 5G coverage to one of Britain's busiest commuter railways, which shuttles over 300,000 passengers daily between London and the South Coast.

Think of it as finally solving the modern commuter's nightmare: no more losing your call mid-rant about delays, or watching videos buffer slower than a Victorian steam engine. The project uses shared infrastructure (a "neutral host" model, if you want to sound clever at the pub), meaning O2 and Three UK can piggyback on the same network rather than each building their own.

The route's notorious dead zones are thanks to tunnels, deep cuttings, and Victorian-era stations being about as signal-friendly as a lead-lined bunker. The complete 108km system promises 99% coverage once finished, requiring 130km of fibre.

Three UK signed up in 2023. Now O2's arrival suggests the model actually works—good news for passengers who've had enough technological frustration for one commute. Read full article.

🚌 You’ll have seen them about town - the pride of the city. Brighton and Hove has just welcomed 16 spanking new electric buses to its fleet—goodbye diesel fumes, hello cleaner air. These aren't just any buses; they're the slick StreetDeck Electroliner Generation 2 models, each packing a 442kWh battery and boasting an impressive 275-mile range on a single charge.

The £10.5 million investment was a team effort: £2.9 million from the government's ZEBRA 2 fund, with the bus company and council chipping in £7 million and £600K respectively. They'll debut on route 7, serving schools, hospitals, offices, and leisure spots across the city. Watch the electric bus promotional film.

But here's the really lovely bit—these buses weren't designed in some corporate boardroom. Brighton & Hove Buses actually worked with disabled people and community groups to build in proper accessibility features: dual wheelchair spaces, dementia-friendly seating (co-designed by an Alzheimer's Society group called "Rusty Brains"), audio and visual announcements, plus extra room for mobility aids.

🅿️ To round off the transport focus this week, BHCC has just given beachgoers and business owners a nasty shock: parking on Madeira Drive East has jumped from £1.60 to a whopping £5.70 per hour—a 256% increase designed to match the pricier western seafront.

Local businesses are furious. Yellowave and seven others have launched a petition (already over 400 signatures), arguing the council promised to keep this area affordable and consulted nobody. Their worry? Families are now being priced out. As one director pointed out, some kids' classes cost £7; add two hours parking at £10, and you're paying more to park than to participate.

The impact's already visible: community groups report declining attendance as people abandon visits because parking has become unaffordable. Older people and those with mobility challenges are particularly squeezed. Sign the petition

The council insists the changes were "introduced, advertised and consulted on" during budget planning but admits it "keeps changes under review"—which sounds suspiciously like they might be listening to the backlash.🤞

☀️ | 📈 24° | 📉 16° | ☔️ <5% | 🌬️ S 6mph | 🌊 <1ft

☀️ | 📈 22° | 📉 16° | ☔️ 10% | 🌬️ SW 9mph | 🌊 <1ft

☀️ | 📈 29° | 📉 19° | ☔️ 10% | 🌬️ E 9mph | 🌊 <1ft

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Cinema’s aren’t going to fill themselves. Break a habit of a lifetime, turn off Netflix, get off the sofa and potter down to your local (cinema).

Duke of York’s Picturehouse - Book

Toy Story 5 | Outdoor: Josie & The Pussycats | The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn | Disclosure Day | Outdoor: David Byrne’s American Utopia | Tours of The Duke of Yorks | Dog Friendly Screening: Toy Story 5 | Outdoor: Best in Show (+ Puppy Parade)

Dukes at Komedia - Book

The Christophers | Tuner | Obsession | Backrooms | Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day | Disclosure Day | Angel’s Egg (Re-release) | Toy Story 5 | Jaws | Relaxed Screening: E.T | Cactus Pears Plus Director Q&A + Short Film

Showing at The Actors, Daltons & Dukes at Komedia. Enjoy over 200 films at 3 fabulous venues at the 9th edition of Brighton's most diverse, original and boundary-pushing film festival. 15th - 21st June. Book & View Full Programme

🎈 Family friendly events

Great to have you follow the Scoop today. If you liked it, do share us with a friend. There’s a coffee on me if you spot me in town.