Carbs Not Cars: Treats on the Streets in Brighton

The Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival attracted about 160,000 people to events across the city from March 30^th until Easter Monday. Many of these folk found themselves in New Road and Jubilee Street, which were taken over by stalls selling a wide range of tasty treats - both roads were thronged with hungry pedestrians. The organisers are lobbying Brighton and Hove City Council to get more support for the festival, now in it’s 10^th year. In particular, they are looking for a reduction in the charges for closing the roads. “We ask that we aren’t charged for the use of public land for our free events as that tax is now taking about 60% of our budget which is money we’d rather be allocating to creating more free events, workshops and local food promotions.” It would be interesting to see the actual costs incurred by the council for such road closures. After all, these roads are part of the public realm – meaning that they are actually “owned” by you and me….