An Inspector Calls: Steps towards a pedestrian-friendly Brighton Old Town

The Inspector who presided over the Public Enquiry into a scheme proposed by Brighton and Hove City Council to make Brighton Old Town more human-friendly with a series of restrictions on motorised traffic has published his findings. The full Report is available here. The following summary is taken from the BHCC website:

“The Proposals

Following consultation, the council proposed to implement the following measures:
East Street to be closed to traffic between 11am and 7pm each day.
The section of Ship Street between North Street and Duke Street to be closed to traffic from 11am each day.
The section of Prince Albert Street between Ship Street and Black Lion Street to be permanently closed to traffic.
Access to Boyce's Street limited only to those vehicles accessing property on the street.

Public Inquiry

The proposals were the subject of a public inquiry in July 2013, following objections to some of the proposed traffic orders.

After hearing evidence from council officers, residents, businesses, and pedestrian charities, the Inspector supported the proposals to close the northern-most section of Ship Street.  He agreed with council officers that closing the stretch of road will dramatically reduce the amount of traffic in the area - a key objective of the project.

The inspector also supported the proposal for an HGV ban after 11am. This was put forward by many local businesses who told the council that HGVs ruined the character of the area.

The Inspector agreed that proposals to close the middle part of East Street to all traffic between 11am and 7pm each day would help pedestrians and businesses however he highlighted some potential safety issues concerning redirected traffic on Little East Street.  Officers will look again at Little East Street to determine an alternative design for the road that will resolve these issues.  Plans to close a section of Prince Albert Street will also be looked at again once the impact of other measures in the Old Town have been assessed.

A proposal to close Boyce’s Street to through traffic, supported by businesses, residents and Middle Street School, was agreed before the public inquiry and will go ahead as planned.

Implementation of the Ship Street/North Street junction element is scheduled to start in early 2014.”

Brighton Old Town Public Inquiry

10am, Wednesday 17^th July (et sub), The Ambassador Suite, Brighton Hilton Metropole Hotel: a diary date for anyone interested in the environment in Brighton's Old Town, being the time and place of the public inquiry into the Council's proposals to reduce the domination of motorised traffic in this historic area of the city. Because there had been some objections to the Council’s proposals, and because anyone with an interest is entitled to speak at the inquiry, I decided to go along and speak in support of the scheme, which will benefit pedestrians (and other vulnerable road users), and is long overdue.

Although I'm not sure it would get top place on a bucket list of things to do before you die, a public inquiry has to count as a healthy part of a functioning democracy, what with objectors (mainly Brighton and Hove Streamline taxis, plus residents of Clarendon Mansions) and supporters (including Child Friendly Brighton and the Terre A Terre restaurant and other businesses) being given the chance to air their concerns. The inquiry follows a quasi-judicial process: on hand to represent Brighton and Hove City Council were a barrister, a council solicitor and the Project Manager of the Old Town scheme. Pro’s and anti’s all get a chance to have a say, and the opportunity to cross-examine each other. Here's a link to the materials I spoke to, wearing a Brighton and Hove Living Streets hat. The inquiry is scheduled to end on Friday, after which all bets are off until Mr Ian Jenkins, the chartered surveyor running the enquiry, goes off and reflects on the various submissions and, in due course, comes to a decision. (Image: BHCC).

East Street, Old Town, Brighton: Support Option A

An earlier post (20 Feb) was too optimistic about Brighton’s East Street. So far, the only bit that has been closed to vehicle traffic is a short stretch which links to the seafront, and there’s a new crossing over King’s Road which means you can get to the beach without negotiating a guard-railed sheep-pen in the middle of the road. The good news is in the Brighton Old Town proposals covered on 24.5.12. If Option A gets the go-ahead, and restricted vehicle access is adopted, East Street will become part of a core pedestrianised area in the historic centre of Brighton. As the map shows, it’s important to support Option A on the council’s website.