Study into traffic regulation plans for Brighton

Experts are to evaluate the impact of traffic regulations in the centre of Brighton – despite the plans not having been approved yet.

Brighton and Hove City Council has appointed experts from Bristol to chart the difference before and after The Lanes are pedestrianised.

The plans would see Ship Street pedestrianised between Duke Street and North Street from 11am each day, East Street being shut to vehicles between 11am and 7pm daily, Prince Albert Street closed permanently to traffic between Middle Street and Bartholomews and a number of parking and loading bays removed.

After nearly 70 people, including taxi drivers, residents and businesses, officially opposed the plans, the scheme cannot be approved until a public inquiry, due to be held in July, is completed.

However, experts will be travelling from the University of West England’s Centre for Transport and Society to carry out ‘baseline’ work this summer.

Dr Steve Melia, from the Centre for Transport and Society, said: “The view and expectation is there will be a whole series of improvements. We will measure those improvements.

“We will be surveying pedestrians and shoppers about where they come from and how they travel to an area before and after the pedestrianisation.

Impact on business

“There isn’t an awful lot of through traffic at the moment but it will be interesting to know when you can no longer driver down some of the lanes what the impact has been.

“We will also look at how has it affected business footfall and rental values.

“The expectation of the council is there will be a positive impact on all of those things.”

Ian Davey, the chairman of the council’s transport committee, said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with the Centre for Transport and Society which has a reputation for its expertise in transport research.

“They will be helping us to gain a better understanding of the wider benefits, both economically and socially, of pedestrian priority schemes.”

For information call the council on 01273 290487 or visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk.

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Comments(16)

fred clause says...
3:24pm Tue 19 Mar 13

The greens will still push it through eventually then claim the majority of Brighton is in favour as they normally do even though that's not the case at all.

tenerifeisland says...
3:32pm Tue 19 Mar 13

no doubt this will cost millions ( no doubt exlcuding the backhanders)!!!!!

aat99 says...
4:02pm Tue 19 Mar 13

lets just keep it as it is so that people can drive round and round these lanes looking for somewhere to park ..... nice !

Having to walk that little bit extra is just not on !

Surely not! says...
4:12pm Tue 19 Mar 13

fred clause wrote:
The greens will still push it through eventually then claim the majority of Brighton is in favour as they normally do even though that's not the case at all.
are they not? on what do you base this statement?

Dealing with idiots says...
4:22pm Tue 19 Mar 13

When this comes in (and it will despite our objections ) just watch for the loss of independent shops and the rise of Tesco Express to replace them. Just what visiting tourists want eh?

HJarrs says...
4:30pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Dealing with idiots wrote:
When this comes in (and it will despite our objections ) just watch for the loss of independent shops and the rise of Tesco Express to replace them. Just what visiting tourists want eh?
Why will a more pleasant shopping environment lead to any more Tesco expresses than would otherwise be built? How about a petition?

HJarrs says...
4:36pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Pedestrianising this area should have been done years ago

Artificial says...
4:39pm Tue 19 Mar 13

fred clause wrote:
The greens will still push it through eventually then claim the majority of Brighton is in favour as they normally do even though that's not the case at all.
The reason this happens is because people don't fill in the consultations. They write on petitions (which are worth very little). It takes time, yes, but in the long run if people encourage others to respond then it makes it harder for the council to say they have 'overwhelming support'.

PETE OF QUEENS PARK says...
5:10pm Tue 19 Mar 13

If they go ahead and do close Ship street between North Street and Duke Street where will the traffic go that comes out of Portland Street and Windsor because you cannot use the bottom half of North Street and could only turn right into Ship Street

dawind says...
5:16pm Tue 19 Mar 13

HJarrs wrote:
Pedestrianising this area should have been done years ago
Too right!
I would go further and allow only public transport, delivery vehicles, taxis and cycles within the CBD.

Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit says...
6:12pm Tue 19 Mar 13

HJarrs wrote:
Pedestrianising this area should have been done years ago
Agreed. The pedestrianisation of New Road (by the Theatre Royal) as been a great success and hasn't led to the area either becoming a ghost town or being overrun by Tesco's.

salty_pete says...
8:03pm Tue 19 Mar 13

I get concerned whenever the council use the word "improvement" when describing road changes. The only time in recent history when a genuine improvement has happened is at the Woodingdean junction. I believe all other changes in road design have certainly not been beneficial to the flow of vehicular traffic or to the environment as stationary traffic is more polluting. How long will it be before we get councillors with enough spirit to curb the Sustainable Transport dept. and start using their budget to repair the road surface in B&H rather than "improve" it?

Dealing with idiots says...
8:27pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit wrote:
HJarrs wrote: Pedestrianising this area should have been done years ago
Agreed. The pedestrianisation of New Road (by the Theatre Royal) as been a great success and hasn't led to the area either becoming a ghost town or being overrun by Tesco's.
It is not pedestrianised it is shared use with vehicles, check your facts. Er how many small independent shops are there in New Rd? Are Jars and Jimmy the same Green councillor? I think we should be told.

BeeJam says...
10:23pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Dealing with idiots wrote:
Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit wrote:
HJarrs wrote: Pedestrianising this area should have been done years ago
Agreed. The pedestrianisation of New Road (by the Theatre Royal) as been a great success and hasn't led to the area either becoming a ghost town or being overrun by Tesco's.
It is not pedestrianised it is shared use with vehicles, check your facts. Er how many small independent shops are there in New Rd? Are Jars and Jimmy the same Green councillor? I think we should be told.
Indeed.

And there is in fact a Tesco express within under 10 secs walk of New Road

tenerifeisland says...
1:35am Wed 20 Mar 13

Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit wrote:
HJarrs wrote: Pedestrianising this area should have been done years ago
Agreed. The pedestrianisation of New Road (by the Theatre Royal) as been a great success and hasn't led to the area either becoming a ghost town or being overrun by Tesco's.
neigggggggh shergar? where are you???

taman says...
5:37pm Sat 30 Mar 13

Experts are to evaluate the impact of traffic regulations in the centre of Brighton – despite the plans not having been approved yet.

there arrogance is beyond belief

click2find

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