ONE of Brighton’s most popular shopping streets could be pedestrianised at weekends under new plans.

East Street in The Lanes could be closed to cars in an experimental proposal being put to Brighton and Hove City Council, after calls from traders and opposition councillors.

Plans to pedestrianise the street, which has a footfall of up to 20,000 people a day, were voted down last month amid safety concerns and criticisms.

New plans put forward by the council call for an 11am to 7pm closure to cars on Saturdays and Sundays and, if passed, the trial period would last no longer than 18 months.

Stuart Wilkie, a spokesman for the Brighton Lanes Traders Association, said previous plans would “disrupt businesses and deliveries” in both East Street and Little East Street.

He said: “We were never opposed to pedestrianisation in principle; we just want it done properly and thoroughly.

“I hope the council look at this scheme with the whole of the lanes in mind and also consider how traffic is going to work when they create the new junction at the Palace Pier.”

Mr Wilkie said he hoped the trial would open up possibility for a more “comprehensive” scheme in future “when the budget is there”.

Plans to pedstrianise parts of The Lanes has been through public consultation over the past two years.

Before the “experimental order” can be passed by the council it must also be agreed by the emergency services.

Previously Councillor Tony Janio, Conservative, called on the council to consider a larger scale pedestrianisation project for the area and called road closure plans a “pauper scheme”.

Councillor Gill Mitchell, Labour, raised questions over safety regarding driving traffic down Little East Street.

The proposal will be considered at the environment, transport and sustainability committee on November 25 at Hove Town Hall.

Councillor Pete West, Chair of Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee said: “There’s a clear case for pedestrianising East Street and much support from the local traders.

"20,000 people use East Street at peak times, making it one of the busiest pedestrian routes in the city, with visitors and residents spilling from the pavements into the road.

“Experts say that most businesses in pedestrianised areas report an increase in profits compared to those outside those zones. The trial will share the benefits of pedestrianisation experienced by other parts of the Old Town, with East Street traders too.”