COUNCIL bosses need to speed up plans to improve traffic problems at one of Brighton’s most popular parks.

That’s the view of Brighton and Hove Friends of the Earth, who feel regeneration plans for Stanmer Park need to focus on congestion issues.

“It’s not safe,” said Chris Todd from the environmental charity.

“There are lots of issues, traffic and car parking causing congestion. People drive anywhere and damage the grass.”

Plans are in the pipeline to regenerate the 464 acre site and a public consolation will be held next month.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has given the park £3.75m to pay for improvements.

But Mr Todd says as more and more people visit, it means more and more cars are filling up space.

“The commercialisation of Stanmer House brings in more people and causes even more congestion and pollution,” he added.

“I understand the constraints the council is facing but we need to be looking at other ways to improve things.”

He says the best way to visit is by bicycle - that way it will reduce congestion and be better for the environment.

He added: “The congestion makes the buses unreliable so people tend not to use them so they drive there.

“They should be looking at making it easier for people to get there via bus or bike.

“More can be done, this is a gateway into becoming a national park but they’ve got disused and rundown buildings.”

The draft Woodland Management Plan has been produced by an independent forestry consultant on behalf of the council’s parks projects team.

Brighton’s parks and open spaces budget has been the smallest in recent years and was due to be cut further by £600,000 in 2016.

In July 2017 the council received official permission to start work on the project as it secured funding of £3.75 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The plan has proposed re-allocating car parking which will create additional spaces and overflow provisions, in order to accommodate the extra 300,000 visitors a year.

They are also looking to help protect trees from fungi infections and set up commercial premises for wood fuel and timber.

The current parking areas at the Lower Lodges will be formally laid out and landscaped to include an extra 100 spaces, while smaller car parks and ad-hoc parking along the main drive will be removed.