Moves to improve Brighton's 'welcome' (From The Argus)

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Moves to improve Brighton's 'welcome'

10:27am Thursday 19th January 2012 in News By Anna Roberts

Roads around Brighton Station could be closed to cars under options being considered to improve the “welcome” to the city.

Residents have been quizzed on various ideas that Brighton and Hove City Council says could improve the area around the station.

The options include opening Queens Road to taxis and buses only and closing part of Trafalgar Street to improve “poor” pedestrian services.

Another option is installing parking for 800 bikes, although Southern Rail insists a decision on numbers has not been made.

Almost three-quarters of people said they supported rerouting private vehicles away from the southern side of the station.

Public consultation

About 1,200 people responded to the Brighton and Hove City Council consultation on the area.

Among the most controversial options could be the moving of the taxi rank from the front to the back of the station after more than a third of residents backed it.

The move is likely to be opposed by some taxi drivers who say it will cost passengers more if the rank is moved to the back where about 80 cabs could be accommodated, compared with the current 23 at the front.

Sources told The Argus the local authority is “looking very strongly” at putting taxis at the back with the possibility of a small rank at the front, and closing Queens Road to private vehicles.

Yesterday taxi drivers voiced their opposition saying passengers were unhappy during a six-month relocation last year.

Taxi rank

Andy Cheesman, of the Brighton and Hove Taxi Forum, said: “I can understand why they want us around the back and I can understand the huge amount of taxis we can get around the back.

“Traditionally it has always been at the front and I will be working with the council to get the best we can for the drivers.”

Other options include moving the buses from outside the station but this is believed to be unlikely after the majority of respondents said they wanted them to remain there.

The consultation results, published this week, found almost 80% of people walk to the station yet many pedestrians say services are dangerous and overcrowded.

Ian Davey, the council’s cabinet member for transport and the public realm, said: “There are a large number of people coming to and leaving the station on foot and we are looking to make it easier and more pleasant for them, as well as reducing congestion which will not only improve access but reduce air pollution.”

Brighton and Hove City Council chief executive John Barradell and then council-leader Mary Mears highlighted the need to improve the “gateway” into the city from the station in 2009.

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Comments(18)

chilliman says...
10:44am Thu 19 Jan 12

I hope there are plans to make more spaces for cars to drop off and pick up rail passengers at the rear of the station.

Several spaces were lost to taxis when they had to temporarily use the rear of the station, and these spaces have never been reinstated for car use. Together with the quantity of tradesmens' vans (with permits) in the 40 minute waiting area it's often impossible to stop when having to wait for a passenger to arrive.

Because people haven't got a legal space to wait they use the bus stop and any free bit of road they can find so making the congestion worse.

A station such as Brighton with a large commuter and tourist use is going to have need of waiting areas for cars as well as taxis.