A SEAFRONT business has implored the council to reopen a road which has been closed to vehicles.

The temporary blocking of Madeira Drive in Brighton to provide people with more exercise space during the lockdown has proved popular with residents.

Many have said they do not want the scheme to come to an end, calling instead for a lasting ban on cars in the seafront road.

But Katie Mintram, director of Yellowave Beach Sports Venue, said this could damage businesses in the vicinity.

The Argus:

She has written an open letter to Brighton and Hove City Council urging them to reopen Madeira Drive when possible.

She said: “As born and bred ‘Brightonians’ we too have enjoyed the space with our young family. The Government is now asking for businesses such as ours to attempt to reopen where they can, to resume some level of normality and kick-start the economy.

“Yellowave Beach Sports Venue is the only beach volleyball centre of its kind in the UK with a large outdoor sand area available for sport and fitness.

The Argus:

“We, along with the other businesses along Madeira Drive, are all in danger of closing down if, in the near future, the road is not opened to visitors and customers, when it is ‘Covid-safe’ to do so.”

The campaign has drawn support from Tina Hayes of The Concorde 2, Joe McNulty from Sea Lane and Craig Derbyshire from Jumble Rumble Golf and Cafe.

Katie said: “We, and other businesses along Madeira Drive, are already under immense financial pressure due to terrible winter weather followed by the huge impact the Covid-19 crisis has had on our businesses.

“We are already hard to access with Madeira Drive Terraces crumbling, access points cut off, the Madeira lift out of use and now the Volks Railway closed.

The Argus:

“Our customers don’t all have bikes, there is zero public transport along Madeira Drive and many people, including families with young children and the disabled, use us from across the city and within the Sussex area. Some simply cannot access us if they cannot drive to us.”

Brighton and Hove City Council has said it is working towards becoming a carbon neutral city by 2030 and less congestion on city roads is integral to achieving this.

Following the success of the road closure, it will be “considered as part of our longer term local transport plan”.

But no permanent plans have yet been confirmed for Madeira Drive.

Councillor Anne Pissaridou, chairwoman of the authority’s environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “We’re working towards being a carbon neutral city by 2030 and cleaner air, healthier lifestyles and less congestion on our city roads are all integral to achieving this.

The Argus:

“Short-term transport measures brought in to support more walking and cycling during the Covid crisis have been popular with many residents and any expansion of these schemes will be considered as part of our longer term local transport plan.

“We’re also working to bring forward permanent schemes already agreed, such as the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan and proposals for a car-free city centre.”

  • At The Argus, we are championing the work of traders during the coronavirus pandemic as part of our #BackingSussexBusiness campaign. We are always interested to hear how the community is coming together in this crisis. If you know of a local business battling to do all it can in these tough times and/or offering support to the local community, please get in touch at laurie.churchman@theargus.co.uk and rose.lock@theargus.co.uk.