THE council has given an update on the future of a seafront road after a temporary car ban proved popular with residents.

Brighton and Hove City Council opened up Madeira Drive in April as a space for residents to exercise during the lockdown and said the scheme has been "well received by the majority of residents".

Since then, the authority has faced arguments both for and against a permanent car ban in the area.

Residents have described the road as a "delight" since it was closed to traffic, having enjoyed the additional space to run and cycle.

The Argus:

A poll taken by The Argus found that 60 per cent of readers were in favour of making the change permanent and Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas threw her support behind the further pedestrianising of roads in the city.

She said: "We have lived with toxic air pollution in Brighton for far too long. North Street is one of the ten most polluted streets in the country.

"Now we know what it’s like to have city streets with air that’s safe to breathe, and we can’t throw this away. Parts of Brighton have been transformed and have shown us what our city could be like. 

"The Government’s ludicrous £27 billion budget for new roads needs to be re-thought, with money allocated instead to make streets safe for walking, cycling, shopping and play."

The Argus:

But businesses in the area have urged the council to open the road back up to cars when possible, saying more changes were needed in the area before a car ban would be a sustainable move.

Katie Mintram, director of Yellowave Beach Sports Venue, said: "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.

"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."

Now, Brighton and Hove City Council has provided an update on the situation regarding the temporary traffic closure in Madeira Drive, as well as the temporary cycle lane on the A270 Old Shoreham Road.

A spokeswoman said: "Since the Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen significant changes in how people are moving around the city, with more choosing to cycle or walk short distances and fewer cars on the roads due, in part, to an increase in home working. 

The Argus:

"We’ve already closed Madeira Drive to motor vehicles and introduced a temporary cycle lane on the A270 Old Shoreham Road, both of which have been well received by the majority of residents and will continue to be monitored as government restrictions change.

"While the number of people using public transport is restricted to maintain physical distancing, we will continue to work with bus and train operators to support those who need to use public transport to do so safely."

She added: "Further transport measures will be considered at the environment, transport and sustainability committee when it meets on Tuesday, June 23.