Part of A259 Brighton seafront cycle lane will be removed

Brighton and Hove City Council will be removing the new A259 lane from the Aquarium roundabout to West Street tonight.

It comes after Brighton and Hove Bus Company voiced its concerns about bus journey times and congestion.

Congestion in Marine Parade approaching the Aquarium Roundabout 

The council’s lead member for transport Pete West said: “Congestion on this stretch has had a knock-on for major bus routes and delays to bus journey times – that is unacceptable.

"Sadly, attempted changes to adjust traffic light timings have not provided the answers needed as there is still insufficient capacity for the volume of traffic heading towards West Street.”

The radical changes to the seafront road’s layout were agreed at a June 23 meeting and the lanes were officially opened last week.

After opening, motorists, buses and ambulances battled “gridlock” with vehicles at a near standstill during peak hours.

Buses stuck in Edward Street traffic - picture Simon Dack

Brighton and Hove Buses was forced to divert services, the AA warned drivers of delays on all approaches to the Aquarium roundabout and video appeared to show an ambulance struggling through traffic.

At the time, the council said it was aware of congestion along sections of the A23 and A259 and urged motorists “to consider whether they could make their journey in a different way”.

The rest of the cycle lane will remain and a bid has been submitted to the Government to extend to the city’s western boundary.

The A259 cycle lane 

Cllr West said: “We recognise the serious concerns raised by public transport users and providers that congestion in a small section of the additional temporary A259 cycle lane has caused unavoidable delay to public transport in the city.

"We have therefore reluctantly agreed to suspend this short stretch of the lane.

“In the midst of a pandemic which attacks our lungs, as our city recovers we are committed to ensuring that we have many good sustainable transport options including public transport, walking and cycling – and ensuring that these form part of a network of attractive alternatives to private car use.

Green councillor Pete West

“We urge those using cars to consider alternative travel options, the necessity of their journey and the impact this has on others by creating congestion.”

The controversial lane and the new lane on the Old Shoreham Road were funded using £663,000 in Government cash.

It was one of 29 new or potential changes to pavements and road layouts across the city as part of the Interim Covid-19 Response Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).

Conservative transport spokesman Lee Wares objected to the plans at the time.

Speaking after today’s announcement, he said: “Using officer delegated urgency powers, the section of the cycle lane was removed because of the increasing congestion they were causing together with the inevitable rising pollution, lowering air quality and negative impact on the economy.

"This is what happens when the council refuses to undertake the necessary impact assessments, traffic modelling and proper consultation.

“Labour and the Greens were so focused on rushing to spend the money they could grab from Government they forgot the key basic activities needed when introducing massive untested, unqualified and ill-thought out transport schemes.

“Recently Cllr West said ‘give them a chance’, well that has happened and it has gone disastrously wrong. Now every implemented scheme should be suspended and all those proposed should be stopped until their impact has been adequately assessed and the council knows with some certainly what is likely to happen.

The Argus's front page on Monday 

"It is unacceptable to waste taxpayer money in this way.

“It is also galling for the city’s blue badge holders and less abled folk and the traders on Madeira Drive that the council and the Green administration won’t use these powers to swiftly change the negative impacts on them.

"Blue badge holders still have to contend with the lethal bays on the A259, still have to ask to use the Changing Places toilets and are still curfewed from using some disabled parking bays so that others can enjoy certain streets.

“Traders are still struggling.

“All we get are verbal platitudes from the Greens with no action to resolve and Labour councillors trying to U-turn on the misery they have caused.”