THERE are fresh concerns for the future of Brighton’s famous speed trials after comments from a Green councillor.

Fears were sparked in June when the tourism chief of what was then a Labour council failed to give “unequivocal support” for motoring events in Madeira Drive.

Amid uproar, Brighton and Hove City Council later confirmed that although the road which had been closed since lockdown would not reopen, it would continue to host motoring events.

However, the Conservatives believe the future of these famous events is “once again under threat” after comments from a Green councillor speaking on behalf of his party.

The Conservatives asked the council to provide “urgent confirmation” that historic motoring events will be given permission to take place.

The Greens voted against the motion.

At a council meeting on August 13, Councillor Jamie Lloyd, deputy chairman of the environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “If someone feels the need to see a Mini in action all they need to do is step out into the street and pretty soon they’re going to see one.

“Likewise for the Land Rover rally, or the rally where thousands of very loud motorbikes descend on us.

“How can we seriously tell our residents that we’ve declared a climate emergency yet we encourage thousands of Land Rovers or Minis or motorbikes to drive into our already polluted city for no other reason, for no other reason than the glorification of these vehicles.

“Now as for the speed trials I recognise they’ve gone on for over 100 years, so did the Hundred Years’ War.

“The Hundred Years’ War wasn’t a great thing. The speed trials have killed several people since their existence and more to the point they glorify speed. Speed kills people. If we want these kind of speeding motoring events they belong in dedicated motoring arenas, not on historic streets.”

The Conservatives said the comments were a “blistering attack on several of the city’s heritage events”.

The group’s tourism spokesman Councillor Robert Nemeth, said: “After the previous Labour administration put the heritage events under review earlier in the year, we now have a new Green council that is openly hostile to their continuation.

“The economic contribution of the historic motoring events is of course worth in the tens of millions to our local economy. Hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, shops, attractions and tens of other linked categories all benefit. Presumably our local mechanics do too. They aren’t faceless institutions. They are run and owned by our residents. They provide jobs – to our residents. They pay taxes which fund services for our residents.

“We campaigned against the Labour administration’s events review and now the Conservative group will campaign against the new Green administration to push to make sure that these events continue.”

Brighton and Hove City Council said: "

Many events this year have been cancelled because of the Coronavirus pandemic, and Madeira Drive was temporarily closed.

“The events programme will be reviewed when it is safe to hold large scale gatherings again.”