Investing in Transport; improving your journey

Brighton & Hove City Council is planning to spend an unprecedented £9m plus on transport projects over the next year - with a focus on maintaining, managing and improving the city’s roads, pavements, streetlights and seafront arches. The proposals form part of the city’s Local Transport Plan (LTP) for 2014-15, which will be discussed at the Policy and Resources Committee on 20 March 2014.

Among the proposals for the coming year are:

  • £2.6 million on essential strengthening of the A259 Kings Road Arches to complete the work around the West Pier
  • £1 million for road reconstruction to help avoid the need to spend money on the future repair of potholes
  • £1 million to transform the Brighton Station area
  • £650k to renew the Vogue Gyratory, including new traffic lights, resurfacing and a segregated cycle lane
  • £600k on upgrading and replacing the £10 million plus worth of street lighting in the city with modern low energy units
  • £200k to help improve pavements across the city, mainly on well used corridors

Lead member for Transport Councillor Ian Davey said.” We’re working hard to meet the challenges of a growing city. Our infrastructure is the backbone of Brighton & Hove’s economy, and that is why we are investing more in these projects than the city has seen in recent years. It is only through investing in our future – including resurfacing roads and rebuilding our seafront - that we will continue to develop our reputation as a visitor destination and economic powerhouse.

“However we also need to make our neighbourhoods safer, so we’re committed to make it easier for people to walk, cycle or take public transport to get around the city. As more and more people choose sustainable transport, we will see greater benefits to everyone’s health and wellbeing, as congestion and air pollution fall and the roads become safer”

More information:

The 2014/15 Local Transport Plan Capital Programme will go to Policy and Resources committee on 20 March 2014. Papers can be viewed online here

The council’s clear commitment to transport projects through the LTP has previously resulted in the city winning external funding for schemes including:

  • £4.4 million for Lewes road and two national parks projects
  • £3.5 million for the Better Bus Area scheme
  • £750k for clean bus technology
  • £300k to tackle Seven Dials for cyclists.
  • £330k for the Old Shoreham Road
  • £1m million for pothole repairs including £325,000 for 2014/15

The council has also made a bid to the recently announced £140m fund for flood damaged roads, has secured funds from new developments and is actively seeking funding from the newly created Local Growth Fund (LGF) for major transport schemes including the Valley Gardens project. Bids will also be made for seafront structures, London Road/Preston Circus and Shoreham Harbour.