People in Brighton & Hove are being given the chance to have their say on transport changes in the city, designed to support active, inclusive and sustainable travel.
A six-week consultation is being launched today (Monday 1 February) on new measures, as well as some of the changes we made last spring/summer to help people travel safely during the pandemic.
These proposals aim to encourage and support more walking and cycling and are located on:
You can have your say until Sunday 14 March.
The consultation feedback will be reported to the council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee where decisions will be made on how the schemes will progress. The committee will also decide in future whether to make any temporary changes permanent.
Madeira Drive, part funded though the Active Travel Fund, was reopened to eastbound vehicles in October 2020, having previously been closed to traffic since the first lockdown.
These changes have been introduced using an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO). Feedback and comments can be made during the ETRO phase while the scheme is in place.
A second phase of work will provide a protected two-way cycle lane, increase the number of blue badge bays and change the orientation of parking for easier use.
These further changes have already been approved by the Environment, Transport and Sustainability committee in September and are planned for delivery before the spring under another ETRO where feedback can also be given while the scheme is in place.
In November, we were awarded an additional £2.376m from the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund to support new travel options for the city. The government has created this fund to boost cycling and walking in line with their national vision.
This funding award was in addition to the £663,000 we were awarded in June, which was used to install temporary cycle lanes on the A259, Old Shoreham Road, widen footways in parts of the city and deliver other emergency transport measures following government instruction that councils must do more to enable safe travel in the pandemic
In December, a special meeting of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability committee approved a consultation plan, setting out the ways we will meaningfully consult with the public and stakeholders on these proposals before work continues.
In the last 12 months we have seen significant changes to the way people are moving around the city. More of us are choosing to walk or cycle for exercise or to get to work, school and other destinations.
Because of Covid-19 we have also seen a shift in the way we work, with more of us working from home; something we expect to continue even after the pandemic. With capacity on public transport reduced, our need to move around the city while physically distancing has played an important role in keeping us safe and supporting our economic recovery.
As we recover from the challenges of the pandemic, we cannot forget the climate emergency. We are taking action to help our city move safely and breathe cleaner air in both the short and long term by reallocating road space for people who walk and cycle.
Amy Heley, Chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability committee said: “This period of consultation gives everyone in the city the chance to have their say on these new and existing changes and I would urge as many people as possible to respond.
“We want everyone to access safe, sustainable and inclusive travel both now and in the longer term. We are facing a climate emergency and have made a commitment to becoming a carbon neutral city by 2030. We must act if we’re to reduce toxic emissions and improve our city’s air quality.
“But it’s not just us – we’ve heard from our climate assembly, 50 randomly selected residents from across the city, and how they want more walking and cycling measures. We are listening and responding to this feedback in order to act on their vision.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the views of everyone in the city, not just those with the loudest voices, on these ambitious plans.”
More information about these changes, the work that has been done so far and how we are working to support active travel, can be found on our One Journey Better webpage.
To request a paper copy of the information, together with a copy of the questionnaire, or to request information in an alternative format or language, please email transport.projects@brighton-hove.gov.uk or call 01273 293614 and leave a message with your request.
Residents living close to schemes are receiving information by post on how they can respond. We are also taking part in workshops and engaging with local schools.
