Brighton & Hove Friends of the Earth

During September, we responded to a consultation by Brighton & Hove City Council about reducing the hours that George Street would be closed to vehicles (and safe and pleasant for pedestrians) during the summer.  Basically, some traders were pressing for the street to be opened to cars and lorries from 4pm, instead of 6pm, which is what triggered the consultation.

In contrast, we have asked the Council to do the opposite.  We feel that it is ridiculous that the street is not pedestrianised on Sundays, when the street is so busy and full of people.  This cannot be good for the street and certainly not good for people’s health.  In addition, we have asked the Council to look at extending the hours of pedestrianisation to later into the afternoon/evening, in both winter and summer, when many people are still using the street.

If this poses a problem for local access, then by way of compensation, it would be possible to allow access for deliveries up until 11am or even midday if that was felt necessary.  However, the general principle should be that the street is a full time pedestrianised street and that the only vehicular access allowed is for deliveries, services and residents in the street at specified times (similar to the present times but slightly altered and restricted on Sundays), excepting emergency vehicles which have 24 hour access.  Having clearer and more consistent rules would benefit everyone, while making the area safer and more pleasant for residents and visitors.

In addition, the area is well served by buses and with the increased levels of cycling in the city, many more people can access the street without the use of a car, although the provision of more cycle parking would help more people to do this.  The street is also accessible by foot for many local residents.  Anyone wanting to drive to George Street would in any case be better off parking nearby, such as in the Tesco car park, than trying to park in George Street itself, which has few parking spaces free.  There can be little benefit, economic or otherwise to allowing the street to be filled with queuing cars.  In fact it is likely to have the opposite effect over time.

This issue will be discussed by the Council on 24 November and we hope that it will throw out the suggestion to reduce the hours of pedestrianisation, but instead use the opportunity to see whether improvements can be made to the way that George Street operates, including extending pedestrianisation to Sundays.