Road safety and the future of parking in Brighton & Hove were the main themes from a busy Transport and Sustainability committee meeting this week.

Councillors spent more than three hours discussing several reports presented to them, voting to approve measures to improve the safety, implement the first elements of a wider parking review and expand the city’s cycling infrastructure.

Councillors were given an update on the progress of a city-wide parking review.

A raft of proposals for the short, medium, and long-term future of parking in Brighton & Hove were discussed, including work that’s already seen a discount offered at two council car parks in December and January.

They also include investigating permit options for people with limited or no access to digital payment options.

Approving the measures set out, councillors also voted to approve a wider review of parking in the city with the help of expert consultants. This is to establish a simpler, fairer, cleaner, accessible and digitally inclusive parking system that benefits the whole city, improves the environment and adds up. 

The results will be reported back to the committee next spring.

Improving the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists was the subject of several reports discussed last night.

Among them, the ‘Safer, Better Streets priority list’ for 2024/25. Councillors voted to approve a list of 12 areas of the city for improvement, identified using a new scoring system.

Councillors also approved work begin on the Whitehawk mini-roundabout scheme, an area identified for improvement last year. The scheme would see changes to the road at the Whitehawk Road / Arundel Road / Roedean Road / Bristol Gardens junction making it safer and better for the local community.

The changes, which include a new zebra crossing, junction improvements and closing Bristol Gardens at one end, would help improve safety for pedestrians and reduce rat running.

Continuing the theme of safety improvements, members also voted to approve the introduction of Red Routes on two city roads to tackle anti-social parking and reduce congestion.

Councillors gave the go-ahead to Red Routes on Lewes Road and part of the A23 (London Road / Preston Road). 

It will mean changing the current parking restrictions from double yellow lines to double red lines. This gives us greater powers to enforce parking restrictions, by camera and Civil Enforcement Officers (traffic wardens).

The Red Routes are due to be introduced from April 2024.

Other decisions

Other decisions made at last night’s committee included:

• Voting to support a bid to the Government’s ZEBRA 2 fund for investment in new zero emissions buses and charging infrastructure. 
• Going ahead with installing a new Beryl BTN Bike hub on Graham Avenue in Mile Oak, but not Northease Drive in Hangleton. Instead, a new, smaller, hub will be built on private land outside Oscar’s on the Green. More information can be found in the report agreed by members.
• Noting an update on new cycle hangars in the city, with 40 being installed in October and November, and another 8 due in March 2024. With another 51 being proposed for the new year, this will bring the total number to 151 across the city.
• Noting an update on the ongoing maintenance issues and potential liabilities for the council related to the Hove Station Footbridge to keep this important access for the local community and train passengers open.

Councillor Trevor Muten, Chair of the Transport and Sustainability committee said: “This was the final meeting of this committee in 2023, but we’ve already done some great work in a short amount of time.

“I’m pleased to see our parking review is making progress. Once finished it will mean fairer, simpler, and more equitable parking for people living, working, and visiting our city.

“We’re also working to make the roads safer with a list of 12 areas earmarked for improvement while the changes to the Whitehawk roundabout will go a long way to making that junction safer for pedestrians and all road users.

“Finally, the work we’re doing to install more cycle hangers and Beryl Bike hubs, along with supporting a bid that could help grow the number of electric buses in the city, shows our commitment to improving active and sustainable travel across Brighton & Hove.”