A partial reopening of a busy shopping street to traffic looks likely after Brighton and Hove City Council set out draft proposals in response to concerns from residents, traders and disability groups.
One disabled resident of Gardner Street has been stuck in her home for months since the current traffic ban closed the road to all traffic except bicycles 11am to 5pm every day.
Disabled parking bays in the street have been removed. New bays were created in a neighbouring street but they are too far away for many people who qualify for a blue badge.
The latest changes would reopen the street to traffic from Monday to Thursday and pedestrianise the road from 11am to 9pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, enabling traders to use outdoor space for seating.
A time-limited disabled parking bay would allow access for blue badge holders outside the restricted hours.
Councillor Trevor Muten, who chairs the council’s Transport and Sustainability Committee, said: “We’ve listened very carefully to the concerns and issues affecting everyone in this busy part of the city and I’m pleased we’ve been able to find a solution we believe can work for all.
“It’s vital that no one is disadvantaged or left to feel isolated, especially our most vulnerable residents.
“It’s also important we support the businesses who remain the lifeblood of our local economy.
“One of the key themes of our new ‘accessibility strategy’ is engagement, communication and collaboration so it’s great to see this already in action.
“By listening and working together, we can build a thriving and inclusive city.”
The council will seek comments on its plans through a 21-day consultation on a “traffic regulation order” (TRO), to be published on the council website tomorrow (Friday 11 August).
Final proposals are due to be presented to the Transport and Sustainability Committee in the autumn so that members can discuss and vote on changes in Gardner Street.
Businesses will be able to continue to place tables and chairs in the road between 11am and 5pm until the vote on the latest proposals in the autumn.
A common sense compromise, although closed until 9pm Thurs to Sun seems slightly excessive and should be revised.
Not really. It’s still imprisonment for half of the the week. Would you accept house arrest over the weekend?
The businesses use the road, but the pavements are kept clear, permitting easy entry from either side of the road. A better solution would have been to provide the resident with funding for a wheelchair or other suitable mode of transport to a waiting car on Regent Street, or an enhanced level of carer support that enables transition from home to car using the pavement. This would afford a much greater degree of freedom and flexibility for the resident, while allowing the traders to make use of the road space during the week (particularly during the summer months).
Costs would be recouped from the Gardner Street businesses who are benefiting from their expanded premises.
the pavements are unfortunately a bit of a mess and not at all easy for wheelchairs etc. Nothing easy about it and it has always been closed Sat/Sun. It’s obvious you’ve tried to think it though, but why do people have this ‘I can fix it for you, because you obviously can’t’ attitude towards disabled people, we can actually think for ourselves. I’m sure the whole situation has been repeatedly thought through.
Sure. No reason why she can’t take a wheelchair to a waiting car. There are steps up to my house, if I suddenly couldn’t get up them it wouldn’t be everyone else’s problem to sort it out
If you went down there you would see the pavements are not kept clear and there is no consistency about where the traders sell/ trade their wares. In theory the road is actually meant to be kept clear and able to use for emergency vehicles/ hearses etc. I understand the resident is happy with this solution and other compromises have been reached. Blue Badge access though is not just about 1 resident but an entire.
Could we get a comment from Councillor Davis, who pushed this scheme through, against the advice given to him by the Council
By pedestrianise I hope they mean that is also a ban on morons cycling through pedestrians
Should be 11-9 every day. Cities are for people not for cars
By people though your happy to exclude the disabled though?
Disabled people aren’t people then. Nice.
My apologies, this is a great point. I assure you I wasn’t trying to suggest a solution on behalf of disabled people, rather than as a alternative to the council’s suggestion. Unfortunately, we don’t get the full picture through articles such as these.
Hi Anon, I can tell you’re being thoughtful, but also assumed the individual’s access needs. If things aren’t possible it wouldn’t be a greater degree of flexibility, and the council would have gone through loads of ideas. Unfortunately there is such a lack of knowledge and information about disability/ chronic health conditions that wrong conclusions are usually made. Disabled people have to continually adapt and make changes many, many times during a day as the world we live in hasn’t been built with us in mind, it’s mostly been built by people who don’t practically experience/notice the inaccessibility of things. It’s continual and we can/do get abuse/rude comments quite often. We are though really good at thinking around problems. It’s good articles like this are around as often disabled people are only seen as a problem unless of course we’re a hero and have just won a gold medal!
I have a naughbour with a blue disabled badge and she still walks her dogs around bates estate with out any problems or issues it’s only when the council or police are around or she wants something does the walking stick come out
Maybe your neighbour’s condition is variable and you should try to educate yourself before passing judgement on others.
So disabled residents will only be imprisoned for half the week. Oh that’s fine then.
Disabled visitors also still excluded from a popular street for the whole weekend.
Do better than this Brighton. Much better.