The Old Town traffic-free scheme

Pavement café tables, better shopping and fewer accidents are a step closer under a scheme for traffic-free streets in Brighton’s historic heart.

The council is set to approve measures which would exclude vehicles most of the day from key parts of the old town – the area surrounding the Town Hall.  It follows a public inquiry concluded in the autumn when a government inspector approved changes comprising:

• Traffic prohibited from East Street between 11am and 7pm each day. The inspector said the move would help businesses and improve road safety. However it was felt impacts of diverting traffic into Little East Street should be investigated more. So excluding cars from East Street would be implemented once a sound scheme for Little East Street was ready. Plans are being designed and would be subject to public consultation.
• Closing a section of Ship Street between Duke Street and North Street to general traffic. There would be ‘access only’ for a few hours in the morning. It would be one-way from the south instead of the north, barring access from North Street.  
• Excluding traffic from a section of Prince Albert Street between Ship Street and Black Lion Street. Measures will be designed to allow loading for the nearby Friends Meeting House and access to a solicitors’ car park. Before proceeding, the council wants to assess the effects of closing Ship Street.

A report recommending councillors to approve the measures goes before the environment committee on January 14, and work is expected to start in Ship Street, with improvements there completed in March.  Dates for other changes are yet to be confirmed.

Old Town traffic - Public Enquiry results.