Date of meeting: 6 July 2023

A period of not more than fifteen minutes shall be allowed at each ordinary meeting for questions submitted by a member of the public.

The question will be answered without discussion. The person who asked the question may ask one relevant supplementary question, which shall be put and answered without discussion. The person to whom a question, or supplementary question, has been put may decline to answer it.

The following written questions have been received from members of the public:

(7) Aquarium Roundabout- Adrian Hart

I'm aware of course that the final phase of the Valley Gardens revamp will not happen this year. However, it would be helpful if the new administration set the BHCC record straight on the following matter: In answer to questions put to ETS on June 21st and Sept 20th, the then chair/deputy seemed to suggest that the Aquarium roundabout was the most dangerous junction in the city. Will the new administration differ from the previous one on such an assertion?

(8) Pedal People- Elly Hargreave

‘Pedal People’ use multi-seat trikes as mobility aids to enable health, wellbeing and equal access for all ages with disabilities and health challenges.

Accessible cycles are wider 3-wheelers, so suitable cycle lanes such as A259 and Valley Gardens extensions are long-awaited key additions to enable access and equality. 1 in 20 people in Brighton are disabled.

Both schemes included excellent increased provision for disabled parking, public transport and safer cycle routes for disabled people and the wider community, including carers.

Will you give us your commitment to reverting to the original, funded plan when these revisions return unfeasible?

(9) School Streets- Michael Letton

Given the number of active travel schemes that the current administration has paused for revision, would the committee support a revision of the Westdene school streets scheme given the large impact it is having on the community 7 days a week, 365 days a year?

(10) Cycle Lanes- Cicely Lloyd

The Brighton Multicultural Women’s Cycle Club (aka The BMWs) has been

meeting in Preston Park Velodrome for 2 years. Our members find negotiating traffic in Brighton the biggest barrier to cycling around the city. Good cycle lanes we do have, like Valley Gardens and Madeira Drive, do not sufficiently link up to form a network. We were excited by the plans for new funded (and consulted on) cycle lanes for London Road, Valley Gardens Phase 3 and the A259 in Hove. Please can you explain why you have abruptly stopped the implementation process without consulting key stakeholders like us?

(11) Valley Gardens- Duncan Blinkhorn

Decent cycle lanes are crucial for enabling more people to travel actively. Valley Gardens is a fantastic example. However, with phase 3 still not started, the cycle lane stops abruptly, making getting to the seafront incredibly difficult. Progress has shockingly been stopped by this administration, in spite of Labour councillors having repeatedly voted for the plans.

This repeats a previous Labour administration’s ‘review’ which delayed Phase Two by two years, at huge expense, and jeopardising safety.

How can the administration justify delaying and adding unnecessary expense to this excellent, funded plan that so urgently needs to be completed?

(12) A23- Andy Keetch

The previous administration won £3million to deliver two Active Travel schemes, the A259 and the A23. Labour voted in favour of both schemes but you have now halted the A259 which would have also greatly enhanced disability access in the area. This was not in your manifesto and will certainly mean the withdrawal of funding from Active travel England. You have not yet indicated the fate of the consulted on and finalised plans for the A23. Can you confirm that you will not seek to redesign, scrap or delay the plans to improve cycling and access on the A23?