Council Agenda Item 55a(2)

Subject: Petition for Debate 

Date of meeting: 18 December 2025

Report of: Director of Governance & Law 

Contact Officer: Name: Anthony Soyinka

Tel: 01273 291006

Email: anthony.soyinka@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Ward(s) affected: All 

FOR GENERAL RELEASE

1.         SUMMARY AND POLICY CONTEXT:

1.1 Under the Council’s Petition Scheme if a petition contains more than 1,250 signatures and is not petition requesting officer evidence, it will be debated by the Full Council.

2.         RECOMMENDATIONS:

2.1 That the petition is noted.

3.        RELEVANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION / CHRONOLOGY OF KEY EVENTS:

3.1      To receive the following petition:

Reduce Traffic & Air Pollution on Lewes Road

Lewes Road is flanked by five local primary schools, three nurseries, one of the city’s largest medical centres, and a myriad of homes and businesses.  People spend time here walking to work, school, university, waiting at bus stops, waiting in traffic, cycling, and socialising outside pubs and restaurants.  For many Lewes Road is an essential part of our daily lives.

The Lewes Road area is also an 'air quality management area'. This means that it is an area which is at risk of breaching national air quality safety levels.

Despite increased monitoring and some measures implemented by the local council, levels of harmful air pollutants still remain very high.

Please see the '2025 Air Quality Annual Status Report (ASR), page 3-5 of the pdf document' from Brighton Council for further information.

Prolonged exposure to pollutants can lead to severe health problems including asthma, reduced lung function, cancer, stroke and increased risk of early death. There is emerging evidence for a link with dementia and known association with preterm birth. Research has shown that children, the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions are particularly vulnerable.

We, the undersigned, are calling on Brighton Council to:

1. Hold an urgent public meeting with independent experts in air pollution, respiratory health, transport, and urban planning, as well as residents, teachers, and parents, to decide on the best way to improve air quality quickly.

2. Consider Lewes Road as a Clean Air Pilot Scheme

· Ensuring electric buses are prioritised for this route as soon as possible

· Reducing idling from traffic waiting at lights with a campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of cutting engines and visible warnings to benefit local schools and nurseries nearby

· Timed traffic restrictions for the most polluting vehicles

· Clean Air Zone - charges for the most polluting vehicles to reduce their reliance on this route and encourage active transport for those who can, and the use of alternative less congested routes where possible

Where successful, these could be rolled out across the city, improving air quality for all.

3. Work transparently with residents, schools, and local businesses to co-design the pilot and ensure a just, inclusive approach.

4.         PROCEDURE:

4.1 The petition will be debated at the Council meeting in accordance with the agreed protocol:

(i) The Lead petitioner will be invited by the Mayor to present the petition and will have up to 3 minutes in which to outline the petition and confirm the number of signatures;

(ii) The Mayor will then open the matter up for debate by councillors for period of 15 minutes and will first call on the relevant Cabinet Member to respond to the petition and move a proposed response. The Mayor will then call on those councillors who have indicated a desire to speak in the matter, before calling on the relevant Cabinet Member to respond to the debate;

(iii) An amendment to the recommendation in paragraph 2.1 of the report or to add additional recommendations should be submitted by 10.00am on the day before the meeting; otherwise it will be subject to the Mayor’s discretion as to being appropriate. Any such amendment will need to be formally moved and seconded at the meeting;

(iv) After the 15 minutes set aside for the debate, the Mayor will then formally put:

(v) (a) Any amendments in the order in which they are moved, and

(b) The substantive recommendation(s) as amended (if amended).