Agenda item - Old Town Transport Plan

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Agenda item

Old Town Transport Plan

Report of the Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

 

Decision:

1.         That, the Committee requests the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing re-advertise the following Order with the modifications described in section 3 of this report:

 

  • BRIGHTON & HOVE (EAST STREET)(PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 20**

 

and that the Committee notes that any representations or objections will be brought back for consideration to a future Committee.

 

2.         That the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing reviews the following Order:

           

·        BRIGHTON & HOVE (PRINCE ALBERT STREET)(PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 20**

 

after the implementation of the Ship Street / North Street closure Order (referred to at recommendation 2.3) and brings back any proposals in relation to this Prince Albert Street Order to a future Committee.

 

3.         That, having taken account of all duly made representations and objections, the Committee approves the following Order and authorises the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing to request the authorisation of the Secretary of State:

 

·        BRIGHTON & HOVE (SHIP STREET)(PROHIBITION OF DRIVING AND ONE?WAY TRAFFIC) ORDER 20**

 

4.         That, having taken account of all duly made representations and objections, the Committee approves the following Order and authorises the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing to request the authorisation of the Secretary of State:

 

·        BRIGHTON & HOVE (OLD TOWN)(WEIGHT RESTRICTION) ORDER 20**

 

Minutes:

69.1         The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing that summarised the report of the Planning Inspectorate that was received following a Public Inquiry into the Old Town Transport Plan proposals and outlined recommendation to move the project forward.

 

69.2         Councillor Mitchell stated that she had found the report recommendations extremely confusing. Councillor Mitchell clarified that the Committee were requested to proceed with the advertisement of a TRO for East Street even though the Planning Inspector had stated their concerns for an increase in traffic flow through Little East Street. Councillor Mitchell supplemented that there was no reference to any consultation for the introduction of safety measures in Little East Street intended to mitigate any increase in traffic flow nor were there any plans. Councillor Mitchell stated that had she had huge reservations about approving the closure of East Street without viewing or considering the proposed safety measures for Little East Street beforehand. Councillor Mitchell supplemented that her group could not support the proposals without any indication of local support or demonstration of cause and effect on Little East Street. Councillor Mitchell added that she was unclear why the Committee were requested to approve the TRO for Prince Albert Street when the recommendations clearly set out that further monitoring of Ship Street was necessary before implementation. Councillor Mitchell stated that timescales for implementation were extremely tight and suggested that the report be deferred to the meeting on 29 April 2013 so that a fuller picture of the measures could be considered.

 

69.3         Councillor Robins stated that he had been provided a briefing on the Plan that had bore no relation to the report currently being considered. Councillor Robins clarified that he understood only two small areas were being considered for implementation with the remainder subject to further monitoring.

 

69.4         The Project Manager stated that the Planning Inspectorate had not agreed with the benefits the council had put forward for the closure of Prince Albert Street and had not been convinced about the potential increase in rat-running east to west through the Old Town area. Therefore, it was recommended that the Order be postponed and reviewed in order to assess any impact of the implementation of the Ship Street closure and for further monitoring.

 

69.5         Councillor Mitchell expressed her belief that, on the basis of the recommendations of the Planning Inspectorate, a temporary TRO for Ship Street should be used to monitor rat running through Old Town rather than permanent closure.

 

69.6         The Chair stated that the Committee has passed the majority of the proposals for the Old Town area some time ago and the report outlined minor alterations after consideration by the Planning Inspectorate.

 

69.7         Councillor Mitchell clarified that her group had not supported the previous report as they had been concerned about the cost of a Public Inquiry.

 

69.8         Councillor Cox stated that there had been a different proportionality to the Committee when the item had previously been considered and approved and clarified that he had voted against the proposals. This was on the basis that the cost of a Public Inquiry could not be justified, that he had believed the money available should have been diverted to other more worthy schemes such as the Brighton Station Gateway project whilst funding for more comprehensive pedestrianisation of the Laines was sourced. Furthermore, Councillor Cox added that the Planning Inspectorate had dismissed half of the proposals in the original Old Town scheme meaning the changes were somewhat minimal. However, Councillor Cox agreed that no vehicle should be permitted access to the Laines without a specific purpose for being there.

 

69.9         Councillor Robins stated that he did not agree there were significant instances of rat running in the area as there were not significant benefits to doing so. Furthermore, Councillor Robins stated that he believed the Laines currently worked well as a shared space.

 

69.10    Councillor Davey stated that that the proposals had now been through two public consultations and a Public Inquiry and all had come to the conclusion that closing the North Street/Ship Street junction would be beneficial. Councillor Davey stated that the proposals were a start in a series of long-term improvements in the area. Councillor Davey stated that the council had opportunity to apply for significant funding from the Local Economic Partnership via its Strategic Economic Plan and would put forward a series of bids, one of which would be for long-term, sustained improvements to the Old Town area so that it may fulfil its potential. Councillor Davey indicated that a high number of traders in the area were urgently requesting vehicle restrictions and for investment and had, along with the public, made that view clear in the consultation. Councillor Davey welcomed the proposals as a means to make a start on improving the area to the benefit of the city.

 

69.11    Councillor Hawtree welcomed the proposals noting that its historic layout and design was not suited to a large amount of traffic. Councillor Hawtree stated that from experience, he believed many pedestrians assumed that the area was already pedestrianised and concurred with the statement made by Councillor Davey that a start had to be made on long-term improvements.

 

69.12    Councillor Janio stated that he was in generally in favour of the recommendations although was grateful for further clarification as the report had been very unclear. Councillor Janio stated that he usually did not support piecemeal measures but, from his experience as a pedestrian in the Laines area, he believed that something had to be done.

 

69.13    RESOLVED-

 

1.         That, the Committee requests the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing re-advertise the following Order with the modifications described in section 3 of this report:

 

  • BRIGHTON & HOVE (EAST STREET)(PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 20**

 

and that the Committee notes that any representations or objections will be brought back for consideration to a future Committee.

 

2.         That the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing reviews the following Order:

           

·        BRIGHTON & HOVE (PRINCE ALBERT STREET)(PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 20**

 

after the implementation of the Ship Street / North Street closure Order (referred to at recommendation 2.3) and brings back any proposals in relation to this Prince Albert Street Order to a future Committee.

 

3.         That, having taken account of all duly made representations and objections, the Committee approves the following Order and authorises the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing to request the authorisation of the Secretary of State:

 

·        BRIGHTON & HOVE (SHIP STREET)(PROHIBITION OF DRIVING AND ONE?WAY TRAFFIC) ORDER 20**

 

4.         That, having taken account of all duly made representations and objections, the Committee approves the following Order and authorises the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing to request the authorisation of the Secretary of State:

 

·        BRIGHTON & HOVE (OLD TOWN)(WEIGHT RESTRICTION) ORDER 20**

Supporting documents:

 


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