Members of the public have raised concerns at a council meeting about proposed road layout changes on and near the seafront, including to the Aquarium roundabout.
They were also concerned about the effects on popular events in Madeira Drive such as the annual speed trials and the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
One resident, Nigel Furness, asked about the proposals at a Brighton and Hove City Council meeting at Hove Town Hall today (Thursday 13 December).
Concerns have been prompted by plans to replace the Aquarium roundabout with a t-junction, reroute traffic to just the east side of Old Steine and to prevent cars from leaving Mareira Drive at the Palace Pier end.
The proposed changes are phase 3 of the Valley Gardens project – the name for a scheme which aims to improve the area from St Peter’s Church to the seafront.
The £7 million scheme was criticised by GMB taxi trade representative Andy Peters, who said that Madeira Drive would be turned into a one-way street.
Work has already started on phase one at St Peter’s Church.
At the full council meeting at Hove Town Hall, Councillor Gill Mitchell, who chairs the council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, said: “We have not envisaged any of the changes will prevent events taking place. They will continue to take place.
“They are what makes our city a unique destination and will remain unaffected.”
Councillor Mitchell said that the council works with organisers to make sure that there are event management plans which include ways to deal with any potential traffic problems.
Mr Furness asked how many more miles of traffic would clog up and pollute Brighton with the changes to the A23 and the seafront.
Councillor Mitchell said that air quality was not getting worse in Old Steine and would continue to be monitored during and after implementation of the new scheme.
The changes also came under fire at the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee meeting last month as business leaders based in the Old Steine area shared their concerns.
Members, however, approved the business case for the changes although the detailed design work has yet to be signed off.
Next month responses to the public consultation will go before the committee.
