A transport consultant has called on the council to give people better notice about roadworks and building works where they would block pavements.
Mark Strong asked Brighton and Hove City Council to publish a “forward plan” when the council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee met yesterday evening (Tuesday 8 October).
Mr Strong showed councillors pictures of roadworks along Lewes Road and in Valley Gardens near St Peter’s Church where pavements were blocked because of construction work.
He said: “In recent months there have been many roadwork and development sites in the city which have had a significant negative impact on the safety and convenience of people walking and cycling, including disabled people.
“They have also affected the efficient flow of buses.
“These works regularly fail to take into account the majority of residents in the city who do not travel by car, with problems including blocked pavements, inaccessible pedestrian and cycle crossings and inconsistent signing and road-marking putting people walking and cycling at risk.
“How will the council’s permit and planning processes be changed to stop this happening?”
Mr Strong commended the Valley Gardens project for its participation group for responding to his concerns about pedestrian restrictions.
But, in another case, he said that Green councillor Pete West had not been aware of work taking place in New England Road – in his ward – until he came across it while cycling through the area.
In New England Road the pedestrian crossing is in the process of being rebuilt.
Councillor West asked for councillors to receive an email alert when major works were planned.
He said: “I get an email about small TROs (traffic regulation orders) but nothing on this where I had no idea of the level of disruption.
“Officers may find that burdensome but there needs to be a way to find out.”
The council’s executive director for the economy, environment and culture Nick Hibberd said that the council could look into a forward plan but added that construction dates were often subject to change.
He said that the council would not want to commit to a plan and take the risk of it not being up to date.
