Traffic calming measures have been proposed for a roundabout junction in Whitehawk.
The designs were the subject of a public consultation over summer and construction work could start early next year.
The plans include stopping cars from driving in and out of the eastern end of Bristol Gardens, with access only people on foot or bicycle. There would also be changes to some parking bays.
Additionally, the council plans to create a zebra crossing in Roedean Road, close to the Brighton Waldorf School.
The mini-roundabout would be replaced with a raised platform junction between Whitehawk Road, Arundel Road, Bristol Gardens and Roedean Road.
The statement of reasons attached to the traffic regulation order (TRO) said: “As part of the council’s Pedestrian Crossing Priority Programme, we are planning to implement improvements at the Whitehawk mini-roundabout.
“These works are taking place to improve the safety of this junction by upgrading infrastructure and will allow for easier and safer journeys for pedestrians, cyclists and road users.”
The council said that the closure of the eastern end of Bristol Gardens to motor vehicles would prevent rat-running and speeding and provide more space for pedestrians.
Removing the mini-roundabout and introducing a raised junction is intended to encourage vehicles to slow down as they approach, with a widened pavement around the junction for pedestrians.
Some shared parking spaces in Bristol Gardens on one side of the road are due to be removed, with new ones added on the other side.
Local reaction to the plans has been mixed, with some residents pleased about the pedestrian-friendly changes while others were frustrated by the closure of a through road.
Resident Beth Lily-Rose Lee said: “To be honest, as a pedestrian with three young children, that road is hell to cross.
“No one uses their indicators so I never know where anyone is going and I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
Whitehawk resident Jax Atkins said: “Bad enough putting traffic lights at the junction of Eastern Road and Arundel Road – they were never needed.
“Traffic worked perfectly using its own mind. Same as the waste of space traffic lights at the top of Duke’s Mound.”
The consultation on the pedestrian crossing changes ran from late August to early last month after a petition signed by 70 people calling for traffic calming measures in Bristol Gardens was presented to the council in November 2019.
Comments and objections to the changes can be sent to the council, with a name and address, before Friday 10 November.
To see the detailed designs, click here and look for under TRO-45a-2023 and TRO45b-2023.
Absolutely disagree.
There is no need to waste money on something that makes no sense.
Fixing pot holes would be better idea as I can’t afford Fixing my car anymore from your not maintaining roads
Pot holes?
Don’t be silly – the Transport department at BHCC exists to serve its own purpose and roll out its own dogma driven agenda. They’re only interested in screwing the motorists!
Bit like how your agenda is to disingenuously make up rubbish. Potholes are maintained by more than just the council, as you well know.
Bingo!
You said ‘disingenuous’ !
I claim my £5 voucher
Nope, I said disingeniously. How disingenuous of you. 😛
The quote from Brighton’s serial complainer Jax Atkins doesn’t even relate to the scheme the article is about! She’s just moaning about some totally different traffic lights! These people need to get out more…
Totally spot on!
This proposal will direct traffic back to the main road where it should be and stop cars speeding
At 35/40mph in the 20 zone.
Jax might be interested to know that there are around 400 movements per hour being forced into side roads in the busy morning and evening times. That’s quite disruptive. –
Seriously the roads are fucked completely you can’t be bothered to fix them just like Norton road in hove Road closed for about a month and all you did was put some white lines at the top and bottom of the road don’t know shy we bother paying council tax ah yes I do so you lot can waste it load of bollocks
“Traffic worked perfectly using its own mind“
Traffic doesn’t have a mind of its own but drivers do and it’s their actions such as speeding and not indicating properly that require schemes like this.
Do drivers still use indicators, not many as far as I can make out and only at the last moment as the turn has begun? What happened to giving other road and pavement users some idea what you’re going to do? It’s not new, as a pedestrian I often wait far longer than needed to cross a road because I don’t trust what vahicles are going to do. Are drivers too self-absorbed with their in-car entertainment (phone)?
Of course when the 550 odd flats get built on the gasworks site the flow of traffic will improve.
That aside traffic is a bit mad at this mini roundabout but traffic from Bristol gardens is minimal. Seems unfair to penalise those residents.
I think there must be a better and cheaper solution. Pedestrian crossings on two of the roads could be just as effective.
However if done as well as the lights at the junction of Arundel and eastern roads it would be a disaster.
Thinking about it, the roundabout is weird.
It has a dedicated right turn when you approach it from the West, but not really enough space for two cars to be next to each other, its width from the South suggests two cars but the markings don’t marry up, so you get multiple interpretations of how they should stack. And overall, the size of it gives it a really low capacity, perhaps not enough for the amount of traffic that flows through it, being a main route for air lifted patients, those looking to leave Brighton, and those aiming to head to Brighton Marina.
Adding crossings seems like a really good idea, there is currently not a safe way to cross the road there.
Are you a Green councillor or lobotomy victim?
A clear sign it needs to go back to the drawing board and residents have not been listened to.
Labour take note. You promised to be different from the Greens.
Pleased that it will be easier to walk across that junction that’s horrible as cars too fast and you have to run.
I’ve seen a car once manage to leave the ground hitting the paintwork in the middle of the mini, before flying up to B.Gardens.
this is utterly ridiculous. I happen to live on Bristol Gardens. How will this work with all the residents coming in and out of their properties if this road is closed off! this will have a huge knock on effect with eastern roads traffic and that happens to be bad enough with what going on with the hospital.
You would have to go around in a car, adding a minute or two to a journey heading East, either going around Lidl or further up the road, although I don’t really see rat running it as being a particularly prominent issue, so I was confused when I saw this proposal. I’d really like to understand the goal of this alteration beyond rat running?
I think traffic turning North might have some congestion with the dedicated turning lane being kind of short, but will give more priority to traffic heading East.
At last. This will make life much easier for pedestrians. It’s like an accident waiting to happen!The Roadean road junctions is sometimes impossible to cross and you have to have your eyes everywhere! I think it’s a great plan.
It’s a good point. I agree the layout is a lot safer for pedestrians, and particularly important when we consider the school next door to it.
terrible move. what a shambles this city is!!!!!!!!!
Again disable car drivers locked out of yet another road, no doubt the current parking on Bristol Gardens will also be reduced
Disabled drivers can enter the road from the other end, in the same way other drivers can! What on earth are you talking about!?
I share Martha’s sentiment. Could you please clarify what you are referring to? As it stands, it doesn’t make any sense.
Benjamin – do you live anywhere near here? yes or no? do you know how LONG this school has been here for? yes or no?
honestly what is wrong with people more congestion = more pollution that’s just common sense and closing off roads = more congestion!
I live in the road being closed off at one end and I’m VERY happy with this. It’s currently being used as a rat run, so this will make my road significantly safer and quieter. You do not speak on behalf of the residents who live here.
Well I beg to differ Jen Im quite confident I speak on behalf of a good fair few residence that DRIVE! Of course. Closing roads off in our small city isn’t going to make our air pollution great now is it. Also if there was a terrible fire for example in your road the crucial.. let me repeat that CRUCIAL few more minutes driving around a blocked off road to save someone’s life could be lost!!! Think about it! All because a road that currently works will be closed off.
Tosh
Jane, your argument doesn’t hold up, especially when we consider Bristol Gardens, where the response time is well below the Brighton average of approximately six minutes. Additionally, it’s important to remember that most doors are graded to meet FD30 or FD60 standards, meaning they can withstand fire for about 30 to 60 minutes.
Your arguments seem to be somewhat exaggerated.
Sorry Jane, I am failing to understand the relevance of the proximity of where I keep my stuff to this conversation.
Separately, closing roads does not necessarily result in increased congestion; this is a common misconception. However, reducing traffic flow could indeed lead to more congestion, consequently causing higher levels of pollution. It can be reasonably argued that the new road structure, with a simplified design reducing four junctions to three, has naturally improved traffic flow on a more streamlined level.
(Separately, closing roads does not necessarily result in increased congestion; this is a common misconception. However, reducing traffic flow could indeed lead to more congestion, consequently causing higher levels of pollution.)
you’ve just said it yourself this will effect the traffic flow so that subsequently = more pollution more congestion. so reducing road access for vehicles will result into that.
Nope, because you’re making an assumption that four junctions of traffic have better flow, which it doesn’t – not by a long shot. Strawmanning is a poor argument I’m afraid, Jane.
Green traffic madness now replaced by Labour madness. It didn’t take long🤦♂️
The only reason people rat run is because of the nonsense traffic lights at Arundel road/ Eastern road, sort that out and people have no need to rat run. Should be a roundabout there instead.
It does indeed make sense. Typically, there is relatively limited traffic seeking to turn southbound or eastbound, while the flow from south to north tends to be more reasonable. Interestingly, a curved road, as proposed in this context, at that junction would likely optimize traffic flow.
Jen do you drive a vehicle? 🤔
Jane, why do you assume that someone’s status as a driver invalidates their opinion? It’s important to be inclusive and consider diverse perspectives.
With the exception of the disabled, if you’re a Green Party member
I get that reference.
Fixed the roads as our cars getting damaged. We paying road tax to drive safely on the roads not for you lot to come up with new stupid ideas. I am looking forward to next election to get rid of the shitty Green. You ruined our Brighton.
You’re about a year out of date Hana. This already happened at the last Local Elections, and this particular area has never been represented by Green Councillors to my knowledge.
The problem will be the knock of effect of closing one end of Bristol Gardens as residents and delivery vans etc to Bristol Gardens and roads off it , will have to use the junctions at Bristol Place and/or Church Place. These are not particularly safe junctions for pedestrians or road users as it is . I think the planners need to think wider to make sure that they really make it better.
I share this concern, especially because some of those junctions feature blind corners, although this is partially addressed by the presence of no-through roads. I believe you make an excellent point that we shouldn’t only consider individual junctions in isolation, but rather evaluate the broader improvements to the nearby road structures and layouts as well.
Superb road improvements for the elderly and kids!
I’m fortunate to be able to cross way before this junction. I have lost count of the number of times I have escorted vulnerable people to cross.
Great!!! Something HAS to be done and this is well overdue. The area around the mini roundabout and by the school is a horror show and lottery for pedestrians with no priority crossing – having to wait and dodge traffic as best you can. There isn’t a dedicated crossing near this junction (right by a school, post office & shops etc!!) for 80m (87yards). ‘Convenient’ car travel must be balanced with the safety of the population at large. I live off Bristol Gardens and the vast majority of traffic on BGs is people cutting thorough to avoid TLs at Eastern / Arundel Road…most going like the clappers breaking the speed limit and some. I don’t mind a very marginal extra distance /journey time when I want to head east in the car. Small price to pay for people to avoid accident and injury at that junction… of which I have personally witnessed a number!! It doesn’t work as it is and is dangerous. Embrace change.
As a resident off of Bristol Gardens I can say this is fairly annoying and inconvenient. I agree improvements need to be made to this junction and increased safety for pedestrians, but I don’t consider that people using Bristol Gardens are doing anything that causes any issues. I’ve never considered there to excessive traffic on this road at any time of the day or night. This will make it much harder to access our own home and parking, whilst increasing the traffic flow along Eastern Road.
I think it will make coming out of Whitehawk Road more dangerous, but the council know best doesn’t matter about all the pot holes not repaired