A planned park and ride scheme was described as “the most exciting development of the millennium” in Brighton and Hove at a meeting last night (Thursday 24 January).
Labour councillor Trevor Muten said that at least one site would be up and running by the summer holidays after 20 years of deliberations, with more to follow.
Councillor Muten, Brighton and Hove City Council’s cabinet member for transport and parking, said that not everyone coming into Brighton and Hove enjoyed good public transport links as more housing springs up across Sussex – often in rural areas.
He said: “Such developments are effectively geared for access to a car. Our city is a regional hub – the largest city south of London.
“Many commuters come daily to our city to work. Many residents of Sussex and further come to Brighton and Hove to shop, partake in our visitor, night-time, entertainment and shopping economies – and many come to enjoy our beach and attractions.
“For those who need to use a car to travel to the city, we should not force them to come into the city centre to park. Park and ride offers more choice.”
He said that about 40 per cent of the vehicles coming into the centre of Brighton on busy days were from out of town.
Councillor Muten spoke about the park and ride proposals at a meeting of the council’s cabinet at Hove Town Hall yesterday evening.
Currently, a park and ride at the Withdean sports complex uses the 27 bus to take people into the centre of Brighton. The 225 spaces are shared with visitors to the sports centre and neighbouring pub.
Brighton and Hove Independent councillor Bridget Fishleigh said that if the council just used existing stopping services then it would not be a true park and ride.
Councillor Fishleigh also spoke about how delays on the current park and ride service affected people living in Rottingdean and West Saltdean, the ward that she represents.
She said that there were times when the service terminated on the coast road, stranding passengers who lived at the top of Saltdean.
Councillor Muten said that the council was working with Brighton and Hove Buses to deal with the issues on the 27 route and to try to improve the service.
He also said that talks were under way at the moment so he could not confirm the bus routes proposed for the service.
But, he said, that he could rule out Mill Road which was currently used when Brighton and Hove Albion were playing at home at Falmer.
Green councillor Pete West said that some of the options previously proposed as potential locations for a permanent park and ride site were now in the South Downs National Park.
He said that there were three railway lines and several bus and coach routes into Brighton and Hove and he was concerned that park and ride would encourage people to drive rather than use public transport.
Councillor Muten said: “Providing park and ride offers a genuine choice, alongside a range of other ways to get to the city including those you mention.
“There may be a range of reasons people come to our city by car. We are working on the details of park and ride to offer incentives for park and ride for those needing to drive without taking their vehicle into the city centre.”
Any purpose-built park and ride would be at least two years away, he said.
The cabinet agreed to look into using existing car parks for park and ride with more concrete proposals to come before a future cabinet meeting.
‘the most exciting development of the millennium ‘ . More important than cllr Muten’s beloved vg3?
Cllr Muten really needs to get out more if he described a park and ride as “the most exciting development of the millennium”
It’s a a very 1990s concept and imo it looks a bit tragic that Brighton Council are doing things other local authorities were doing 30-40 years ago. At this point in time other councils are looking at more innovative and forward thinking transport solutions. I don’t know Cllr Muten, but I’m guessing he’s over the age of 50, hence his excitement over something that’s an idea and concept from the past…
Fishleigh’s criticism of the project based on technicalities rather than its potential impact on the community feels somewhat misplaced. It’s about what the scheme can deliver, not necessarily fitting a rigid definition. It’s clear that the scheme serves the city’s needs and promotes better accessibility and sustainability.
If only other councillors paid the same attention to detail as Bridget Fishleigh and, like her, had some genuine business experience, we might not be saddled with the i360 debt.
In light of your snippy comment, Benjamin, I’ve just re-watched the relevant section of the webcast. What she did was take an opportunity to speak up publicly for some of her most ill-served residents. If only other councillors were so diligent.
We don’t have to agree with every utterance to appreciate the positive approach of independents like her.
Respectfully, that’s a straw man fallacy and an appeal to consequences. Refocusing on Fishleigh’s contribution – in this instance – I disagree with her conclusion. To clarify any misrepresentation you are insinuating, it’s important to have constructive discourse.
Welcome to Pseuds’ Corner!
‘Straw man fallacy’ is a tautology.
Let’s not forget though that at this point in time the council is only looking to get the bus company to help with transport from EXISTING car parks in the city. The council has still not communicated they have identified any new sites – so Bridget Fishleigh’s comments are more balanced compared to Trevor Muten’s odd and over-the-top excitement about people parking in existing car parks and bussing into the city centre.
Waste of time and money
Park and ride is a relic of the 1980’s when people went into the centre for shopping
Those days are gone, just like when EastEnders got 20 million viewers and the Daily Mail sold 4 million copies a day
“ He said that about 40 per cent of the vehicles coming into the centre of Brighton on busy days were from out of town.”
Meaning that – on an average day – we are at around 80% of car trips starting and ending in Brighton & Hove. Even if a functioning park and ride were put in place, it wouldn’t begin to touch the sides.
Stats show that out of town car trips are reducing – current policies are working. The thing we are not shifting in excessive car dependence by residents of the city. This is why we need to focus on busses, local trains, walking and cycling, alongside a workplace travel levy, increased parking charges, low traffic neighbourhoods and closure of underperforming car parks.
Spending money subsidising a small minority of people to drive to Brighton the whole wrong approach.
Spending a whole lot of money on an even smaller minority (cyclists) seems the wrong approach to me. Concentrate on pedestrians and make our pavements safe…
Please explain the rationale behind the mathematics contained in your first two paragraphs.
Stat’s show that claiming statistics support an argument without citing the sources, usually means that either they show nothing of the sort or do not exist.
Are you Sustrans Boy in disguise?