People interested in having more of a say on the future of Brighton Pride’s street party are encouraged to give feedback and ask questions on the council’s website.
Brighton and Hove City Council’s outdoor events manager Ian Baird urged councillors to tell people about the Your Voice section of the council’s website when they raise concerns about outdoor events.
He made his comments when answering questions about the changes to the Pride Street Party when the council’s Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee met at Hove Town Hall on Tuesday (14 October).
Labour councillor Theresa Mackey, who represents Kemptown ward, asked how the council’s events team would work with the community and whether they would meet the St James’s Street Business Alliance.
Mr Baird said that he was in the process of organising a meeting with St James’s Street businesses in December.
Meetings are already scheduled for the Preston Park area on Friday (17 October), in Kemp Town on Monday 27 October and Valley Gardens on Tuesday 28 October.
The Pride Street Party was held in New Steine and Marine Parade this year, on Saturday 2 August.
The A259 Marine Parade was due to stay open, as was St James’s Street, but did eventually close to vehicles at 3pm on the day.
Mr Baird said: “What we had this year was a real step change in what St James’s Street was about. It had become known, for good reason, for being a real party street where you have large crowds.
“One of the reasons that the fences that cause much of the consternation from residents were put in place was because we had uncontrolled large crowds in the road.
“The reason behind making the point clearly that this was business as usual and traffic would flow was it was a step change. It is really important in getting that change in mentally.
“We put the preparations and we put all the equipment in place to ensure that we could safely close the road to motor vehicles and change that where it was necessary.”
He underlined the plan was to keep a “business as usual” approach but would be considering feedback on the road closure.
With St James’s Street potentially closing to vehicles, Mr Baird said that it would be an opportunity for the road to become a “really friendly space” but the party within the Marine Parade area.
He has been working with the UK Crowd Management Association and Security Industry Association to make the security industry “more responsive” to the LGBT community.
Among the successes described at the meeting was a £10,000 reduction in costs to environmental services and fewer incidents of anti-social behaviour.
Labour councillor Birgit Miller, the council’s cabinet member for culture, heritage and tourism, said: “There was a significant reduction in public urination and other bodily processes. Basically, it was well-received by residents.
“I visited the site myself both days and there was a lot of positive feeling around it. The all-agency debrief has taken place.
“There are some good actions that have been generated for future development and will go into the planning for the 2026 event.”
She added that the main goal was for future changes and the shape of the 2026 event to be resident, community and business-led.
Councillor Miller said that it was not a council decision but the council was part of the conversation.
Community works representative Mark Strong, who went to many of the public meetings before this year’s Pride, said: “There is a lot of community angst locally. Bringing people on is going to be challenging.
“There are people who are concerned. Hopefully these figures with assuage this.”
Mr Strong said that one of the community’s biggest concerns was closing the road to traffic anyway, and maybe it should have been planned from the start.
The East Brighton and Kemp Town outdoor events meeting is due to take place at St Mary’s Church Hall, in St James’s Street, at 5pm on Monday 27 October.
The Valley Gardens meeting is due to take place at the Ironworks Studios, in Cheapside, at 5pm on Tuesday 28 October.
The Preston Park area events meeting is due to take place at Knoyle Hall, in Knoyle Road, at 5pm on Friday (17 October).
Just hold it on the beach-they have ‘on the beach’ for the previous weekends with the beach covered over, it makes sense but sadly Brighton council doesn’t do that!
Good idea!