Drivers who park without permission at St Peter’s Square, in Brighton, could soon face enforcement action, a senior councillor said today (Tuesday 5 December).
Labour councillor Trevor Muten also said that the council could block access to the council-owned public open space next to the church.
A growing number of people have been parking without permission in the square – even when a councillor took to remonstrating herself.
But Green councillor Sue Shanks said that she was ignored when she tried to steer someone away from the unauthorised and unofficial car park.
Councillor Shanks said that several residents had contacted her about the problem which started after permits were given to NHS staff to park there while a lung screening lorry was operating from the site.
The councillor, who represents West Hill and North Laine, said that she wanted action taken quickly.
She said: “There are lots of things you could do. You could put leaflets on cars and ask them to move and put a barrier across to stop people driving in.
“I went around there the other night and shouted at somebody but he just ignored me because people think it’s a car park and the signs are too small.
“It is something that people are really bothered about and I think we do need to move quickly on it.”
Councillor Shanks also asked why Brighton and Hove City Council had not given the nurses permits to use the nearby London Road car park.
Labour councillor Trevor Muten said that there were always essential vehicles associated with events in public spaces and up to three nurses were permitted to park there because they needed to be near by.
Councillor Muten, who chairs the council’s Transport and Sustainability Committee, said: “Our parks and legal team are currently assessing the best long-term solution to stop drivers from parking there.
“Implementing a long-term solution is a matter of priority to the council. Options considered include a combination of enforcement action and blocking access.”
He told the committee at Hove Town Hall that enforcement action would start “shortly” while a senior transport official Mark Prior said that barriers could be put in place as a short-term option to prevent cars from moving on to the site.
Only in Brighton, madness, where were the ticket lot, no tickets today? Brighton is getting to soft, little London indeed,
Nothing new. We’ve been known as “London by the sea” for years now.
Sue Shanks – scary!
Why is a councillor shouting at people ????
Great behaviour and it worked didn’t it !!!!
Walk by the entrance on the east side of the space, and see if you can spot a “NO PARKING” sign…
If the Council have indeed put up such signs, they’ve done it in the most ineffectual way possible.
By the time a car has driven over the pavement and the cycle lane and invaded the space, joining all the others (safety in numbers), it’s too late.
…and that’s before you consider you could just drive out again, and common sense tells you it isn’t a parking spot.
I’m looking forward to the sharp realisation when PCNs start getting given out for everyone there.
It strikes me the answer should be to tow away all vehicles on the site
Make.it a pay Display car park
And monies collected could go to the ongoing
Restoration of St Peter’s
Dont let the council have the money
Or it will end up like Madeira Drive
There are actual barriers up now that prohibit entrance, and it looks like an official person is on site managing things. The number of cars is greatly reduced (yesterday, Tues 5th, it was full). At last we’re going in the right direction.
Fancy unbelievers taking advantage of a believers space!
They wouldn’t be so quick, to jump into their shoes…
What a cheek! Parking in Brighton without being screwed by the council.
Mind you, the war on motorists is working. It is cheaper and easier to buy larger items on line than struggle in a rather dirty and uninviting city.
Why would I buy something that I then have to struggle to lug back to my home? Death of the high street has been a thing for a while now regardless of parking.
So much nicer when it was all grass and fenced off. Remind me – what was the logic here ?