Issue - items at meetings - Brighton Station Gateway Preferred Option

Report of the Strategic Director, Place (copy attached).

1.         That Members agree that public consultation should be undertaken on the preferred Southern Gateway scheme.

2.         That Members agree that the results of public consultation should be reported back to Committee in January 2013, where members will make a decision on whether the preferred option should be progressed to detailed design stage.

3.         That Members acknowledge the help of Stakeholders in arriving at the preferred scheme.

20.1               The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director, Place that outlined the preferred option for the Station Gateway scheme and sought Committee approval to commence full public consultation.

20.2               Councillor Hawtree thanked officers and stated his support for the project. He noted that entrances to towns were vital to creating the right impression.

20.3               Councillor Cox thanked officers for the presentation provided and noted that it would be useful to be circulated to other Members. He stated his agreement that something better was required in the area and his agreement with the proposals particularly with regard to Trafalgar Street. Councillor Cox expressed his hope that buses would not wait on the west side of Queens Road.

20.4               Councillor Theobald agreed that the entrance to the station was important in making the right impression to visitors. Councillor Theobald noted several specific concerns he had regarding the proposals including less space for waiting taxi’s, management of taxi flow and his fear that an uphill left turn on the upper part of Trafalgar Street would be difficult to negotiate.

20.5               The Project Manager clarified that the proposals would in fact increase space for waiting taxi’s and had the support of the taxi company. He went on to explain that the case for a traffic marshall would be considered when the finer details of the proposals were devised. He added that the traffic model had been used with regard to the left hand turn on Trafalgar Street which had not highlighted any issues with regard to the turn or traffic flow in the area.

20.6               Councillor Phillips thanked Officers for the report and asked if more pedestrian crossings would be considered, clarification on the types of traffic enforcement considered and if there would be trees positioned at the entrance of the station as the report showed.

20.7               The Project Manager replied that these were all issues that would be developed at the next stage of working on the finer detail of the project. Issues concerning enforcement would be considered with stakeholder groups. He added that there would be some trees at the station entrance but perhaps not the number specified in the diagram.

20.8               Councillor Robins thanked officers for the informative report that had reassured his initial scepticism. He noted his concerns regarding the difficulties for traffic to reach New England Street.

20.9               Councillor Wealls commented that if the taxi rank was to be located under the bridge on Trafalgar Street, there could be a serious impairment to air quality in the area as there would be a build up of emissions. He also asked if there would be a covered shelter for the new bus stop.

20.10          The Project Manager clarified that the issue of air quality under the bridge needed to be examined and a solution found. He supplemented that there would be a covered shelter in the new bus stop location as well as a new visitor centre.

20.11          RESOLVED-

1.            That Members agree that public consultation should be undertaken on the preferred Southern Gateway scheme.

2.            That Members agree that the results of public consultation should be reported back to Committee in January 2013, where members will make a decision on whether the preferred option should be progressed to detailed design stage.

3.            That Members acknowledge the help of Stakeholders in arriving at the preferred scheme.