Call for forum to get city's transport back on track

Labour's Councillor Gill Mitchell called on the Conservative Administration of Brighton & Hove City Council to set up a Local Transport Forum, with representation from across the city, to help shape the council’s transport policy.

Gill said:

"From my work with the council's partner groups it is clear that there is a real demand for a city-wide transport forum that will enable an on-going dialogue to be maintained between the council and all interested parties in relation to strategic transport planning.

"This is an ideal time to set up such a Forum as the preparation of the next Local Transport Plan for the city that takes us to 2015 is about to start. Getting transport right is of vital importance for the future of the city and surrounding areas and the experiences of a wide range of voices must be heard."

In a motion being submitted to a meeting of the full council on 8th October, Labour Councillors are expressing concern at the gradual departure from the principles of sustainable transport provision contained in the Council's Local Transport Plan that underwent consultation in 2006/7.

The current plan that runs from 2007 to 2011, has suffered a £4 million cut by the council's Conservative Administration that has removed from its programme the key policy of a major improvement scheme for Valley Gardens. Labour Councillors are also concerned that where schemes are still being implemented they are not part of the co-ordinated transport policy aimed at reducing congestion that the original plan represented.

Summer consultations on the London Road planning framework, changes proposed by the Conservatives to the council's key planning Core Strategy document and the draft of the overarching Sustainable Communities Strategy have all drawn critical discussion from interest groups relating to the lack of any comprehensive transport policy for the city and a paucity of real proposals.