An experimental park and ride scheme is due to start in the spring aimed at reducing the volume of traffic in the centre of Brighton.

Drives will be able to park in Mill Road, Brighton, as they do on Brighton and Hove Albion match days, and catch a bus into town.

The scheme could persuade thousands of drivers to park on the outskirts rather than driving into the centre of Brighton, reducing jams and fumes.

Labour Councillor Gary Wilkinson, Lead Spokesperson for Transport said:

“This is Fantastic news.”

“The Green Party have stated they are against Park and Ride but with Labour pressure, a Brighton park and ride start date has been brought forward and will now start in the spring.”

“We also await progress on the feasibility study agreed by the council to explore other sites across the city.”

“At Full Council in July of this year, in response to a question I asked, the administration stated that the Green Party is against Park and Ride schemes and its spokesperson suggested he did not believe such schemes will assist in realising carbon neutrality by 2030. This despite Brighton and Hove’s first ever climate assembly having in its top ten recommendations, the introduction of  park and ride to minimise car use in the city.

“Fortunately, the council agreed to support a Park and Ride Project feasibility study with enhancement of the budget to ensure that multiple locations can be explored with a view of linking this to planned transport hubs.”

“Improving public transport in Brighton and Hove should be high on our agenda in order to achieve our aims of reducing congestion, improving local air quality and supporting sustainable growth, and we must work hard to make bus travel more efficient than ever before. Park and Ride will play a vital role in this.”

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