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http://www.theargus.co.uk/display.var.1330177.0.radical_plan_for_city_park.php
Radical plan for city park
By Lawrence Marzouk
A series of traffic-choked roundabouts could be transformed into Brighton and Hove's biggest city centre park, The Argus can reveal.
The green space would stretch for almost a mile between St Peter's Church and The Royal Pavilion and be linked to North Laine.
The radical plans would cost at least £2.5 million to complete and a team of council officers has been handed tens of thousands of pounds to draw up the proposals.
All traffic would be sent along the east side of the main thoroughfare, which runs from St Peter's Church towards the Palace Pier.
The traffic lanes to the west would be covered with grass, flowers and trees. Events such as Brighton Festival could expand and an outdoor ice rink set up in the winter.
The scheme has yet to be be formally presented to city councillors but, if approved, work could start as early as 2010.
Because of the complicated system of cycle and bus routes along the A23, barriers have been put up to reinforce the isolation of the existing gardens - leading to a number of serious accidents.
Officers' early traffic model analysis suggests the new layout, far from making congestion worse, could improve the flow of traffic.
Councillor Gill Mitchell, chairwoman of Brighton and Hove City Council's environment committee, said the city lacked a park worthy of its status.
She said: "It would be absolutely wonderful and would give us the kind of open space other cities have.
"We have an idea we have put through the traffic model but it is at an early stage.
"At the moment the area is dominated by traffic and is underused.
"It would be great if this area could become vehicle-free but it will not be without difficulties."
Conservative councillor Ted Kemble, the party's Brighton spokesman for transport and a taxi driver, said his party was keen on the scheme but questions remained about changes to the road layout.
He said: "I would support anything that would improve traffic flows and air quality.
"My main concern is that North Road is a major cross street and would be blocked off but if they can find a suitable way of overcoming this, I do not see there is an issue."
Green convener Keith Taylor said a large park would help St Peter's Church, which is threatened with closure.
He said: "What we need to be doing is reducing the level of traffic in the city because reducing the number of lanes will cause longer delays.
"But we do need to make the most of our inner city green spaces and that space is massively underused because it is surrounded by choking traffic."
He said 19 per cent of all CO2 emissions were traffic-related.
Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Elgood said a strategy to improve green spaces across the whole city was needed.
He said: "We support anything that improves the area and helps the environment but this is artificial and cosmetic environmentalism.
"What we need is a strategic plan for the whole city."
It will probably NOT happen, but it sounds like a very good idea.
Radical plan for city park
By Lawrence Marzouk
A series of traffic-choked roundabouts could be transformed into Brighton and Hove's biggest city centre park, The Argus can reveal.
The green space would stretch for almost a mile between St Peter's Church and The Royal Pavilion and be linked to North Laine.
The radical plans would cost at least £2.5 million to complete and a team of council officers has been handed tens of thousands of pounds to draw up the proposals.
All traffic would be sent along the east side of the main thoroughfare, which runs from St Peter's Church towards the Palace Pier.
The traffic lanes to the west would be covered with grass, flowers and trees. Events such as Brighton Festival could expand and an outdoor ice rink set up in the winter.
The scheme has yet to be be formally presented to city councillors but, if approved, work could start as early as 2010.
Because of the complicated system of cycle and bus routes along the A23, barriers have been put up to reinforce the isolation of the existing gardens - leading to a number of serious accidents.
Officers' early traffic model analysis suggests the new layout, far from making congestion worse, could improve the flow of traffic.
Councillor Gill Mitchell, chairwoman of Brighton and Hove City Council's environment committee, said the city lacked a park worthy of its status.
She said: "It would be absolutely wonderful and would give us the kind of open space other cities have.
"We have an idea we have put through the traffic model but it is at an early stage.
"At the moment the area is dominated by traffic and is underused.
"It would be great if this area could become vehicle-free but it will not be without difficulties."
Conservative councillor Ted Kemble, the party's Brighton spokesman for transport and a taxi driver, said his party was keen on the scheme but questions remained about changes to the road layout.
He said: "I would support anything that would improve traffic flows and air quality.
"My main concern is that North Road is a major cross street and would be blocked off but if they can find a suitable way of overcoming this, I do not see there is an issue."
Green convener Keith Taylor said a large park would help St Peter's Church, which is threatened with closure.
He said: "What we need to be doing is reducing the level of traffic in the city because reducing the number of lanes will cause longer delays.
"But we do need to make the most of our inner city green spaces and that space is massively underused because it is surrounded by choking traffic."
He said 19 per cent of all CO2 emissions were traffic-related.
Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Elgood said a strategy to improve green spaces across the whole city was needed.
He said: "We support anything that improves the area and helps the environment but this is artificial and cosmetic environmentalism.
"What we need is a strategic plan for the whole city."
It will probably NOT happen, but it sounds like a very good idea.
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