Hole new row opens up between Brighton and Hove political parties over collapsed road

The hole in the A259 King’s Road in Brighton has opened up a row between Labour and the Greens.

The political ding-dong started as it emerged that the road is likely to stay closed all weekend while structural engineers assess the situation.

Traffic congestion is expected throughout a much wider area as a result of displaced traffic.

And the route of the March for England is now expected to start from the bottom of Middle Street on Sunday (27 April) instead of the bottom of West Street.

Sussex Police said: “Following the closure of the A259 King’s Road, Brighton, near the Umi Hotel and Fortune of War public house, Brighton, earlier today (Friday 25 April) police have reopened one lane of the carriageway for eastbound traffic but for access only and only for light vehicles.

“Lorries and the majority of traffic are still being diverted via the B2185 Grand Avenue and The Drive, Hove, on to the A270 Old Shoreham Road.

Geoff Raw

“Westbound traffic is still being diverted north at the Aquarium roundabout/Palace Pier to follow the A23 London Road to join the A270 New England Road and Old Shoreham Road.

“Traffic remains heavily congested in the city centre.”

Brighton and Hove City Council executive director Geoff Raw said: “Structural engineers will be working over the weekend to assess the extent of the problem and which seems to have been caused by historic alterations to premises in the arches.

“We’re working as swiftly as possible with the police and key partners to ensure public safety and to keep the traffic moving as smoothly as possible.

“A contraflow system is now in place between Middle Street and West Street.

“Please allow extra time for journeys through this area and check the council website for updates.”

Councillor Warren Morgan, the leader of the council’s opposition Labour group, said: “Questions have to be asked about why the Greens, knowing that the seafront road needed urgent attention to stop collapses like this, have spent three years spending millions on other road schemes and Green Party priorities, and have only repaired the seafront arches under the i360 site.”

He said: “Today’s collapse of the structure under the A259 seafront road near the junction with West Street shows how critical the condition of our most important transport arteries is.

“It is vital for business, tourism and of course traffic, and major disruption will do immense harm to our city’s economy.

Councillor Warren Morgan

“I believe that despite knowing that the city’s main seafront road and the arches below it are in need of tens of millions of pounds of investment, the council’s Green leadership has chosen to spend money on a series of other traffic and transport projects it has deemed more important and more in line with their political priorities.

“This has to end now.

“Labour is calling for the £8 million of funding that the council has secured for the Valley Gardens improvement scheme to be diverted to deal with the urgent work needed to keep the A259 seafront road open.

“The council should, without delay, set up a project board under a designated senior officer to oversee a thorough and immediate survey and prioritise urgent repairs to our most important piece of infrastructure.”

Councillor Ian Davey, the Green Party’ lead member for transport, said: “We recognised immediately that emergency action needed to be taken and, working with the police and others, secured the area for urgent investigation.

Councillor Ian Davey

“Strengthening the seafront is an enormous project which in total costs many millions more than the council has – especially after years of neglect.

“We have bid many times for government funding to help meet the bill but unfortunately these weren’t successful.

“We are, however, spending an unprecedented amount of council money – over £2 million a year – on rebuilding sections of our seafront.

“This work is vital to our city and its economy.

“Our administration has been incredibly successful in winning external funding for road safety improvements.

“We inherited one of the country’s worst records for air quality and road safety and unlike Councillor Morgan we aren’t afraid of tackling these issues and saving our residents’ lives.

“It’s also disingenuous for Councillor Morgan to talk about diverting funds. He knows it’s not possible as that funding has been granted by the Local Enterprise Partnership to a specific project.

“It’s not ours to spend on anything else and if we were to try, it could be taken away from the city altogether.

“Rather than playing political football and misleading residents about this serious matter, perhaps Councillor Morgan can support the council and police officers working hard to deal with this unforeseeable incident and get the city moving again as quickly as possible.”