‘NO EXEMPTIONS FOR BRIGHTON’S CLASSICS’
Veteran Run and other event organisers want their say in feasibility study
THE COVER STORY
‘It would be a disaster if, say, Madeira Drive was closed off’
LEN WOOLER, B&H MOTOR CLUB
Brighton & Hove City Council has refused to rule out the possibility of exempting historic vehicles from proposed city centre emissions bans – threatening the likes of the Veteran Car Run and Brighton Speed Trials – though there are apparently no plans to cancel any events at Madeira Drive in the near future.
Event organisers told CCW that they wanted more details from the council about charging zones, emissions standards and any exemptions, if and when they were negotiated. Access to Madeira Drive seafront is crucial for the various high-profile classic car events that take place in Brighton every year. Councillors voted to commission a feasibility study for the plan at a meeting of the transport, environment and sustainability committee on 21 January. Members heard that up to 54 people a year living in central Brighton die prematurely due to air pollution. Brighton & Hove City Council press officer, Ruth Allsop, said: ‘The decision was taken to carry out the feasibility study – and there will be consultation with interested parties. So far, there have been no exemptions for older cars.’
The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, the longest running motoring event, first took place in 1896. It terminates at Madeira Drive – also used by the Brighton Speed Trials, taking place this year on Saturday 5 September. The trials have been running since 1905, making them the world’s oldest motor sport event.
Brighton and Hove Motor Club Chairman, Len Wooller, said: ‘This event brings a lot of money into the Brighton area and we have always worked closely with the council. We hope that this will continue.’
He added: ‘At the moment we don’t know where the exclusion zone would be. We park out trailers at Black Rock away from the main event and cars avoid the city centre – but it would be a disaster if, say, Madeira Drive was closed off.’
Martin Brown of the Royal Automobile Club – which runs the
London to Brighton Veteran Car Run – said: ‘ We will be monitoring the situation closely and see what happens.’
The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) continues to monitor the situation and will tackle emissions zones on a case by case basis; All-Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicle Group chair, Sir Greg Knight MP, has also pledged representation in government once the details of feasibility studies like Brighton’s are known.