BRIGHTON HISTORIC VEHICLE EVENTS SAFE
Political intervention safeguards runs and events on Madeira Drive
Brighton and Hove City Council has confirmed that historic vehicle events could continue on Madeira Drive – despite its 20 April closure to traffic.
Events such as the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, London to Brighton Classic Car Run, and Brighton Speed Trials, among others, were previously left in doubt, but a U-turn by the council before its full meeting tomorrow confirmed otherwise.
In a statement, Brighton
& Hove City Council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee deputy chair, Gary Wilkinson, said: ‘ While the temporary road closure remains in place, Madeira Drive will be open and available when necessary to host these events in both the short and long term. We will continue to work with event organisers to ensure a full programme can return to Madeira Drive in a healthier, stronger and safer city.’ Council spokespersons confirmed to CCW that events were on the table for this year; at time of writing, no confirmation had been received from the organisers of the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run that a 2020 event would take place on 1 November. Although a review of Madeira Drive’s closure to traffic will take place in September, a motion to the full council meeting, set for tomorrow, was tabled by Conservative Party Tourism Spokesperson, Robert Nemeth, a week prior. It recommended to the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee that post-coronavirus changes to the layout of Madeira Drive do not prevent historic motoring events from taking place.
The about-face in planning was claimed as a Conservative party victory; previously, a spokesperson for the predominantly Labour council refused to rule out the possibility of re-locating historic shows away from Madeira Drive ( Classic Car Weekly, 1 July).
Councillor Nemeth said: ‘It’s a win for the Old Crocks, the Speed Trials, the Mods, The Rockers, the Minis and all of the other loved motoring events that take place on Madeira Drive. These events bring in millions of pounds in tourism revenue every year and are a key part of the fabric of the city.’
An online petition on Brighton and Hove City Council’s website demanding that Madeira Drive be kept open was supported by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs and CCW had garnered 9929 signatures by the time that this week’s issue went to press; a counter-petition, demanding that it remains closed, had attracted 2900 signatures.
Brighton and Hove Motor Club chairman, Leonard Wooller, greeted the news with enthusiasm. Best known for the Brighton Speed Trials, Leonard confirmed that, owing to COVID-19, the event wouldn’t take place this year because of concerns surrounding crowd and paddock numbers – but that a ‘ bigger and better event, with a three-level staging area’, was confirmed for 4 September.
He said: ‘It’s a victory so far as events are concerned; we sent letters to 54 councillors telling them of Madeira Drive’s significance to motor sport and the petitions have clearly had an effect, as have the financial implications not staging events would have had on the local economy.’
London to Brighton Classic Car Run organiser, Stephen Smith, added: ‘This is great news and hopefully will only add to the excitement for everyone who can’t wait to get back on the road.
‘ We can’t wait to see our entrants at the finish on Madeira Drive [in October] as planned.’