Gyratory out of Vogue

From the The Argus, first published Tuesday 9th Jan 2007.

One of the city's most rundown areas is in line for a radical makeover under ambitious new plans.

The unpopular Vogue Gyratory system in Lewes Road, Brighton, is one of a raft of sites being lined up for surgery under a Brighton and Hove City Council regeneration scheme.

The "brutal" traffic system could be bulldozed along with Lewes Road Sainsbury's. The Argus understands that plans to move the supermarket giant to the nearby Preston Barracks development have also been talked about.

Moving Moulsecoomb Station is another idea under consideration for the "blue sky thinking" report by planning consultants Urban Initiatives.

The firm, which has been involved in major projects including the redevelopment of some of the BBC's London buildings and Regent Street in the capital, is to present suggestions to council planners drafting a regeneration strategy for the area between London Road and Lewes Road.

Proposals have been drawn up after canvassing the views of community groups in the area and will be discussed by the council later this month.

Sophie Moreton, project manager for Urban Initiatives, said: "We haven't come up with any fixed ideas.

"The Vogue Gyratory was an issue that was identified by almost everybody in consultation events. It is disliked by most pedestrians and cyclists."

The consultants say the gyratory system needs to be simplified but high traffic volumes may not allow it to revert to a crossroads.

At workshops for members of the community, Urban Initiatives put forward the idea of demolishing Sainsbury's store.

Ms Moreton said: "The Sainsbury's is not particularly attractive. They could make better use of that site. It's not something that we have discussed with Sainsbury's."

Other ideas have included moving Moulsecoomb Station to a new site south of the Brighton University campus.

Ms Moreton said: "It's going to be a hub of new activity around that area. It would make sense to relocate the station at the heart of that."

The redevelopment of Lewes Road also hinges on a multi- million pound project to create thousands of jobs and hundreds of homes at Preston Barracks, off Lewes Road, Brighton.

The plans were delayed after B&Q dropped out of the plan and an announcement on the project is also due shortly.

Councillor Sue John, chairwoman of the Investment Framework Board, agreed the Vogue Gyratory needs an overhaul.

She said: "It's a fairly brutal place and it's hell if you're a pedestrian."

Green councillor Keith Taylor said the only way to make real improvements to the junction would be to reduce traffic flow.

What do you think? Email:letters@theargus.co.uk

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