Brighton's city centre 'may be car free by 2023'
BBCBrighton city centre could be car free by 2023 after Brighton and Hove City Council voted to commission a report into how the policy might work.
The plan, agreed by the Green and Labour groups, will see a detailed report drawn up by October.
It will explore how to take cars out of the city centre within three years, as part of a drive to improve air quality and reduce emissions.
The review will also examine who should be exempt from such a ban.
The motion was brought by Green and Labour councillors.
'Time is short'
Green Party councillor Amy Heley said: "This is a sensible step to help our city become carbon neutral by 2030. We would be neglecting our ambitious targets if we didn't look at transport use."
No decision has yet been made on where a car-free zone might be, or which vehicles might be exempt.
Ms Heley told the BBC residents with disabilities, taxi drivers and traders would also be considered when deciding who could be exempt from such a ban.
Labour-led Brighton and Hove City Council declared a climate emergency in January 2019, and promised to make the city carbon neutral by 2030.
Labour councillor Anne Pissaridou said: "The planet is on fire. Time's short and we have to start now."
The council is the latest out of several in England which have announced similar plans:
- Last week Birmingham City Council announced plans to cut air pollution by allowing cars to travel into the city but not through it.
- Bristol is planning to ban private diesel vehicles from entering the city centre at certain times starting in 2021, subject to government approval.
- Newcastle City Council has agreed to impose a clean air toll which would charge buses and HGVs £50 to enter the city centre from 2021.
- York plans to ban private cars from its medieval city centre by 2023.
