According to a report in the Argus on Tuesday Brighton & Hove Council are considering ways of making a meaningful gateway between the City and the South Downs National Park. The principle is very sound. We are already fortunate enough to have the South Downs on our Northern extremities making us a city between the Sea and the Downs. If a substantial way can be found to show an easy link between one and the other then day visitors and holiday makers may choose to come to the city to experience this juxtaposition for themselves, rather than going elsewhere. Clearly what is being sought is some form of grand statement. We already have the open topped bus that travels out from the centre of Brighton towards Ditchling Beacon and from the Hove to Devils Dyke and one could argue that a much more substantial visitors  centre at one or other of those (or both) would help to strengthen our offer to tourists. However it appears that these ideas are not what is being proposed. It may be partly because such solutions are not in the gift of the City Council, and would require cooperation with one of our neighbouring Councils. Another factor is that the idea is to create a route that will work well for cyclists as well as walkers and apart from the one day a year when cyclists take over the Beacon, the road to and from the Beacon is far from friendly for bikes.

The idea being proposed covers a 2.5km stretch along Ditchling Road, across Coldean Lane and into Stanmer Park. It includes introducing a gravel surface shared between pedestrians and cyclists, the installation of cattle grids to allow for open grazing and clearly identify the national park, reducing the speed limit from 60mph to 40mph and removing lining to encourage drivers to slow down. There are also proposals regarding crossings along Ditchling Road and some form of traffic control at the junction with Coldean Lane. This proposal is apparently based on the types of roads and pathways provided at national parks elsewhere around the UK.

I would personally support an effective gateway into the park and can see it would improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. However the idea of allowing animals and travellers to share this route as proposed is clearly crackers. The gateway schemes that other national parks have developed are not based on arterial routes in and out of the major population centres. Brighton & Hove is the largest population centre in the South East excluding London. We have 4 routes in and out of the centre excluding the Coast Road. One of these is Ditchling Road and our cities commerce depends on transport routes in and out of the city. There is clearly a case to be made for providing a route for pedestrians and cyclists from the edge of the city out towards Stanmer Park and onto the Beacon. However allowing animals to graze either side of an arterial route without any form of physical barrier is a reckless concept. This picture is of the road through Dartmoor. Travelling this road at nightime and in mist is only done at very low speed, because of the many sheep that love to sleep on the warm tarmac after the sun has gone down.

According to proponents of lateral thinking, intractable problems might be solved if we examine the issue from the position that no idea should be dismissed just because it appears to be absurd on face value. The idea of creating a gateway into the National Park seems to be far from an intractable issue. Rather than make such a daft proposal, what a shame that the Council did not open up the question for creative ideas that residents could propose. The consultation details can be found here and the closing date is 8th September.