Council plans for busy summer and events in Brighton

Brighton and Hove City Council has now released a series of proposals to counter and cope with this expected influx of people as coronavirus restrictions are eased.

The plans, detailed in a document titled Covid-19 Road Map out of lockdown: Managing the City Safely and Outdoor Events Programme 2021, will go before a special policy and resources recovery sub-committee on Monday.

They include the use of street cleaning programmes and additional waste collection services along the seafront and in busy parks.

The council could also investigate the option of providing more public toilets and recruiting additional civil enforcement officers to issue penalty charge notices for those parking illegally or irresponsibly.

To achieve this, £1.01M of contain outbreak management funds would be allocated to the Managing the City Safely City Co-ordination Group.

A queue for the toilets on Brighton beach in August last year Credit: Simon Dack

The report states: "As with any approach to managing the city in busy periods, there is always a risk that the city could become overwhelmed and services stretched as a result.

"The approach outlined in this report aims to mitigate this risk as far as possible but it would not be possible to eliminate all risks of any incidents of pressure upon city services or other incidents occurring.

"Over the summer period last year, as the wave one lockdown restrictions were eased, the city experienced high levels of visitors to our beaches, parks and open spaces.

"While there is no evidence that the large number of visitors led to transmission of the virus, the crowds on our beaches and in our parks did put pressure upon services such as street and beach cleaning and seafront management."

However, the report recognises the huge role the tourism industry plays in the city, and the devastating impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on my Brighton businesses over the last 12 months.

It states: "As the city comes out of lockdown in accordance with the road map, it is likely that visitors will return and the city will become busy. Work is taking place with the aim of ensuring that the city is prepared for each step in the easing of the lockdown restrictions.

A busy Brighton beach during the heatwave experienced in August 2020 Credit: Simon Dack

"Brighton and Hove is proud to be a leading visitor destination which welcomes around 12 million visitors a year. The visitor economy generates around £976m each year and supports more than 24,000 jobs directly, with many associated services also relying on this sector.

"The impact of Covid upon the city’s visitor economy has been significant and this last year has been tremendously challenging for operators across hospitality, transport, sports, arts, culture, events and many others.

"The aim is to welcome people back, but only when it’s safe to do so, making sure that the city provides a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

"This summer it is anticipated that the number of people travelling to Brighton and Hove for a staycation visit could be higher than ever before because an international travel ban is currently in place."

The report said the city hopes to welcome back "responsible visitors" while "keeping residents and visitors safe as a priority".

"Encouraging people to visit the city must not be at the expense of people’s health," it says.

Brighton beach

"The aim is to reassure our communities that a lot of planning is underway which should allow people to travel to enjoy our city, while keeping both residents and visitors safe."

The council plans also look into the feasibility of hosting events in the city as the government's "roadmap" to lifting lockdown restrictions develops. They say that the government's roadmap will be used as the basis for permitting any events on council land this year.

As a result of the restrictions, the physical events planned for The Great Escape, London to Brighton Bike Ride, Triathlon, Big Culture Project, Land Beyond, Noughty Nineties, Incarnation, Children’s Parade, Mini Run will no longer be taking place.

However, some events will return in late May, with the roadmap allowing "outdoor performances" from May 17.

The Warren will come to Valley Gardens and Spiegeltent will once again sit in Old Steine, with both sites running from May 28 to July 11.

A performance at the Warren Outdoors Covid-secure venue on Brighton beach in August 2020 Credit: Simon Dack

The Ladyboys of Bangkok will set up in St Peter's Square from May 28 to June 27, and the Luna Cinema Beach on the seafront will welcome visitors in May and June.

The report states: "Events can contribute to a sense of community, local pride and cultural identity which can have a positive impact on the wellbeing of those involved. However, events will need to meet Covid safe requirements in accordance with national guidelines."

Many more events, including Brighton Pride, are expected to follow if all legal limits on social contact are removed on June 21. The government roadmap states this is the earliest date on which this action could be taken, allowing large events and performances to resume.

The reports states: "Brighton and Hove Pride have yet to finalise their plans for 2021.

"The government’s road map is challenging for this organisation because of the long lead-in time they require to plan such a large event.

Brighton Pride 2018. Picture: Terry Applin.

"Announcements on the timing and nature of future stages of the roadmap will clarify what is possible for this year’s Pride festival.

"There is a robust event planning process in place for every large-scale event. The council’s Safety Advisory Group, which is a multi-agency group made up of the emergency blue-light services and council officers, including public health, meets regularly to scrutinise and assess the safety of events.

"Particular focus is now upon Covid safety, including the scrutiny of risk assessments by numerous agencies.

"This group makes recommendations to senior council officers on whether events should proceed, based on the likely levels of risk combined with the safety preparations undertaken by organisers. They will also consider the local epidemiology in making recommendations."