Weekend engineering works on the Brighton main railway line are having a serious impact on tourism, Brighton and Hove City Council has claimed.

The council has complained that Network Rail's regular closure of the line is "severely inhibiting" the city's potential to attract visitors outside of the summer months.

The criticism comes in a blueprint for the city's tourist trade for the next ten years.

The master plan calls on the council to continue pushing Network Rail to end the replacement bus service which dogs the city's train connection with London and Gatwick.

The report reads: "We have an excellent rail service connecting the city with London, London Gatwick and other places throughout the country and continent.

"However, the extent of weekend engineering works severely inhibits the potential for the city to attract visitors at times of the year when it sorely needs them and also provides a very poor experience for visitors who are unaware of the work before commencing their journey."

The strategy sets out how to boost the city's £407 million tourism sector.

Redevelopment of the Brighton Centre is seen as key to the future, particularly in attracting high-spending visitors.

Measures in the programme include:

  • A park-and-ride facility
  • Marketing the city as a home destination, given rising concern about climate change
  • Spa and health facilities for the Peace Statue to Hove Lagoon section of the beach
  • Pedestrian priority scheme in St James's Street and the entire length of the North Laine retail area
  • Developing Stanmer as a gateway to the South Downs
  • These come on top of current developments such as the i360, Brighton Marina and the King Alfred.

David Smith, chairman of the culture committee, said: "The Brighton Centre is on track and it is terribly important to get that started. I am very positive about the future."

But he added: "Engineering works is one of our bugbears. It would be good if they could work on it around the clock instead of putting on replacement buses at the weekend."

Tony Mernagh, executive director of Brighton and Hove economic partnership, said: "I would like to see Network Rail work through the night."

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "We try to avoid scheduling engineering works during the summer as we realise this is the period when more tourists wish to travel to places such as Brighton, including by train.

"There are, however, times when we need whole weekends to undertake work due to the nature of a project.

"For example, projects to renew track layouts or carry out maintenance work in tunnels, of which there are several on the Brighton mainline, do tend to need longer.

"With fewer passengers travelling at weekends, weekend work does have to occur."

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