Rottingdean planter removed temporarily for repair works

The planter in Rottingdean High Street was put in place to slow traffic, but proved divisive with some residents due to the village’s already narrow roads.

Repairs are being made to the shopfront of PSG Financial Solutions after a bus scraped past part of the store’s signage, as well as a lamp.

Brighton and Hove City Council initially suggested putting a traffic management system in place, instead of removing the planter, to allow the repair work to be carried out.

However, Petra Griffiths, owner of the business, said that scaffolding would need to be put up which would go out into the road.

She said: “In order to do that, the builders would need the council to temporarily remove the planter so cars can get through.”

The bus knocked a lamp and damaged part of the shopfront

The accident happened in May this year and Petra had been attempting to get the repair work done ever since.

The planter’s removal was well received by many residents, with one describing it as “Christmas come early”.

Another resident said the planter was “a waste of time and money”.

She said: “Rottingdean needs a ring road and not at the expense of any residents or residential areas.” 

A council spokesman said: “We have removed the Rottingdean High Street planter on a temporary basis to allow for scaffolding to be put up to repair a nearby building.

“There was a delay to the planter being removed.

“This was because the building contractor had failed to give us some extra information we needed.

“Once the contractor provided us with this information, we were able to agree to the planter being removed.

“The planter will be put back once the repair work is finished.”

Residents had complained about the planter in the high street of Rottingdean

Independent councillor Bridget Fishleigh, who represents Rottingdean Coastal, said she will be meeting with road officers from the council at the end of the month to discuss the future of the planter.

She said: “I will ask officers to attend a public meeting so we can all look at the data and see whether the planter has achieved its goal.

“We then need to discuss if the congestion and pollution in other areas of the village are prices worth paying.”

Commercial director of Brighton and Hove Buses and Metrobus Nick Hill said no one was hurt in the "rare incident".

He said: "On May 20, 2022, a bus was passing through Rottingdean High Street and made contact with a building.

"We contacted the company straight away to resolve the situation and are paying for the repair work to the building."