Brighton council refuses to debate Rottingdean planter petition

More than 1,400 people have pledged their support for a campaign to remove the planter from Rottingdean High Street, which residents claim has caused extra pollution and is an “eyesore”.

However, despite calls from residents for its removal, the council will not discuss the petition in today’s environmental, transport and sustainability committee, “as it is the same, or substantially the same, as a petition, deputation or public question which has been put at a meeting in the last six months”.

Former councillor Lynda Hyde accused the council of 'closing down democracy' (Image: Brighton and Hove Conservatives)

Former Rottingdean councillor Lynda Hyde said the decision from the council was effectively “closing down democracy”.

She said: “The Greens are refusing to have anything to do with difficult subjects and are refusing to give residents the facility to raise items that concern them.

“It is absolutely dreadful that the council won’t take up this petition.

“The council is not allowing residents their democratic right to submit a petition for debate - they are refusing to do it.”

The planter in Rottingdean High Street was put in place to reduce air pollution but has proved divisive among residents due to the village’s already narrow roads, as well as claims that traffic caused by the object has snaked into other parts of the village.

The controversial planter was reinstalled along Rottingdean High Street last month (Image: Beth India)

It was temporarily removed last month to allow scaffolding to be erected outside a shop, but was brought back - to the anger of many who live in the area.

Samantha Thomsett, the creator of the petition, said: “Having experienced life without the planter on the high street of Rottingdean, I was shocked that it had returned.

“Not only is it an eyesore, but it is also causing extra pollution for the houses nearby.

“We are able to navigate the roads quite easily without it, and the traffic had been greatly reduced whilst the planter was removed.

“I believe we as adults can navigate the roads and the white lines and yellow boxes without the need for a planter.”

The Argus has seen an email confirming that the petition will not be discussed at today's meeting.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: "The planter on Rottingdean High Street was installed on the recommendation of a joint project group bringing together Rottingdean Parish Council and Brighton and Hove City Council.

"It was put there in response to serious public concerns about air quality in the lower section of Rottingdean High Street.

"In legal terms, any consideration of removing the planter would need to be recommended by the Rottingdean Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) project group.

"This includes the parish council and all three ward councillors, supported by council officers.

"Our understanding is that Rottingdean Parish Council is due to debate a proposal to remove the planter at their full council meeting in December.

"We are aware of concerns about the planter and are monitoring the situation closely.

"If the Rottingdean AQMA project group recommends its removal, we will, of course, consider this at a subsequent meeting of our environment, transport and sustainability committee.

"Under the council's constitution, petitions, deputations and public questions are rejected if they are the same, or substantially the same, as a petition, deputation or public question that has been put to a meeting of a committee or sub-committee in the previous six months.

"In September, the committee considered and responded to a deputation calling for the removal of the Rottingdean planter.

"The committee noted that the parish council, which is a part of the project group, has not taken a formal position on this matter. This remains the case."