TRAFFIC restrictions in the heart of Brighton may be extended to include evenings and Sundays.

Cars are banned during the daytime from parts of busy Western Road and North Street. The extended ban is proposed under the City Centre Plan approved in principle by councillors, who also want better signs and automatic cameras in North Street. The plan proposes wider pavements in North Street. Electronic message signs saying whether car parks are full will be introduced this year in the centre of Brighton. Parking charges will be reviewed to discourage long-term stays in favour of shoppers and visitors and the council will try to discourage on-street parking. Plans for a new park and ride scheme near the junction of the A23 and the Brighton bypass will be investigated. The council is also considering London-style electronic message boards at bus stops to say when the next bus is due and improvements to the bus area in Western Road. The plan also proposes ideas for cutting shop crime, reducing graffiti and stopping unlicensed trading. Labour councillor Frances Hunt described the scheme as brilliant, saying it would create a vibrant town centre. But Tory councillor Simon Radford-Kirby accused the council of being anti-car. He said: "Businesses are concerned about it and the council doesn't seem to care. Traffic flow in Brighton is farcical and it is hard for people to stop and use shops." But Labour councillor Simon Battle said the plan was being backed by the business community and he accused Tories of being negative.

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