Brighton action group get backing from Caroline Lucas

She joins fight against Enterprise Rental Depot

Beaconsfield Arches Community Action Group Campaigners
Author: Emma SmithPublished 15th Jun 2023

MP Caroline Lucas has joined a Brighton action group opposing plans for a car rental depot which backs onto residents’ gardens.

Proposals submitted by car hire firm Enterprise would see a parking area for 25 vehicles and a jet wash in a derelict builders yard off Beaconsfield Road.

But people living in Springfield Road and Ditchling Rise have lodged objections with Brighton and Hove City Council to Enterprise’s planning application for a change of use.

The Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, Caroline Lucas, and Green councillor Raphael Hill, who represents Round Hill ward, have also objected.

According to the council’s website, 138 objections have been received, with just one comment in support.

The Beaconsfield Arches Community Action Group (BACAG) also wants to lease the site to set up community-based businesses and projects there.

The action group’s hopes for the site included growing hops there for the brewery, holding a community market and offering space to charities, including food banks and Brighton Women’s Centre.

Mario Difato, whose garden backs directly on to the area where vehicles would be stored, is concerned about loss of privacy and light pollution.

He said: “I’ve never had a concern about people being behind from a security perspective, as it’s been vacant, and no one has been able to get up here because of the gate and concrete blocks. They can’t drive up, break in and get away.

“There’ll be floodlights and more foot traffic. It’s going to be a disturbance.

“There’s a lot of things Brighton needs and another vehicle rental site is not one of them.”

Ms Lucas said that the Beaconsfield Arches Community Action Group has been trying to bring the site into community use for some time.

She said: “Local communities deserve a say in planning decisions which affect their area.

“My constituents have raised issues about light and noise pollution, safety, and wildlife. Brighton and Hove City Council must acknowledge these concerns when any decision is made on this application.

“A whole host of creative suggestions for alternative uses of this space have already been put forward by local residents. These proposed alternatives should be seriously considered.”

Enterprise Rent-A-Car said: “Enterprise operates around 450 locations across the UK and prides itself on being a good neighbour.

“We invest in local communities and our people are actively involved in giving back to the communities in which they live and work.

“We operate a fleet of low-emission vehicles which provide sustainable travel options to individuals and businesses.

“Our application is to open a vehicle rental base on a site which was formerly a builders’ merchant’s yard where the rear yard was used to store and distribute building materials.

“In essence, our proposals will involve regenerating a rundown commercial brownfield site and creating new jobs through a new use there.

“Technical issues around noise and traffic flow are addressed in the independent transport and noise assessment statements which conclude there would not be a negative impact from our proposed operation.”

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