A Lack Of Pride

Last year I was unable to attend Brighton Pride as it came with an amber weather warning. So, for this year’s event, I wanted to attend evermore, to make up for not being able to attend last year. However, this was not to be the case. 

Each year, Brighton Pride gets bigger, and justifiably as Brighton is the UK’s gay capital. It is also now  ‘the UK’s biggest Pride event.’ (even superseding London Pride), even more so now than ever before, you need to make this weekend-long event accessible to everyone.

This year, I felt truly let down by Brighton & Hove City Council for the absolute lack of an infrastructure for everyone who wanted to attend and couldn’t because of the extent of road closures.

As a car owner, and because I loathe the appalling conditions travelling by public transport, I am no longer able to choose my own method to get to the event.

I understand that, because of the now greater expanse of this event, that more roads are needed to be closed, in order to handle the volume of footfall and general traffic flow, but to close every conceivable route into Brighton, and only have parking for those who attend the paid part of the event, is more than unacceptable.  

As for anyone with a disability that needs a disabled bay, not only do they need to prebook a parking space months in advance, but they also have to be attending the paid part of the event. Worse still, all other bays that have been accessible in previous years, are now inaccessible, as they are inside of the closed road zones.

Brighton Pride have stated on its website, “If you are arriving by car, please, refer to Brighton and Hove City Council’s website for parking throughout the City of Brighton. This will give you information regarding the nearest car park and the nearest blue badge spaces to all Pride events.”

Brighton and Hove City Council have provided no information regarding disability blue badge holders to accessible bays during this event, whatsoever. Nor do they list the road closures or give directed routes. Come on Brighton get your act together, you are getting a whopping £23,500,000 into your economy over the Pride weekend… make it accessible for everyone… do not become a cash cow like London pride has become.

Earlier today, we stopped to ask a traffic Marshall to be directed to any available disabled bays, he replied: “I’ve no idea.”  

Brighton, my husband and I have a bond and an affinity with your wonderful town. We feel that you have been a friend to us., After all, it was where I met my husband and I met there, where we got engaged and then went on to marry, and we have celebrated many our wedding anniversary there, but today you have let us down, hugely.

After an exhausting 90 minute drive from Brighton Pier and the surrounding area, to as far out as the Marina, we gave up and glumly headed back home on the M23.