CAMPAIGNERS have come up with their own vision for the controversial Valley Gardens scheme.

The Valley Gardens Forum, which is made up of residents and businesses, have unveiled their idea for the central Brighton project.

The Brighton and Hove City Council development, known as “Valley Gardens Phase 3” will involve replacing the seafront Aquarium roundabout with a junction in a bid to tackle congestion in the city centre.

If the plans go ahead, Brighton and Hove City Council will also create new public spaces in front of Pavilion Gardens and the Royal Albion Hotel as well as 350 metres of cycle lanes.

The Argus:

Above, counci'ls plan for the project

But the plans have been highly controversial, prompting criticism from a cross-party collection of councillors and activists.

Opponents of the current plans argue it will choke off public transport, increase congestion, divide the city centre from east to west, create a bottleneck for pollution and create rat-runs into St James’s Street.

So now, the Valley Gardens Forum has come up with its own plan, which it says will tackle issues facing the scheme.

The Argus:

Above, campaigners' vision for the project

They are proposing moving bike lanes away from traffic, the creation of a two-way bus route and the scrapping the highly controversial T-junction.

Under their proposals, the T-junction will be a remodelled, larger, roundabout.

By retaining the roundabout, Madeira Drive will remain a two-way street, easing concerns raised about taxi journeys and events on the road.

The council says a T-junction will be safer than the current roundabout, which was revealed as one of the worst in the county for non-fatal accidents.

But campaigners say findings from Mott Macdonald, commissioned by the council, predict a remodelled roundabout would be the safest option.

Another key change from the council’s plan is the creation of a two-lane and two-direction bus route from near to the current the Old Steine bus stops to just before current roundabout.

In the council’s plans, this area will become a pedestrian space and a one way bus route.

Because of this, a bus lane will be put on the eastern side – a decision which will cause five lanes of traffic and shave three metres off the pavement.

The campaigners’ plan will stop buses from turning into traffic at the St James’s street intersection and will leave it as a four-lane road.

The final key change is the moving of the bike route away from the Old Steine Gardens and the pier intersection.

The council’s plan will see the cycle route hug the garden and cross with pedestrians and traffic near the pier.

But campaigners say this will have to be shut in May for events in the gardens and crossing near the pier will be dangerous.

Their plan moves the route to the east of the bus lane and through Pool Valley.

A spokesman for the Valley Gardens Forum said its alternative plan is still evolving and any and all constructive comments are welcome.

Among its supporters are some of the leading members of the Brighton Tourism Alliance and the Brighton and Hove Taxi Forum.

It will be shared with councillors this afternoon at Hove Town Hall.