The Tourism, Development and Culture Committee has given approval for the Pride Village Party (PVP) to continue to be held in the St James’s Street area of the city as part of the annual Pride event.
A public consultation, which sought the views of residents, businesses and stakeholders on the event, received over 2,800 responses. The consultation asked whether the PVP should continue in its current form and whether it should be relocated to Madeira Drive or another part of the city. People were also invited to comment on other aspects of the event.
Consultation results
- Most of the responses (over 68%) were in favour of keeping the event at St James’s Street
- People either strongly agreed or tended to agree that the PVP had a positive effect on the city
- Over 80% of respondents strongly agreed or tended to agree that the PVP should continue
- More than 63% of respondents strongly agreed or tended to agree that there should be no change to the current arrangements
- 59% of those who responded felt that the event felt safer since it had been ticketed
The consultation responses and the contributions made by Pride organisers, as well as statutory agencies, were included in a report reviewed by councillors at the Tourism, Development and Culture Committee on 7 March (agenda item number 73).
Committee decision
Councillors endorsed the report that recommended the Pride Village Party not be moved and that the event continues to be run by the Brighton Pride Community Interest Company.
Chair of the Tourism, Development and Culture Committee, Councillor Alan Robins, said: “It is clear from the responses we received from the public consultation on the Pride Village Party that the majority of people, including residents as well as the emergency services, want the event to continue on St James’s Street.
“The event has been well managed by Pride organisers, who since taking on the event in 2015 have put resources in place to manage the disruption to local people including additional security personnel, street cleaning and toilets.
“The annual Pride event is an important fixture in the city’s calendar and we look forward to the event returning again this August.”