This week in 1970 – University and Union object to proposal to raise Lewes Road speed limit from 40 to 50mph
Posted on behalf of: Internal communications
Last updated: Thursday, 1 March 2012

Photo published in the Bulletin published in March 1970.
This week in 1970, the University and the Students’ Union objected strongly to a proposal to raise the speed limit on Lewes Road from 40mph to 50mph.
A 50mph limit, decision makers said, was more “realistic” than 40mph and would be more likely to “get the confidence of the motorist”. University and Union staff were joined in opposition by the Vicar of Stanmer Church, who said that the change could be a “danger to students”.
Today, cars using the road, which links the University’s campus at Falmer to central Brighton, are largely restricted to speeds of 30mph.
Brighton’s Deputy Borough Surveyor was interviewed in the issue of Focus magazine published in March 1970:
Up the junction or up the creek?
The University and the Union have objected to a proposal for raising the Lewes Road speed limit from 40 m.p.h. to 50 m.p.h. Focus questions Mr. M.F.Snell, Brighton’s Deputy Borough Surveyor, about the proposal.
On January 30th a meeting was held at Brighton Town Hall at which members of the public were given the chance to speak against the Corporation’s proposed raising of speed limits in several areas of the town. The proposal to raise the limit on the Lewes road from 40 to 50 mph has been strongly opposed by many members of the University some of whom, including the Bursar, Mr. John Mangold, were at the meeting to argue the University’s case…
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