Businesses are calling on Brighton & Hove City Council to rethink its plans after it announced when a red route will be introduced on a vital thoroughfare. Reconstruction and resurfacing work, expected to take 45 days, is due to begin on Western Road from 28 September, with stopping banned after the project completes, says the BBC.

The council said the scheme was “not about adding restrictions, rather it is aimed at more effective enforcement”.

The road already has double yellow lines. Under the Highway Code, this allows stopping to collect or drop off passengers, or for loading, but no waiting. Blue Badge holders can park on double yellows, for three hours.

On red routes, stopping for any purpose becomes prohibited except for licensed taxis and Blue Badge holders. Fines for stopping are £70, reduced to £35 if paid early.

The council proposes introducing 10 loading bays on Western Road, between Holland Road and Montpelier Road, as well as disabled bays on the road and its side streets. The council’s cabinet is expected to sign off on the red route in September, ahead of the roadworks.

Officials argue the red route would “improve safety through more effective enforcement” against antisocial parking, including by introducing CCTV.

A local business owner said the restrictions would be “a disadvantage for disabled people” and traders, adding that he had “every sympathy with safety measures” but that the “number of accidents is actually very low on Western Road” already.

During a previous period of roadworks his Western Road shop had “lost 7% to 8% of trade year on year” and that he expected a similar drop-off due to the red route.

“That is into an area where you’re starting to talk about job losses,” he said.

(Picture: Courtesy of Reading Borough Council)