Protest delays red route introduction, council says

A protest against plans to prevent drivers from stopping in an East Sussex street has delayed its introduction, a council has said.

Dozens of people took to Western Road in Hove on Thursday night to object to a red route being introduced along parts of the busy shopping street.

Business owners and residents have campaigned against the scheme, which was due to begin this weekend and is now delayed, along with the reopening of the road, until Wednesday.

A council statement said: "Our contractors and council staff have worked tirelessly to ensure remaining work will take place as soon as possible and that staff undertaking the work are safe."

Bella Sankey, leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, said: "It's unfortunate and disappointing that the actions of a tiny minority have disrupted the final stages of this necessary work and caused further unnecessary disruption for thousands of residents, businesses and everyone who relies on the road."

The scheme, which will be between Montpelier Road and Holland Road, comes after a vote by the council's cabinet in September.

The protest on Thursday night appears to have initially stopped any work, although the group did not obstruct workers from painting in loading bays and junction markings, according to Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Speaking before the delay was announced, Catherine Lane, Western Road Community Group representative, said: "People just turned up spontaneously, uniting to protest against what the Labour cabinet are doing to the high street we love and the thousand-plus jobs that depend on it."

The group has been contacted for comment on the delayed introduction.

The route will mean stopping for any purpose becomes prohibited except for licensed taxis and Blue Badge holders, and a few loading bays.

Major repair works have been carried out over the past month and are near completion.

Traders said almost no premises had rear access and that the disproportionately few proposed loading bays would make it hard, if not impossible, for some deliveries to be handled securely in line with health and safety law.

Brighton and Hove Buses supports the scheme, which comes after two earlier red routes along the A23 London Road and Preston Road and along a section of Lewes Road.

Data published by the council in April showed that since the double red lines were painted along the two roads, the number of injuries had fallen from 11 to three in Lewes Road and from 15 to nine in London Road.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram and listen to BBC Radio Sussex on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.