Western Road reopening pushed back after red route protest
Brighton and Hove City Council says a protest on Thursday evening has delayed the completion of resurfacing work on Western Road.
Reopening delayed by protest action
Western Road in Brighton will not reopen this weekend as planned, following a protest against a new red route scheme. The council had expected to fully reopen the major route by 9 November after closing it for more than 40 days to carry out resurfacing work and introduce the red route.
According to Brighton and Hove City Council, a protest on Thursday evening prevented the final stages of work from being completed. The council now expects the road to begin reopening on 10 November, with full reopening on 11 November, subject to work being finished. Current diversions and road closures will remain in place until then.
Council responds to disruption
Council leader Bella Sankey described the situation as "unfortunate and disappointing", stating that actions by a "tiny minority" had extended the road closure. She said the protest had caused "further unnecessary disruption for thousands of residents, businesses and everyone who relies on the road".
Ms Sankey praised the work of contractors and council staff, saying they "have worked incredibly hard to get us to this point and are doing everything they can to get things back on track".
Red route remains contentious
The red route has sparked significant opposition. Business owners have raised concerns about its impact on their trade and accessibility, with some reporting thousands of pounds in lost business during the closure. More than 4,000 people signed a petition against the proposals in September.
The council says it introduced the scheme in response to regular complaints about vehicles stopping illegally on double yellow lines along the route, which contributes to congestion and delays.
Western Road is heavily used by around 700 buses daily, as well as thousands of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians travelling between Hove and the city centre.
Experimental scheme to be monitored
Enforcement of the red route will begin under an experimental traffic regulation order. The arrangements will be monitored with residents able to comment on how the scheme is working. Changes can be considered for six months after the scheme is introduced.
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