Western Road traders stage ongoing protests against red route markings

Dozens of people gathered on Western Road in Hove on Thursday 5 November as workers began preparing to paint markings for the new red route. The protest initially halted work, although painters continued with loading bay and junction markings.

Business owners and residents have opposed the scheme since it was proposed last year. A petition against it collected more than 3,000 signatures and was submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council.

Traders' concerns

Traders say almost no premises have rear access and that the limited number of proposed loading bays will make deliveries difficult and potentially unsafe under health and safety law. Western Road Community Group representative Catherine Lane said: "People of every nationality just turned up spontaneously as it was not formally organised, 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."

Ms Lane added that the scheme would exclude disabled and elderly people from the street. Protesters plan to organise demonstrations each night "for as long as it takes", describing them as "peaceful and legal".

Council approval and legal challenges

Labour councillor Trevor Muten, cabinet member for transport and city infrastructure, approved the £200,000 scheme in June. After traders threatened legal action, the cabinet approved it again in September, with Councillor Muten recusing himself. Opposition councillors requested a scrutiny committee review, but it declined to overturn the decision.

Safety record and support

The red route differs from double yellow lines as it bans all stopping, 24 hours a day, and can be enforced by cameras. Brighton and Hove Buses supports the scheme. Data from two earlier red routes showed injury reductions: Lewes Road fell from 11 to three, and London Road from 15 to nine.

Buswatch chair Nash Travelman said: "We believe the planned red route is essential to back up other measures aimed at encouraging more bus travel." He noted the corridor carries around 46 buses per hour across 11 routes, and that journey times from Hove to Churchill Square have increased by 15 per cent over a decade.

Council figures showed over 100,000 extra people movements on London Road in the 12 months after its red route was introduced. Financial projections suggest the Western Road scheme could raise £50,000 in income from camera enforcement, though Labour deputy leader Jacob Taylor said he hoped it would not make money, "then it would be working".

Councillor Taylor said he would meet with businesses on day one to assess effects.

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