Thousands sign petition against parking ban on busy Hove shopping street
A petition against introducing a red route along Western Road has gained over 3800 signatures.
Last updated 8 hours ago
Thousands of people are urging councillors to rethink a complete ban on parking and stopping along a busy Hove shopping street.
A petition against introducing a red route along Western Road has gained over 3800 signatures.
Alastair Gourlay, managing director of Real Patisserie which is based on the road, told councillors that a core group of people who objected to the red route had spent hundreds of hours speaking to those who would be most affected.
They included people with disabilities, carers, delivery drivers, tradespeople, taxi drivers, businesses and residents – and the core group said that they found that the majority did not want the red lines.
He said that the number of accidents had fallen in Western Road in the past three years and questioned whether introducing the red route would improve bus journey times.
Mr Gourlay said: “We all want healthy high streets. Western Road one of the city’s busiest and best.
“Before we risk jeopardising that, surely the evidence that this scheme will deliver greater benefits than will be its cost should be crystal clear.”
He urged the council to pause, scrutinise and discuss the red route and question whether the route was in the best interests of Brighton and Hove and its people.
Labour councillor Trevor Muten, the council’s cabinet member for transport and sustainability, urged people in Western Road in Brunswick and Adelaide ward to “come with us” as he made the case for the red route.
Councillor Muten said: “Double yellow lines on Western Road are routinely abused leaving even blue badge holders unable to park.
“Cars block pavements. Vans obstruct dropped kerbs. Access is restricted. Sight lines (are) impeded, making Western Road more hazardous than it needs to be, especially for disabled people, who are less mobile, and parents with buggies.
“Do not ask us to turn a blind eye.”
The council announced an “experimental traffic order” that would formally create the red route on Friday 12 June but a start date for the change was not included in the announcement.
Work is still needed to put in more disabled parking bays and loading bays.
For the first two weeks of operation, any drivers breaking the rules would be sent a warning.
After that, the council would send a £70 penalty charge notice, with the fine reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.
In the first six months, traffic flow would be monitored by cameras, as would loading and disabled bays, to assess the effects and to make any necessary changes.
The experimental traffic order cannot be extended beyond 18 months and changes would be made only in the first year, the council said.