Western Road Red Route - Your Voice consultation report 2026

Background

A Red Route is proposed for implementation on Western Road, from Holland Road to Montpelier Road. This is proposed under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) following the same process as the Red Route’s on London/Preston Road and Lewes Road. This consultation is to gather feedback on the proposals and initial design.

Methodology

Brighton & Hove City Council sent an information leaflet to addresses directly on Western Road and the surrounding area of the proposed changes. This leaflet included a detailed map of the proposed changes, and frequently asked questions.  People were asked to go online to complete the consultation survey. This was also promoted on the Council website, Facebook, X & LinkedIn. People could also request a paper copy of the questionnaire with a pre-paid envelope to return. The consultation ran from 24 November 2025 – 4 January 2026.  

Results

A total of 1,032 responses were received.

Questions asked and answers are as follows: 

· How are you responding to the consultation?

Respondent type	Amount
A business owner or manager	32
A local resident	937
A stakeholder or on behalf of an organisation	11
A visitor	52

· What do you mainly use the area for?

This was a multiple choice question

Activity	Amount
To visit friends and family	281
To visit a place of worship	29
To sit in the gardens	128
To get from A to B	675
I work here	141
For leisure	581
To shop	704
Other	110

‘Other’ was a free form box, common answers are below:

Ø I live here / in the area

Ø To visit essential services (GP, chemist, dentist, opticians, hearing clinic, laundrette)

Ø Commuting and travelling through

Ø Dropping off friend/family

Ø School run

· How many deliveries do you receive per day?

This was answered by 29 business owners or managers, 2 local residents and 1 as a stakeholder or on behalf of an Organisation.

Delivery frequency	Amount
A few times per week	12
Once per day	2
More than once per day	18

· What size is the delivery vehicle?

Multiple choice question

Vehicle type	Amount
Transit Van	21
Luton Van	12
7.5 Lorry	10
HGV	8
Articulated lorry	6
Car	8
Don’t know/not sure	2

· Do you think the proposal will improve safety for:

Road user type	Yes amount	Yes %	No amount	No %	Not sure amount	Not sure %
Pedestrians	543	52.6%	412	39.9%	34	3.3%
Cyclists	560	54.3%	367	35.6%	45	4.4%
Disabled people	487	47.2%	400	38.8%	72	7.0%
Drivers	462	44.8%	413	40.0%	73	7.1%
Bus Users	524	50.8%	383	37.1%	144	14.0%

· Do you think the proposals will?

Improvement statement	Yes amount	Yes %	No amount	No %	Not sure amount	Not sure %
Improve bus journey times	542	52.5%	375	36.3%	65	18.7%
Keep the traffic moving	581	56.3%	358	34.7%	135	4.4%
Improve loading capacity for deliveries	324	31.4%	476	46.1%	156	15.1%

Common themes

Respondents were then asked if they had any further comments on the proposals, there was a free form text box to give further feedback. These have been grouped by common themes and are detailed below. 792 respondents left further comments, 76.7%.

Comment Themes	Amount
Will adversely affect businesses	201
Road or pavement currently feels dangerous with illegal parking & high congestion	102
Proposals will increase displacement to side roads / have an effect on resident parking bays	58
Where do businesses /loading park/ not enough loading bays	52
Enforce existing rules instead	50
Hope this improves cycling safety / general road safety	50
Adverse effect on blue badge holders / person with a disability / vulnerable people	41
Looks great / should have happened years ago	38
Where do customers park? Needs short term customer parking	38
Needs more parking / more parking should be in side roads	36
Stop pavement parking	23
Ensure its correctly enforced	19
Hopes this will improve bus journey times / Bus currently takes too long	19
Extend the Red Route	15
Poor road condition / Needs resurfacing	14
Irrelevant comments	13
Hope this improves air quality / poor air quality currently	12
Concern on speeding / 20mph needs to be enforced	12
Needs light controlled crossings /bottom Brunswick place	11
Time of day flexibility for bay use /24 hour route not needed	11
Special needs for this business	10
Use DYL’s instead of single/ DYL’s instead of red route	8
Would like a cycle lane	7
Traffic would move faster and feel more dangerous / cause more congestion / more air pollution	7
Observed criminal and illegal activity	5
Concern on amount of loading bays (too many)	4
Consultation trust / disappointed in questions	4
CCTV concern / privacy	4
Project team to be aware of comment	4
Where do visitor's park	3
Stronger fines needed	3
Infrastructure comment (bollards, pavements)	3
Too much residents parking	2
Include a bus lane / bring back bus stop	2
Alternative parking solutions	2
Only useful Montpelier to Norfolk Square	1

Equalities and demographic questions & information

Do you want to answer the following equalities monitoring questions?	Amount
Yes	567
No	465

What is your age	Amount
18-24	14
25-34	76
35-44	94
45-54	137
55-64	137
65-74	81
75-85	21
85+	1
Prefer not to say	3

Are your day-to-day activities limited because of a health problem or disability which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months?	Amount
Yes, a lot	45
Yes, a little	78
No	425
Prefer not to say	18

Are you a carer?	Amount
Yes	46
No	506
Prefer not to say	13

Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?	Amount
Yes	535
No	7
Prefer not to say	19

How would you describe your ethnic origin?	Amount
Asian / Asian British: Chinese	1
Asian / Asian British: Indian	3
Asian / Asian British: Other	5
Black / Black British: African	3
Black / Black British: Caribbean	3
Mixed: Any other mixed / multiple ethnic background	5
Mixed: Asian and White	7
Mixed: Black African and White	1
Mixed: Black Caribbean and White	3
Other ethnic group, please describe	1
Other Ethnic Group: Arab	4
White: English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish, British	434
White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller	1
White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller	9
White: Other	57
Prefer not to say	22

What is your religion or belief?	Amount
Agnostic	16
Atheist	56
Buddhist	8
Christian	96
Hindu	1
Jain	1
Jewish	4
Muslim	4
Pagan	2
Other philosophical belief	10
Other religion or belief, please describe	16
Prefer not to say	24