Brighton & Hove City Council
Cabinet
10.30am 17 September 2026
Council Chamber, Hove Town Hall
DRAFT MINUTES
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Present: Councillor Sankey (Chair) Taylor (Deputy Chair), Alexander, Allen, Daniel, McGregor, Muten, Robins, Rowkins and Williams |
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PART ONE
57 Update Report on Western Road Resurfacing Works and Red Route
57.1 Councillor Muten left the chamber for consideration of this item, in accordance with his earlier declaration of interest.
57.2 Cabinet considered the updated report, the published addendum, the public questions and deputations received, the Pre-Action Protocol correspondence, the updated Equality Impact Assessment and the proposed monitoring arrangements. Officers explained that the proposed Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) would allow the Red Route to operate in real-world conditions before any decision on permanence, with evidence and feedback gathered throughout the experimental period. The scheme included 10 dedicated loading bays and additional disabled parking provision, with locations reviewed by road-safety officers and capable of being amended as the experiment progressed.
57.3 Officers advised that Western Road carried around 700 bus movements each day and continued to experience persistent obstructive stopping and parking despite existing restrictions and a high level of enforcement. They referred to more than 1,100 enforcement visits over the previous year, 684 Penalty Charge Notices and more than 2,300 occasions on which vehicles left before a penalty could be issued. Officers also corrected an error in the consultation appendix concerning the number of respondents recorded as "not sure" to one of the questions.
57.4 Councillor Taylor questioned officers in detail about the practical difference between the existing restrictions and the proposed Red Route. Officers confirmed that taxis and other vehicles would continue to be able to pick up and set down passengers, but that parking on the existing double yellow lines for shopping or other purposes was already prohibited. They explained that current enforcement required Civil Enforcement Officers to record vehicles and observe them for a period before taking action; where a number of vehicles were present this was resource intensive, and drivers could move away and return once officers had passed.
57.5 In response to questions about businesses and deliveries, officers explained that engagement had informed the proposed 10 loading bays, including the location of bays and the types and frequency of deliveries. They stressed that the advantage of an ETRO was its flexibility, unlike a permanent Traffic Regulation Order, bays and other elements could be moved, extended or otherwise altered quickly in response to evidence and experience during the experimental period. The use and location of loading bays, traffic flow and the operation of the corridor would therefore be kept under review.
57.6 Members discussed the concerns raised by businesses and residents and the potential impact on trade. Officers advised that monitoring would include business footfall and vacancy information, alongside transport and traffic data. They referred to anonymised mobile-phone footfall data used on existing Red Route corridors and said the same type of information would be available for Western Road. Engagement with businesses would continue before the ETRO was advertised and throughout the experimental period so that unintended effects could be identified and, where appropriate, the scheme adjusted.
57.7 Councillor Rowkins asked about current and proposed loading and disabled parking provision. Officers confirmed that there were no dedicated loading bays on the relevant section at present and that 10 would be introduced. They also advised that existing disabled bays in the adjoining side roads, together with proposed provision, would give approximately 20 disabled spaces in the area. Officers emphasised that engagement with disabled people and representative groups would be central to reviewing the scheme and that changes could be made during the ETRO.
57.8 Councillor Williams asked that the review consider the practical accessibility of disabled bays, including whether locations in side roads were suitable for people who could not easily manage gradients. Officers agreed that this was precisely the type of feedback to be tested with disability groups. Councillor Robins also highlighted the needs of disabled bus passengers, noting that obstructive loading or parking could prevent buses from reaching the kerb, and members discussed the need to balance the requirements of disabled motorists, disabled public-transport users, pedestrians, businesses and other road users.
57.9 Members reflected on the strong public campaign both for and against the proposal. Councillor Daniel said she had examined the issue closely and considered that the proposal was principally about making enforcement of existing restrictions more effective, while retaining lawful loading and passenger access. The Chair noted the extent to which the scheme had already evolved in response to feedback and emphasised the need for continued engagement, monitoring and adjustment. She considered that the existing level of unlawful stopping created safety and accessibility problems and that any scheme should seek to meet the needs of businesses, residents, disabled people and bus users while improving the operation of the corridor.
57.10 RESOLVED:
1) Cabinet notes the issues raised in the Pre-Action Protocol (PAP) correspondence, the updated Equality Impact Assessment, and the nature and scope of the proposed monitoring in relation to the primary aim of the scheme. The primary aim or purpose of the scheme is to reduce congestion in the area to allow for improved bus reliability during the experimental period.
2) Cabinet agrees to the implementation of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order for Western Road between Holland Road and Montpelier Road should proceed, having reviewed this additional information.
3) Cabinet notes the resurfacing programme for this section of Western Road.
57.11 Councillor Muten returned to the meeting following determination of the item.
The meeting concluded at Time Not Specified
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Signed
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Chair |
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