Two business organisations have urged Brighton and Hove City Council have voiced concerns about a plan for a red route at the Hove end of Western Road.
One of them, the Brighton Business Improvement District (BID), also known as Brilliant Brighton, asked that “the council undertakes and publishes a comprehensive economic impact assessment”.
The other, the Brighton and Hove Cab Trade Association (BHCTA), objected to the proposed red route.
Andy Peters, from the BHCTA, said that some bookings to pick people up or drop them off on the other red routes in Brighton were already being turned down by drivers.
Brighton BID chief executive Gavin Stewart wrote to the council’s cabinet which is due to decide today (Thursday 17 September) whether to turn the western end of Western Road into a red route.
He wrote: “Although the area is not in the boundary of the Business Improvement District, the issues have been brought to our attention by those businesses directly affected by the proposals.
“Our board has expressed concern regarding the potential impact that the proposed red route scheme may have on businesses located along this section of Western Road, particularly in relation to servicing arrangements, deliveries, customer access and the wider economic vitality of the area.
“While Brighton BID is not taking a position for or against the wider scheme, we believe that any significant transport intervention should be supported by a robust and transparent evidence base.
“In that regard, we would respectfully request that the council undertakes and publishes a comprehensive economic impact assessment specifically relating to the affected section of Western Road between Montpelier Road and Holland Road before any final implementation takes place.
“Given the unique characteristics of this stretch of Western Road, including the concentration of independent businesses, limited servicing options and lack of rear access to many premises, we believe it is important that potential impacts are assessed on the basis of local conditions rather than assumptions drawn from different locations elsewhere in the city.
“An evidence-led assessment would provide reassurance to businesses, residents and decision-makers alike and help ensure that any mitigation measures required are properly identified and implemented.
“We would also ask that careful consideration is given to loading and servicing provision both during the operation of any future red route and throughout any associated construction or resurfacing works.
“The ability of businesses to receive deliveries, serve customers and continue trading effectively is fundamental to the economic health of this part of the city.”
Andy Peters, from the cab trade association, said: “It is acknowledged that the taxi and private hire trade has an allowance of a reasonable time period to set-down and pick-up on a red route.”
But at a Taxi Trade Forum meeting three weeks ago, drivers said that they experienced “trepidation when knowing they have to pick up or drop off on a red route such as in London Road and Lewes Road”.
Mr Peters said: “Drivers suffer great anxiety when dealing with customers such as when waiting for them to get into the taxi or private hire vehicle.
“Many customers are not ready when the taxi or private hire vehicle arrives. Consequently, it is generally known in the trade that some bookings on the red routes are turned down by drivers.
“It should be noted that the local Brighton and Hove cab companies do not charge £5 for a no-show like Uber does.
“Customers can also take time in making a payment, delaying exiting. This is especially relevant when making a contactless payment where drivers experience difficulty at times due to a poor internet connection.
“Therefore, drivers are no longer able to have the ease of a relaxed personal one-to-one service as it boils down to ‘Get in … and get out’ when on a red route.
“Drivers have reported having to appeal against being sent a PCN (penalty charge notice) and having to prove that they were on a ‘booking’ which is time-consuming.
“In the case of where a taxi (hackney carriage) has picked up in the street or on a rank, this is not possible to do.
“Examples of having to lodge an appeal and to take the matter to the independent adjudicator from one driver was given at the Taxi Trade Forum.
“The BHCTA considers that the planned red route is unnecessary which will not only be of a great inconvenience for the local taxi / private-hire trade, especially where alternatives solutions for any perceived issues are available, but also for the businesses in Western Road.
“Lastly, we have yet to be convinced that the main purpose of the red route is not revenue raising.”
A freedom of information (FoI) request found that the council dished out 12,589 camera-enforced penalty charges on the London Road, Preston Road and Lewes Road red routes in 2025-26.
They accounted for seven in ten of all camera-enforced penalty charges in Brighton and Hove during the year from just seven of the council’s 50 camera-enforced locations, generating an estimated £440,000.
A decision about the red route is due today (Thursday 17 September) at a meeting of the council’s cabinet at Hove Town Hall.
BHCC Transport Dept just don’t care about the disabled.
They only care about cyclists
Citation needed.
How many of those groups members have parking fines for ignorant parking ??
I found it very interesting how many comments we’ve seen over the past few days on here were by the same person using multiple names, clearly trying to deceive people.
If that’s been done in consultations, that’s potentially fraud.
Might be worth looking into the “memberships” of certain groups, in particular those “representing” members from out of town, had this before with a certain woman bringing in “locals” from 30- 40 miles away to block roads in Worthing.
Indeed. I feel we should qualify our responses to consultations; nothing personally identifiable to the public, but a simple “Lives on the street” vs “Lives in the city” vs “Interested Party” etc., would be good so we’re clear about the perspective a comment is coming from.
Somewhat reminiscent of when there was a petition to keep the OSR cycle lane and Bricycles/The Greens tried to fiddle it?
That is the insinuation, Versparian. Why are you sockpuppeting?