Work to rebuild a section of Western Road is due to start today, leading to more than a dozen bus routes being diverted for several weeks.
The stretch between Holland Road and Montpelier Road is set to be closed until November 6.
Pavements and businesses will still be open as usual, and three crossing points will allow people to cross the road while work takes place.
The road was initially set for a standard resurfacing, but a survey found it needed significantly more work.
Once complete, the road is also set to be marked with double red lines, which means vehicles can’t stop at any time and the council can enforce this via camera.
In a Facebook post, the council said: “We’re doing this work after the summer holidays and before Christmas to minimise disruption. We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience while we carry out this essential work.”
The council’s cabinet voted to go ahead with the red route earlier this month. It is opposed by traders and disability campaigners, but supported by bus users and cycling groups.
A group of opposition councillors have called in the decision, which means it will now be discussed at another council meeting.
Death nail for any business…how useless is this council. Do only those who can’t find a proper job put themselves up to be councilors and the people as stupid to vote to vote for them… By
OK, the repairs are not needed. Have you told anyone?
How is road repair a death nail for business…
Yes, red route finally.
I love on western road and a red route will make life hell. All the business I talk to are against it. Residents are against it. There was no traffic flow problem.
I won’t be able to load my tools in and out of the van outside my house. I won’t be able to drop off the shopping. My partner is a chronically ill renal patient and some times needs picking up outside the house. This will no longer be possible. Starbucks has already shut down and they can afford to take a hit, not like all the local independent shops. And also I detest the Orwellian fine by camera that will be implemented. All that needed to happen was a road resurface because of the damage done by frequent heavy buses driving up and down western rd.
You lost the argument when you said there was no traffic flow problems. The businesses are against it because they won’t be able to park all day, every day for free. A trolley can solve your tools & shopping issues. Blue badge holders are still allowed to be picked up and dropped off, it’s just that they will be time restrictions. Read the legislation. Ironically the parking restrictions will improve disability access by fining illegal parkers, freeing up the pavements for pedestrians and those with mobility issues. Starbucks closed due to a business decision. People realise there are better, cheaper options that support local entrepreneurs. It has no bearing on the red route. The red route will also improve visibility thus increasing safety. Are you certain that the damage has been caused by busses or is it just years of traffic that have had a cumulative effect? Are you suggesting we just leave roads to collapse or that we ban busses? As for camera enforcement, this is a cheaper option and prevents the intimidation of officials. Surely, in these straitened times, that is something that should be welcomed?
What your actually saying is you detest cameras, because you won’t be able to dump your works van blocking a main road and keep an eye out for a warden from your flat window… You are the problem, you are the reason for the red route.
Then you add a bunch of nonsense excuses as to why you feel the world should revolve around you. Wife is a renal patient, what’s that got to do with illegal parking?
Traffic flow no problem… Clearly not man
Your not a very nice person!!!!!!!
Was needed so many cars parked illegally especially in evenings.Buses struggling both sides to get past and cylists at risk
So sad. Poor buses and cyclists.
Since this whole 6 week road closure is the result of 15 years of Labour Council road maintenance neglect, the least they owe all affected traders is a full Business rate refund. There’s no point in paying Business rates for a trader forcibly handicapped in doing proper business. And their other costs and overheads remain the same.
Lol are you insane? It’s the greens fault not Labour. The greens ran this city into the ground, with their distaste for glyphosphate that’s the only thing known to kill weeds. The pavements and roads are now a shambles of pop up trees between paving slabs across the city and potholes never addressed. It’s not labour’s fault
Said business’ do themselves no favours, door fronts filled with smokers, cars parked like legoland, taxis usual ignorant form of parking anywhere, red route long overdue and the traders can thank themselves for that not everyone else is to blame, give them red lines and heavy fines with automatic car removal, they’ve earned it.
A comment I 100% agree with. Well said.
I can not say that I am one hundred percent behind traders ,along this part of western road they have not done them selves any favours, I have lived here and worked here for ( zetland bakery) now grubs, and you could at least walk, and cycle along western road ,untill it became a tip, with traders discarding all there rubbish out front into western road ,something you would see in other parts of the world ,,not especially Britain, then parking on double yellows ,not giving a hoot to traffic wardens,who were just going there job?? It’s become so bad along there even buses struggle along there with lorries unloading at all times of the day not like when jonny Peter’s had his fruit and veg shop there all there delivery was done very early doors as was all others ,I cleaned all of the windows along western road from hove town hall to hannigtons,started at 4am got to hanningtons by nine thirty,all scrim and leather work no sweety back then but the people and traders towed the line
Went up there on Sunday, from where the pic in the article is to Churchill Square. Vehicles parked nose to tail on the double yellows all over, parked and unattended vehicles in the loading bays (no chance they were loading from closed businesses), not a blue badge in sight. They brought it on themselves.
why could it be a couple of bus then after 5 pm then as a only away road then
Shoppers do not park on western road to shop, disabled drivers maybe one or two and disabledbays will be provided. The only people who park are the shop owners and their staff. Red route will not diminish, m9st of us travel buy bus to get to western road to shop.
All the complaints about this remind me of all the times roads with shops have been turned into pedestrianised streets in this, and in other countries. Before it happens all the traders complain bitterly that they will all have to close as on one will be able to drive there again, then a year or two later they are all singing their praises of the transformation after trade goes up when people actually enjoy going to a place that’s not stuffed with parked cars, people feel safer and enjoy spending more time there. Business improves.
I know the plans for here aren’t as radical as that, but there is a good argument that this will improve their business, it’s just as likely as they will all have to close down.
I live in the area and I can’t wait for the red route. The cars are badly parked, are damaging the pavements and cause so much congestion for the buses. I know this sounds callous but can’t the blue badge holders either park in a disabled bay or drive to an area that won’t cause so much disruption? Many disabled people use the buses and they need safe access to get on and off the buses, they don’t have a choice.
Well said, I can’t wait for the red route to start. Lets get rid of the petrolheads and reclaim the streets for buses, cyclists and walkers.
3 pedestrian crossing points? There is one at Brunswick Place, otherwise you are committed to walking on the side you are. Getting across as a pedestrian will be a nightmare.
Given the losses the shops will suffer whilst the work is carried out, 2 have spent the first 2 days merely putting up barriers doesn’t bode well for the schedule being minimised to limit the damage caused.
3 crossing points would be Lansdowne place, Brunswick square and then Norfolk square. If your not familiar with the area, how do you know so much about all the businesses that your able to peer into the future and say they will all close down, because a couple of them won’t be able to park their cars there all day.
And they day after its reopened, the utilities will dig it up again