Brighton: Residents give thoughts on red route parking scheme

Plans were announced to crackdown on rule-breaking motorists with fines of up to £70.

Brighton and Hove City Council will be installing “red routes” in London and Lewes Road, Brighton.

CCTV cameras and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will be used alongside traffic wardens to help stop the “antisocial parking”. 

Some residents have raised concerns about extra CCTV while one business owner is concerned about how the double red lines will affect his trade and delivery drop-offs.

A car parked on the pavement in Lewes Road, Brighton (Image: BHCC)

Sakse Orstavik, 54, who has lived in Preston Park for over 20 years, said: “You are making this up, this is just a joke.

“I have driven on this road every single day for 20 years and there has never been any disruption whatsoever.” 

He said that the red routes are “happening everywhere” with the increased CCTV and control over motorists causing him concern for the future and increased use of technology to implement certain traffic measures. 

He added: “I’ve got two kids and I’m worried for them."

The council’s red routes should come into place from the spring next year and are designed to reduce congestion and improve the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. 

Red routes are currently found in London, with many tighter traffic enforcements being put into place across the country to reduce congestion and air pollution. 

A van parked on a cycle lane. The Argus has enhanced the image to show how the red lines would look (Image: The Argus)

Ebrahim Khalil is the owner of Liquor Hut Store in Lewes Road and is worried about how the new scheme will affect how he gets his deliveries. 

He is worried about fewer people being able to park to come to his shop which will be on the red route.

Ebrahim said he often has to park outside his shop for 15 to 20 minutes to unload stock and is worried about getting fined.

He added: “If a delivery driver comes and can’t park they will just go which is not good for business.”

Chelsea Thurstlm, 19, works at the Lewes Road Inn, and thought enough is done to enforce parking restrictions.

She said: “I can see why cyclists would want it but as a driver I feel the double yellows are enough.

“Although I do understand why more people would be cautious of their driving and parking with cameras rather than just traffic wardens”. 

The Argus created two interactive maps to allow people to see how the changes will look.

Meanwhile, 36-year-old stay-at-home dad Mike Whittingham also raised concerns for businesses on Lewes Road. 

“I live up the road and I would have thought there are lots of deliveries with all the little independent shops down here.

“I’ve only ever seen double red lines in London.”

The council announced the scheme on Monday and is inviting people to give their opinion.

Councillor Trevor Muten, chairman of the transport and sustainability committee, said: “Red routes are a practical solution that can help to prevent the antisocial parking that puts safety at risk and creates congestion.

“These changes will give us greater powers to enforce the restrictions that are already there but we want to hear what residents and businesses along both routes have to say.

“We’ll be sure to take the views of everyone who comments on board so I’d urge as many people as possible to respond over the next eight weeks.”