Red Routes

Find out where our Red Routes are, what they are, and how we enforce restrictions.

As part of our work to tackle anti-social parking and to keep traffic in the city moving, we'll be introducing Red Routes on:

  • the A23 (London Road and Preston Road)
  • Lewes Road

Restrictions apply seven days a week.

The Transport and Sustainability Committee agreed to the implementation of Red Routes on these two roads in December 2023.

What Red Routes are

Red Routes are roads marked with double red lines, instead of double yellow lines. There are signs indicating the start of a Red Route.

On Red Routes you can only stop, park and load or unload in specially marked bays. These bays have signs that give you information on restrictions and timings.

Red Route signage

A white sign outlined in red. Black text reads 'Red Route. No stopping at any time except in signed bays.

Sign at the start of a Red Route.

A white sign outlined in red. Black text reads 'Red Route. No stopping at any time except Disabled badge holders. Only 3 hours. No return within 1 hour.'

Sign on a Red Route disabled parking bay.

A white sign outlined in red. Black text reads 'Red Route. No stopping at any time except loading only'

Sign on a Red Route loading bay

The benefits of Red Routes

Red Routes are already in place in many parts of the country and help to keep traffic moving in busy areas. This helps to improve journey times and reduce air pollution.

Red Routes also improve safety for:

  • pedestrians - by preventing anti-social parking
  • cyclists - who no longer need to manoeuvre around vehicles parked in cycle lanes or on double lines
  • people using buses - with vehicles no longer parking in bus stops, it will be safer to board and alight
  • drivers - who will no longer have to pull out to pass cars parked anti-socially

Using the Red Route marked bays

The switch to Red Routes is so that we can better enforce the parking restrictions already in place. There will be signs that tell you what the restrictions are.

We will observe the loading bays using cameras, and we can issue Penalty Charge Notices if we see a vehicle is parking and not actively loading or unloading.

Deliveries

Deliveries will only be able to take place in the designated loading bays.

If you are expecting large deliveries, moving house or having work done to a property on a Red Route, then you should apply for a parking bay suspension in advance.

Vehicle exemptions on Red Routes

Blue Badge holders can be picked up or dropped off, so long as the vehicle is not parked. We will use discretion in cases where, for example, a wheelchair is being taken out of a vehicle.

Licenced Hackney Carriages and private hire vehicles can stop to pick up or drop off passengers.

Emergency services and Brighton and Hove Council refuse and recycling vehicles are exempt from restrictions but not at bus stops.

Commercial waste vehicles can stop to carry out waste collection activities but only on the double red lines and must move on once these activities have finished.

How we enforce restrictions on Red Routes

If you were to park on a Red Route, we have the legal powers to issue PCNs using CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. This would be alongside on-site work from our Civil Enforcement Officers.

The charge for receiving a PCN for stopping on a Red Route will be £70, reduced to £35 if paid in 14 days.

This is the same as the current PCN charge for stopping on double yellow lines, bus stops or entering bus lanes.

How to pay a PCN.

How to appeal a PCN.

Give your feedback

You can give your feedback on the new Red Routes for the first six months of their operation. We can use this information to help improve the scheme if necessary.

If you have feedback on the scheme, send an email to parkingprojects@brighton-hove.gov.uk by 30 September 2024.