Western Road Red Route Pick-Up Rules: Council's Urgent Decision

The leader of Brighton & Hove City Council agreed again on Friday 6 November 2026 to bring in the Western Road red route, after the council received correspondence challenging the lawfulness of the September decision, according to the council's decision record and report.

The report says the correspondence alleged that Cabinet was materially misdirected about what the red route order means for pick-ups and drop-offs. Cabinet agreed the experimental order for Western Road between Holland Road and Montpelier Road on 17 September 2026. The council's decision record shows the leader's recommendations were approved.

What the council says about pick-ups and drop-offs

The September position was different. The minutes of the 17 September Cabinet meeting record officers confirming that "taxis and other vehicles would continue to be able to pick up and set down passengers", while parking on the existing double yellow lines for shopping or other purposes was already prohibited.

The report accepts that comments at the September meeting "could have been understood" to mean that general pick-up and drop-off would still be allowed. It then sets out the position as the council sees it. Members of the public get no general exemption to stop, pick up or drop off passengers, and a driver who stops without an exemption may be given a Penalty Charge Notice.

The published order does list some exemptions. Under article 7, a Blue Badge holder can stop to board or get out of a vehicle, and passengers can board or get out of a taxi or private hire vehicle. Both apply only if the vehicle cannot reasonably be used for the same purpose in another road. Buses can stop at bus stops, and vehicles can use the marked loading and disabled bays.

The council says the order is correctly drafted and needs no amendment, and that the report only clarifies how it works. It adds that enforcement may not always be straightforward or possible, but says that does not take away the restriction.

Why it was an urgent decision

The report says there was not enough time to hold a Cabinet meeting before the order's start date, and that the chair of the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed the matter was urgent. It records legal advice dated 5 November. Without a decision, it warns, there would be uncertainty for residents, businesses, public transport operators and other users.

Alongside the decision, the leader noted the clarification and considered the September Cabinet report. The report says the alternative options are unchanged, and the leader could have decided not to go ahead.

What happens next

The order, dated 15 October 2026, says it comes into operation on 9 November 2026, and the decision report gives the same date. The road itself is not due to begin reopening until Tuesday 10 November, with full reopening on Wednesday 11 November, subject to completion, according to the council's statement of 6 November. We have covered the delay in our report on the reopening.

Neither document says what the start date means for enforcement while the road is closed. Comments on the order can be sent to TROcomment@brighton-hove.gov.uk, quoting TRO-21-2026.

The council's papers are public: the decision record, the urgent decision report and the order itself.