Brighton's main shopping street reopens
Brighton & Hove City CouncilBrighton's main shopping street has reopened after six weeks of roadworks and bus diversions.
Western Road had been closed since 29 September for reconstruction and resurfacing work.
A controversial red route has also come into force on part of Western Road despite fierce opposition from business owners and others who argue this new measure will damage trade by preventing customers from stopping outside shops.
Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) says the new restrictions between Holland Road and Montpellier Roads will ease congestion.
Bella Sankey, leader of BHCC, says she is "delighted" Western Road has reopened on Wednesday.
"The new, smoother surface will mean better, safer journeys on one of the city's busiest routes, including for the 700 buses which use it every day.
"We'll also begin enforcing measures to tackle illegal and anti-social parking between Holland Road and Montpelier Road."
Sankey added an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order allows the Red Route restrictions to be reviewed and amended within the first six months, while residents and businesses can continue to provide feedback.
Disabled 'shut out'
Catherine Lane, representing the Western Road Community Group which opposes the scheme, wrote on social media they would continue to "challenge the scheme lawfully and peacefully".
"We believe it will shut thousands of disabled people with mobility difficulties out of yet another part of their own city."
The group held a demonstration on Thursday while the works were still taking place.
Laura King, one of the protesters, previously told BBC Radio Sussex the red route "had no place in a small city like Brighton & Hove".
Trevor Muten, the councillor responsible for transport, previously told the BBC that people had been "ignoring" the double yellow line restrictions and this had caused "a lot of concerns" to nearby residents.
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