Red Routes

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Background

Illegal and inconsiderate parking on Luton’s main routes is causing significant delays to traffic flow. In May and June 2018, we invited informal feedback to consider introducing Red Route restrictions as a trial in three areas in Luton:

• town centre (within the area bounded by New Bedford Road, Telford Way, Dunstable Road and Wellington Street)
• Windmill Road, Kimpton Road and Airport Way
• Marsh Road, Leagrave Road and Dunstable Road

The proposals included a combination of double-red and single-red lines to largely mirror the existing yellow line controls and create ‘no-stopping’ restricted routes.

Existing parking and loading bays along the route were to be maintained and additional facilities provided, where possible.

Double red lines mean that vehicles cannot stop at any time, including loading or unloading. There are some exceptions who are allowed to stop to let passengers in and out. These include:

• hackney carriages
• private hire vehicles
• blue badge holders

Single red lines mean that drivers can stop or park outside the times that are shown on the sign.

The red route restrictions can be enforced by CCTV camera, enabling efficient management of unwanted stopping movements that disrupt traffic flow and create obstacles and hazards for cyclists and pedestrians.

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Implementation

Considering the feedback received in August 2018, the council’s Executive gave approval to implement the town centre area and Airport Way as a test Traffic Regulation Order.

Implementing the scheme on an experimental order allows for flexibility with the scheme, as it enables minor changes to be made to the restrictions once they are in place – it therefore allows us to shape the restrictions to best meet local needs.

After the initial six months of the test, the Executive will be required to consider any objections received and to decide whether or not to continue with the scheme. The experimental order can last for a maximum of 18 months.

Airport Way is now being implemented with the town centre following in January 2019.

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Modification

Following feedback on the Town Centre red route, a modification order is being implemented to make some changes. The changes are:

Gordon Street

• extend loading bay opposite Town Hall
• install new loading bay outside 4 Gordon Street

Upper George Street

• remove red lines and reinstate yellow from parking bays outside 25 Upper George Street to Upper George Street cul-de-sac
• red route extended into restricted zone at bottom of Wellington Street into Upper George Street

Dunstable Place

• extend red route to whole of Dunstable Place, new red route restrictions to mimic existing yellow line times ie Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm
• install new loading bay outside NCP car park

The modification order will come into force on 1 July 2019.

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Information and feedback

This webpage contains a number of documents to assist in understanding of the scheme and the detail of the Red Route restrictions.

The innovative nature of this restriction means that we will be reviewing feedback over a minimum period of six months, following opening of the route.

Your views are important to us and we’d be grateful to receive your feedback and any suggestions that you may have for local alterations to the scheme.

Should you wish to comment, support or object to the restrictions, please do so by writing to [email protected] quoting reference PS022-17. Please provide the reasons for any objections to the scheme.

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Current Red Routes orders