Barriers used to cut Red Route abuse

Traffic Management

Luton Borough Council has had to install physical barriers on a road to ensure that drivers observe red route no stopping restrictions. 

Councillors this month approved the making of red routes permanent on Old Airport Way and in the town centre, following their introduction using experimental traffic regulation orders in late 2018/early 2019 respectively. 

Old Airport Way is on the approach to Luton Airport. Many motorists continued stopping to drop-off passengers after the red route was implemented. The council put up posters to discourage them and last November installed temporary barriers at the worst affected locations.

The actions appear to have worked. Penalty charge notices issued on this road climbed to 1,611 for the period July to September last year but had fallen to just 90 in the period 1 January to 20 March. 

PCNs issued for the town centre red routes peaked at 2,254 in April to June 2019, falling to 1,426 in October to December. 

The council says the red routes have reduced inconsiderate and illegal parking. But none of the three bus operators in the town – Arriva, Grant Palmer, or Centrebus – think the red routes have eased congestion or encouraged modal shift to buses, according to a review of the schemes by consultant the Project Centre.