Extraordinary council meeting called to discuss Luton red route plan

Proposals for an 18-month red route experiment, backed by ANPR cameras, in Bury Park are among several safety-related improvements and measures to ease congestion in the area that were approved by the borough council’s executive.

But the package of improvements to tackle issues, such as pavement parking and pedestrian safety around junctions and crossing the road, was called in by Liberal Democrat Vauxhall councillor Lee Bridgen and Independent Barnfield councillor David Franks.

Councillor Bridgen explained their reasons to an overview and scrutiny board meeting, saying: “Although it’s beyond doubt Bury Park has a congestion, parking and road safety problem, this doesn’t establish extensive confidence that a red route is the right solution.

“The consultation produced 2,347 valid responses acknowledging congestion issues. Yet the council’s own analysis records strong disagreement about whether the red route will deliver the claimed benefits, with particularly serious concerns from local businesses.

“No economic study has taken place to assess the potential financial impact. Scrutiny recommended stronger enforcement of current restrictions, action against pavement obstruction and providing more parking.

“Before imposing an 18-month experimental solution, we should demonstrate those less intrusive measures already in place don’t adequately address the problem. I ask for this to be referred to full council, given the level of disagreement between the executive and scrutiny.”

The section of Dunstable Road to be monitored extends from near the Esso petrol station towards its junction with Westbourne Road, the meeting was told. There were 56 reported accident casualties along that stretch of road between June 2023 and June 2025, not including minor injuries.

Labour Farley councillor Javeria Hussain said: “We’ve received numerous complaints about congestion and safety in Bury Park over many years.

“These mainly consist of obstruction of footpaths caused by illegal parking, and unloading of vehicles associated with local businesses in the area.

“There are difficulties around the safety of vulnerable people, such as mothers with prams and young children crossing the road and dealing with junctions where vehicles are illegally parked.

“Other concerns are erratic and careless driving, severe congestion that causes driver frustration, and emergency services unable to access side roads to attend genuine emergencies.

“So the Labour administration took a decision to tackle these issues by balancing the needs of residents and local stakeholders, such as visitors and religious establishments, who were consulted throughout the process.

“We recognise Bury Park is a thriving economic, residential and community hub. It’s one of the crown jewels of Luton, which requires long-term investment and infrastructure improvements.

“We won’t be taking away the current parking areas there,” added councillor Hussain. “The loading and unloading bays will remain in operation.

“Our aim is simply to ensure the free flow of traffic to ease congestion, and provide safety for pedestrians and residents by removing dangerous pavement parking obstructions.

“The enforcement is there already. The red route adds to it. But this is a trial period, which will be regularly monitored at three-monthly intervals. If it doesn’t ease congestion and improve safety, we’ll go back to the drawing board.”

Councillors voted ten in favour and five against referring the call-in issue to an extraordinary full council meeting on September 3.