No stopping 'red route' plan for major arterial road

New no stopping double red lines are set to be painted along the length of a busy dual carriageway.

Leicester City Council first announced a £3m plan to turn a stretch of Abbey Lane and St Margaret's Way into a single carriageway, with bus lanes and no stopping red lines on both sides of the road in October 2022.

But the initiative was then put on hold in 2024 after councillors requested a city-wide review of how bus lanes operate.

The authority now says it intends to press ahead with installing a "red route" or "no stopping order" and will monitor its impact before it decides whether it will introduce the bus lanes as well.

The new red route is expected to come into operation from April.

A council spokesperson said: "The council is introducing the red route on the A6 to deal with unauthorised parking which has caused congestion and held up buses as well as general traffic.

"We will monitor its impact and then review the approach to introducing bus lanes on this busy route."

The red route will prevent most drivers from stopping to drop off or pick up passengers or deliveries, but buses and hackney carriages will be exempt from the new rules.

A camera car will be used to enforce the restrictions between the inner ring road and Red Hill Circle.

Any drivers who are caught stopping on the red lines will be given a £70 fine, which would be reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days.

The red route will be the second installed in Leicester after fresh lines were painted in London Road on an experimental basis in summer 2020.

Councillor Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for transport, said: "The introduction of a red route will build on the major investment we have already made in highway improvements on and around Abbey Lane and St Margaret's Way.

"The new rules are being introduced, after public consultation, to tackle the problem of cars and lorries stopping illegally along this busy road.

"It will help cut congestion, keep traffic moving more efficiently and improve this important route in and out of the city for all road users."

Work to prepare the road for the new restrictions will start on Monday, and is expected to take about four weeks to complete.

The council said the work would take place during off-peak hours, between 19:30 GMT and 23:30, in a bid to minimise disruption.

However, up to four road closures will be required on the A6 while work is carried out between Thurcaston Road and at its junctions with Corporation Road and Beaumont Leys Lane.

Closures will be put in place on the outbound route from the city on Sunday 9 March and Monday 17 March, and on the inbound route on Monday 10 March and Sunday 23 March.

All closures are scheduled between 19:30 and 23:30. Diversions will be put in place, but access to properties will be maintained.

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