Highway obstructions
Find out what types of obstruction there are and how you can report them.
Types of obstruction and how to report them
Weeds growing from the pavement and roads
Find out how the council is managing weeds and Report a problem and request a clean-up.
Street works, road maintenance, road defects and utility company items
You can report problematic street works undertaken by utility companies or items left by utility companies by email to permit.admin@brighton-hove.gov.uk
You can report council roadworks and road defects.
Roadworks and other obstructions on roads outside the city (e.g. on the A23 or A27) are the responsibility of National Highways - National Highways
You can check whether works and construction items have permission to be on the public highway online through the Causeway one.network.
Obstructions caused by delivery vehicles
Delivery and collection vehicles may sometimes cause temporary obstructions when carrying out their activities. We consider obstructions for short periods of up to 15 minutes or so as reasonable.
If a vehicle is obstructing or blocking a road for a longer period and it’s preventing access or exit, you can call the Sussex Police non-emergency number 101.
You can also Report a vehicle parked where it should not be.
Other highway obstructions
It is an offence under the Highways Act 1980 the to obstruct the free passage of the public highway. The Highway Enforcement Team can investigate and take any necessary enforcement action for:
- items that have been unlawfully placed on the public highway and are obstructing pedestrians or road users.
- items that have previously been licensed to be on the public highway in an agreed position but have been moved and are now obstructing pedestrians or road users in breach of those licence conditions.
Types of obstructions you can report to us include:
- advertising boards
- builder’s materials, rubble and spoil
- car repairs
- collapsed fences and walls
- cones
- containers/welfare units
- electric charging cables
- hoarding
- mobile cranes/cherry pickers
- portable toilets
- scaffolding
- skips
- tables and chairs outside pubs/restaurants/cafes
How to report a highway obstruction
You can report a highway obstruction using our online form. To report obstructions at different locations, you'll need to submit a separate online report form for each obstruction.
We prioritise our investigations based on the severity and danger posed by the obstruction. We aim to investigate all reports within 10 working days.