"Buy Back Our Bus Station!" Councillors In Lewes Petition County Council

Sunday, 9 October 2022 06:00

Green Party councillors in Lewes are calling on East Sussex County Council (ESCC) to purchase Lewes Bus Station and secure its future once and for all.

Councillor James Herbert said:

“The temporary bus stops are causing congestion and do not meet basic access requirements for public transport. There is only one sheltered stop, pavements are too narrow at these points for any hope of improvement, and available seating is minimal.”

Councillor Imogen Makepeace added:

“We believe that failure to secure an alternative provision that 'offers the same or better undercover waiting facilities' as the current Bus Station is a breach of contract with residents. The best way to rectify the situation now is to explore options to purchase the Bus Station site for the town.”

The councillors believe that the purchase of the bus station would actually be a much-needed cost saving for the County Council.

Councillor Adrian Ross explained:

“Any of the alternative options will entail significant construction costs for the Council. They estimated nearly £700,000 to place bus stops along the Phoenix Causeway, and that didn’t include the cost of the land.

“When you add in the costs of the land, of re-routing the buses, and of potential lawsuits from accidents at the temporary stops, the option of buying an existing building with all the required facilities looks like a good deal.”

East Sussex County Council was recently awarded £41 million to implement its “Bus Service Improvement Plan”

Councillor Matthew Bird said:

“The £41m has been celebrated by ESCC because they know we have to better support public transport across the whole of the County. Making bus provision better for everyone could start in Lewes with the purchase of the Bus Station.”

The petition can be signed online at cutt.ly/eVS9019.