Emergency services urging residents to 'stay local' as Lewes Bonfire travel restrictions revealed

For a third consecutive year, Lewes Bonfire — the largest bonfire commemoration in Sussex — will be subject to a strong set of travel restrictions on November 5, including railway station closures. Emergency services are stepping-up their "stay local" campaign again this year, to encourage Sussex residents to mark bonfire in the places where they live, rather than travelling to witness the internationally famous celebration in the East Sussex town. Attendances have reached an estimated 60,000 in recent years, and an average of 6,000 people are believed to take part in processions, many carrying flaming torches and other incendiary devices. In 2016, recommendations were made to the event's management of a 'high likelihood of an incident occurring that could result in serious injury or death'. The multi-agency group involving emergency and other services working in Lewes on Bonfire Night, has now announced travel restrictions including road closures, alterations to bus routes, and a complete withdrawal of railway services from the town and nearby villages. Railway Controversial railway station closures were introduced in 2017, following an unintended halt to Southern Rail services for Lewes during industrial action by members of the RMT union in November 2016. This year, the multi-agency group said: "There will be no trains calling at Lewes, Glynde and Southease after 17.00. "There will be no trains calling at Cooksbridge after the 16.16 from Victoria to Eastbourne has stopped there at 17.20. "There will be no trains calling at Falmer after the departure of the 18.31 Brighton to Hastings service at 18.40. "This is a change from last year, when the last train was at 17.00, and it has been made in response to feedback. "No trains will call at the above stations until the first timetabled trains on the morning of 6 November." Roads Lewes residents have become used to extensive road closures for Bonfire. The Tactical Co-ordination Group has planned to close-off Lewes town centre after 16:45 (4.45pm). The following points will have road blocks. No motor vehicles, including those belonging to residents, will be permitted to pass these points: A27 junction with A277 Brighton Road (Ashcombe Roundabout) A27 junction with A26 (Southerham Roundabout) A26 junction with B2192 Ringmer Road (Earwig Corner) C7 Kingston Road junction with C324 Wellgreen Lane A275 Offham Rd junction with B2116 Plumpton Road A27 junction with Southerham Lane (Cliffe Industrial Estate) According to Lewes District Council, roads will re-open at 2am or once Sussex Police believe it is safe to do so and the cleaning of the town is complete by waste crews. Much on-street parking will be withdrawn during the day on November 5th, but a helpline is open to advise parking-permit holders where they can keep their vehicles on the night: 01273 335500. The District Council has issued this map illustrating the parking restrictions: click on each coloured route to read its rules. Buses All buses will be affected by the road closures and, therefore, will not be serving anywhere within the town of Lewes. Although Brighton bus company The Big Lemon has announced a bus service especially to transport attendees to Lewes Bonfire, they have stated their drop-off point, at the Ashcombe Roundabout, is still some 15–20 minutes walk from the Bonfire procession routes. Bonfire Six of Lewes's seven Bonfire societies form the heart of lengthy, noisy and highly decorative processions that wind their way through the town for several hours from nightfall. Other Bonfire society members from villages and towns throughout Sussex also process in Lewes's event. All are accompanied by marching bands and other musical ensembles, many participants wear historical costumes, and many hundreds of those who process carry flaming torches or controlled fireworks. Lewes's Bonfire societies not only take the figure of Guy Fawkes to be blown-up in their final aerial displays. They also secretly create elaborate tableaux of people or events the members wish to commemorate or criticise, often in a satirical way. At the outset of each procession, these are unveiled, and often create worldwide controversy in the hours before they explode. Recent artworks have included politicians, media stars, and a memorial for astronaut Neil Armstrong. Lewes also remembers seventeen Protestant martyrs, who were burned at the stake in the town between 1555 and 1557 for publicly professing their faith, which opposed the ruling Catholic Queen Mary I. Bonfire members are keen to point out that the "Pope" they lampoon and burn in their displays is Paul V, who died in 1621. They insist there is no anti-Catholic feeling to the processions, or in the town.