Developers are hoping their third planning application to demolish Lewes Bus Station gets approval on the 12th September at South Downs National Park Authority. This hope is at odds with all local Green Councillors, and the vast majority of Town and local village residents, who hope the developers will finally pack up, taking the blight they’ve brought to the town with them.
At the centre of the issue is Lewes’s much loved historic Bus Station which residents had thought was protected by a clause that ensured development of the site would be preceded by the creation of a fully functional, improved bus station/ transport hub.
Councillor Johnny Denis said, ‘Residents feel duped: not only are they not getting an improved public transport hub with this plan – something the town would certainly welcome – the developers have been asked to give a measly contribution to a few bus stops on the Phoenix Causeway. This flies in the face of public transport safety, especially for children who will be tempted to dash from one side of the busy road to the other, while people with mobility difficulties will have much further to walk or wheel to even the nearest shops.’
Councillor Wendy Maples said, ‘This planning application is an insult to the people of Lewes. We cannot see how it can possibly be supported by the National Park – and yet, shockingly, ESCC Highways has accepted £291,000 as enough of a pay-out for a few dangerous bus stops, whilst turning a blind eye to the risks raised by parents and local Access groups. There’s the further issue that the poor design will result in Eastgate Street – already a bottleneck — being blocked for 10 minutes every time there’s waste and recycling collected from the proposed flats. This will create traffic jams, dangerous conditions for pedestrians and serious risks for the refuse crews.’
Councillor Adrian Ross said, ‘Claire Dowling (ESCC Lead Member for Transport) was waxing lyrical last month about the benefits of multi-million pound improvements to the bus station in her home town of Uckfield – rightly noting the importance of supporting public transport, improving safety of passengers, and better conditions for drivers. But in Lewes her Highways officers have approved exactly the opposite: the “replacement” of the bus station with bus stops on either side of very busy, 30mph A-road. It beggars belief. We will continue to fight this wholly-inadequate and dangerous plan.’
In a move that has been suggested is an attempt to reduce protests against the much reviled Generator Group developers, the planning application will be heard in Midhurst, rather than Lewes (the meeting is scheduled for 10am on 12th September). Various groups are seeking to provide transport to the out-of-the-way venue, to ensure Lewes’s voice is heard.