Act to save Lewes Bus Station

 

Good news – ESCC is consulting about bus services and could get a grant from a government pot to help improve them. Bad news – Lewes Bus Station is at risk of being demolished, reports Susan Murray

 

A “pre” planning application has been submitted to the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) to redevelop Lewes Bus Station but contains no apparent replacement bus drop off and waiting area.

Proposals for the site include demolition of existing buildings and construction of a mixed-use, six-storey development, including office/retail use and 50 residential units. There are also proposals for landscaping, parking and cycle parking.

Lewes Bus Station is in a central location and has iconic fifties architecture, both familiar and well loved by many residents. It is also still a functioning bus station!

Lewes is the largest town in a National Park in the UK. Developing the site would mean Lewes losing an important public transport hub – used extensively by residents, visitors and tourists – at a time when reducing carbon emissions has become critical. It is untenable that our National Park Authority would support the loss of such an essential feature of our town without an alternative site being proposed.

 

How to oppose the planning application

The application number is: SDNP/21/03284/PRE You can search for it on https://www.southdowns.gov.uk/planni…/find-an-application/  and  write directly to SDNP planning dept here: Email: planning@southdowns.gov.uk. and quoting reference: SDNP/21/03284/PRE.

 

….and respond to ESCC’s bus consultation

Meanwhile East Sussex County Council is consulting on what people want from bus services: https://news.eastsussex.gov.uk/2021/08/17/views-sought-on-future-bus-services/

Its lead member for transport and environment at East Sussex County Council, said: “The National Bus Strategy and the development of our Bus Service Improvement Plan offers a great opportunity for us to implement significant changes to bus services in East Sussex.”

ESCC currently spends £7.9m on passenger transport, or £10.2m with government grants presumably including the pensioners’ pass. Towns and parishes also contribute. If ESCC gets a grant, it could be several million pounds a year:  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-boost-for-bus-services-as-pm-outlines-new-vision-for-local-transport.

This could be quite a big boost for buses in East Sussex, if it is spent wisely. So do have your say about what would make buses work better for you. The deadline for responses is Tuesday 14 September. You might even mention the need for a functioning bus station in Lewes.

 

4 Comments

  1. vicky smith

    please can you save lewes bus station it better if a bus company used it as it would be save it for the history of lewes bus stations l would like to save this history building and keep it for the next genarations people can looked up at it please dont pulled it down please people of lewes bus stations for years to come let people of lewes what they want to keep it up or save the old bus stations being pulled down or turn it to a museum for all the history behind what was lewes bus stations was used for till now l will be upset if they build on the site of lewes bus stations please thank you

    Reply
  2. Eleanor

    Please could the petition for the bus station be added to this page

    Reply
  3. Simon Tait

    I’m sure I’m not the only one to think of this, but why not leave the dimensions of the bus station as it is and build offices or residential flats above with a fifteen foot height to allow double deckers buses to continue to use the bus station. This could be a win win for both groups. Just saying. Thanks. Mr. Common sense.

    Reply

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