A PROJECT to install bus lanes on an Eastbourne road are to move forward to the design stage but campaigners say they are not giving up the fight.
East Sussex County Council (ESCC) decided to press on with the plans at a Transport and Environment meeting this morning (Monday) which plans to install the new bus route along the A259, Seaside and St Anthony’s Avenue as part of a series of wider improvements across the town.
Business owners marched to the Lewes Town Hall today to protest against the plans ahead of the meeting.
Jodie Atherton from DB Domestic Appliances, based in Seaside, says their family business and local residents will suffer greatly if the bus lane is approved.
She told Eastbourne News: “Today’s decision is a blow for us. We were hoping there was going to be a lot more negative feedback on the consultation, so we’re disappointed.
If they actually listened to the people of Eastbourne, and if East Sussex County Council came to us to listen to what we would suggest, they could have something that would work in Eastbourne and get more people on the buses.
An average of only 7.43 people are on a bus in Eastbourne all day, that is a terrible amount and with the bus cap increase from £2 to £3 coming, that’s only going to get less.
We are not giving up our fight, our next step is to go to the Department of Transport directly and hope to talk some sort of sense into them and encourage other people to do the same. I know our local councillors and MP are approaching them directly too and make them realise there is a lot of negative here.”
Residents fear that the move could create extensive parking problems in the surrounding road to Seaside, meaning a permit-based system could be introduced as a result.
Lee Westlake runs Armoury Security & Fire in Seaside, he says putting in bus lanes simply isn’t solving any real problem.
He said: “If the plans go ahead, then I would simply have to move my business away, which is a shame, but that is what the council will cause – many businesses will close their doors as it’s already difficult to park on the road without simply taking away all the spaces.
Would this plan really encourage more bus usage? I don’t think so, the buses going up and down Seaside are almost empty as it is – would all these people driving cars use a bus instead because it’s three minutes quicker? I doubt it!”
Paul Humphreys from Eastbourne Eco Action Network said: “Bus lanes along Seaside should be good for passengers. They will also play a vital role in improving overall mobility in Eastbourne, give people greater transport choices, make the area more liveable as well as improve the environment.”
