Lewes: People say demolishing bus station 'puts children at risk'

James MacCleary, the MP for Lewes, and town councillors said they are disappointed that The Generator Group has been given permissions to demolish Lewes bus station in Eastgate Street and replace it and the garage on the site with a five-storey development of 32 flats and three homes.

East Sussex County Council accepted a proposed payment £291,000 from the Generator Group to build two bus stops on the south side of Phoenix Causeway alongside three bus stops on the north side of the Causeway proposed by Human Nature for the Phoenix development.

Lib Dem MP for Lewes James MacCleary said: "This decision is the wrong decision for the county town of Sussex. A county town deserves a bus station. We should be investing more in public transport, not making it worse.

"I have written to the Deputy Prime Minister requesting that the bus station application be called in. I hope the government will hear the calls from local people."

Lewes Bus Station (Image: Lewes Town Council)

"I'm angry that East Sussex County Council has decided that two sets of bus stops that may never be built either side of a busy road amounts to an 'operational acceptable' bus station,” said Councillor Kevin West, town councillor for Lewes Priory.

“It puts our children at risk, provides access challenges for those of us with disabilities and will cause traffic backing up into Lewes town centre. We need to regroup and challenge this appalling decision."

James MacCleary is writing to the Deputy Prime Minister to ask that the plans are called in (Image: The Argus)

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Meanwhile, town councillor Edwina Livesey, for Lewes Priory vowed to fight to save the bus station.

"There are up to 21,000 car journeys every day on this section of road. The report used to justify the design for the bus stops states that they had trouble crossing Phoenix Causeway,” she said.

“This is not the solution Lewes needs or deserve. Liberal Democrats in Lewes vow to continue the fight to save our bus station. We will work with anyone who wants the same."

An artist's impression of the approved development (Image: SDNPA)

An East Sussex County Council spokeswoman said: “As the local highway authority, we were consultees on the planning application to redevelop the former Lewes bus station.

“The new proposed facilities on Phoenix Causeway provide sufficient pick up and drop off points for passengers as well as space to accommodate buses waiting between services and as such, we are satisfied that the proposed provision meets the criteria for an operationally satisfactory alternative to the bus station.”

Mike Hughes, interim planning director of the South Downs National Park Authority, said: “We understand bus services and good infrastructure are a priority for local people and that’s why there is a very detailed and robust legal agreement attached to the planning permission, with a substantial financial contribution to help deliver the high-quality and safe bus infrastructure the town needs.

“Together with the Phoenix, this development will make use of a brownfield site, delivering much-needed housing and commercial opportunities for the town and local communities.”