Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
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MP concerned by slow death of Lewes bus station
The news that Brighton and Hove Buses is to stop using Lewes bus station from 24th September has been greeted with dismay by Lewes MP Norman Baker. He says this will lead to inconvenience for passengers, more congestion on the town centre streets, and underlines the need to find an early way forward for future bus provision in the town.
The MP says: "I entirely understand why Brighton and Hove Buses has taken the decision it has. The facilities at the bus station are indeed very poor, and £23,000 is a lot to pay just to stop at a bus stop.
"I fear however that the consequences of this decision will be unwelcome ones. In the immediate future, this will mean that passengers, rather than being able to shelter away from traffic while waiting for their bus, will now have to wait on the narrow pavement at the bottom of the High Street, causing congestion both for pedestrians and for motorists, as buses will now inevitably have to sit longer here to take on board passengers.
"It also means that the economics of the bus station, already very precarious, will deteriorate further and hasten the day when this will close for good. While that may have been inevitable for some time, no closure should take place until a proper co-ordinated alternative for bus passengers has been put in place. By that I mean an alternative dedicated area, perhaps on the NCP car park site, where passengers can wait in comfort and safety for their bus. Forcing everybody on to narrow pavements does not constitute an acceptable alternative.
"The county council has helped by undertaking that the buses they subsidise will continue to use the present bus station, and by renting the upstairs area temporarily for their parking function. It now needs, in conjunction with the planning authority, namely Lewes District Council, to accelerate plans for an alternative bus facility before the present station implodes entirely."