December 2014
Extra News
Substantial concerns over North Street proposal
The bus user group is seriously concerned about the developer lead proposals
for North Street.
Our concerns include:-
- Approximately halving the space available for buses to stop at the
eastbound bus stops. Directly causing some additional delays to buses.
- Narrowing North Street, opposite the westbound bus stops. This risks
creating a long single-lane contraflow. To illustrate the lengthy delays
expected, a lorry stuck out by just half- a metre into the main carriageway,
and caused delays right back to the Clock tower. This is a fraction
of the road narrowing envisaged.
- The westbound bus stops have been relocated a narrow section of road,
near to Ship Street. The bus stop has also been shrunk from perhaps
five bus lengths to three bus lengths. Not only is this likely to directly
cause some delays to buses, but more seriously the bus stops are located
on a deceptively sharp left hand bend. This bend is likely to cause
serious visibility problems for vehicles attempting to overtake stationary
buses- again risking causing serious delays to buses.
- With substantial traffic queues expected from both bus stops, this
is likely to compound the problems. When the queues reach opposite the
bus stops, running the opposite direction; it is likely to block the
only remaining carriageway. With this blocked, overtaking stationary
buses will be impossible, and buses are likely to grind to a halt (with
service suffering from indeterminately long delays).
- Other problems have been identified, including needing to overtake
through Pelican crossings, and the poor design of the westbound bus
stops.
- Two other major issues have been identified. 'excessive' road narrowing
means that buses could run within 10cm (4 inches) of pedestrians on
the pavement, risking a significant increase in accidents. And the design
risks bringing forth an increase in pollution. Both issues could further
undermine bus use of this vital corridor.
We are seeking clarification from the developers (and the council). If
the design is as it appears, and our serious concerns about the proposals
are realised; then it will seriously undermine the reliability of bus
services, and it could even threaten the city's currently successful bus
network!
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December 2014 Extra News continued
Stop Press: Council goes ahead with significant
cut backs to services.
East Sussex County Council has voted to go ahead with plans to cut supported
bus services. This is particularly disappointing as there were some signs
that the council was thinking again about the cuts (and substantial increases
in fares).
While the council suggests only 9% of jouneys will be affected, if your
jouney no longer exists, it will have a really damaging affect on your
mobility.
Perhaps more next month.
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This page was prepared by Peter Elvidge (Secretary), because he believes
concerns about North Street are so important to the future of bus services,
it could not wait another month to be aired publicly.
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