Transport Futures East Sussex/Campaign for Better Transport / Hastings Alliance

A27 BUS STUDY
A pilot study into the potential for a new bus service along the A27 was launched on 18th January in Lewes Town Hall by Campaign for Better Transport. The well attended event was in the form of a workshop with consultants, council officers, Highways England staff, bus operators and SCATE (South Coast Alliance for Transport and Environment) members and bus user groups contributing to discussions. These were around route and scheduling opportunities, locations and quality of bus stops, crossings, integration with other bus and rail services, future transport hubs, planned and existing developments and information provision. The study is taking place in tandem with a study in Bristol. We await the results and recommendations with interest, but already, Brighton and Hove Buses are planning a 2019 summer Sunday service between Brighton and Eastbourne via the A27 and including (among others) a stop at Drusillas. There are considerable numbers of South Downs/Low Weald walking routes that will be made more accessible through the introduction of this service.

We submitted initial thoughts on the idea prior to the meeting. Included among these were concerns that the services should integrate with the proposals in the Hailsham – Polegate – Willingdon – DGH/Colleges – Eastbourne ‘sustainable transport corridor’ whose proposed bus lanes/cycle and pedestrian infrastructure features – if planned holistically – would benefit all bus services east-west and north south as well as integrating with all ‘sustainable modes’ including rail services. Healthier too and delivering much better value for (public) money!

The wider questions around failure to integrate spatial planning (housing), with sustainable transport networks, are addressed below.

Our initial thoughts are here:
bus service a27 lewes mtg

A27 – SCATE EAST SUSSEX ACTIVITY, AND SOUTH EAST TRANSPORT BOARD SECRECY ABOUT TO END?
Aside from taking part in the valuable ‘A27 Bus’ ongoing workshop, we have given a presentation on the SCATE Strategy to Eastbourne Friends of the Earth and await a response and date from Eastbourne Borough Council who have agreed to a meeting.

Eastbourne MP Stephen Lloyd has been approached with a request to provide us with a copy of the draft ‘Business Case’ for the off-line dual carriageway proposal; it has been withheld but that may be about to change. Transport and Planning magazine ‘Local Transport Today’ (Issue 764) has been able to see ‘Agenda papers’ for most of the shadow transport authorities. The DfT supports this openness, as does England’s Economic Heartland director Martin Tugwell: “We publish on the basis that we think it’s good practice to be open and transparent about the work of a transport forum, the issues being discussed and the debates being held,” he said. Now the two reticent Boards (our own South East, and Midlands Connect) have apparently decided to ‘open up’. We look forward to that.

TRANSPORT FOR NEW HOMES – TFNH. (see also previous post)
Too often overlooked, opportunities for communities in new developments to be well served by public transport and walking and cycle networks are ignored instead of being ‘built in’ to the planning process to ensure the highest possible take-up of sustainable, healthy modes of travel. We are instead saddled with a transport hierarchy with the car at the top, thus undermining all other modes of transport and creating ‘car dependent’ developments. Result: congestion from day one and poor quality living spaces dominated by parked vehicles at each end of the trip. This is certainly true of Wealden District Council who have forged ahead with undue haste in developments north of Eastbourne in recent times, without securing walking and cycling links and a bus network to serve needs of all residents, also exemplified by the loss of the opportunity to provide the growing community of Stone Cross/North Langney with a railway station in the 1980s. (*See Rail Matters below) There is a growing movement among transport and spatial planners to recognise major failures, over time and such as this in UK planning practice.

A further very well attended TFNH event was held this Tuesday – 22nd Jan – in London – at which progress so far and ongoing work were explained. Chaired by Stephen Joseph, OBE, former CEO of Campaign for Better Transport and now Trustee of the Foundation for Integrated Transport (FIT), the keynote speech was delivered by Lynda Addison, Chair of the Sustainable Transport Panel of the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation (CIHT), who expressed alarm at the practice of allowing the developers to determine sites for new housing rather than the planning authorities, while consultant Tim Pharoah described his current work on devising a checklist through which the sustainability of any development proposals can be measured – and hopefully – secured. Other speakers included TFNH Trustees Jenny Raggett and Joey Talbot who were summoned to No 10 to brief the Prime Minister’s Housing Advice Team on the principles being promoted by the organisation – encouraging indeed for those of us who’d like to see these matters moving up the agenda.

See here the ‘Transport for New Homes’ website: full of examples of good practice, identified problems and unassailable logic!

Transport for New Homes – Bringing transport and planning …
http://www.transportfornewhomes.org.uk

PLANNING ASPIRATIONS AND APPLICATIONS – ST LEONARDS MARINA AND EASTBOURNE
And, on the above theme, the former Bathing Pool site at West St Leonards is the subject of plans for 152 houses and ‘leisure facilities’, while the Moy Avenue, Eastbourne site (a former BT site) is subject of a planning application for 72 new homes*. Whatever schemes are eventually given the go-ahead, it must be hoped that they demonstrate and act upon an awareness of and commitment to sustainable transport potential. The West Marina site sits right alongside a cycleway and promenade, a bus route which is being further enhanced and developed, and a potential site for a reopened railway station. The Eastbourne site sits very close to a new and emerging cycle/pedestrian route between Langney, Bridgmere, Hampden Park and the Town Centre with connections to three schools, a bus route and employment site. They’ll all have a potential to generate traffic: let’s hope it’s foot,cycle, bus and rail traffic and not of the motorised congesting sort.
*The Eastbourne Herald of 25th January reports that proposals were given consent for flats and maisonnettes with 88 parking places – 50% above the standard recommended by East Sussex County Council (ESCC). While secure parking for 95 cycles is also recommended, the traffic generated may prevent a take-up of cycling options and in any case, Courtlands Road already often experiences intimidating and poor driver behaviour likely to encourage car based school run and other short car trips. We have submitted a letter to ESCC and Eastbourne Borouh Council (EBC) to question the decision and additionally to point out that £40,000 currently sits unspent in the EBC coffers for cycling measures. It’s in the revenue budget so vulnerable to being raided.

Our letter is here:

eastbourne planning issues jan 19

HASTINGS BUS LANES AND PLANS FOR A ‘USER GROUP’
On Tuesday 13th December last an invited group councillors, bus users, Department for Transport (DfT) officials caught a Stagecoach 99 ‘Wave’ ‘low emission’ bus from Hastings to Bexhill for a view of the first phase of the long awaited bus lanes on Bexhill Road (A259 see photo below). We attended and took part in a ‘networking’ coffee break in the DeLaWarr Pavilion before travelling back to Hastings station. DfT members included the Director of Buses and Taxis at the Department. Design work on the second phase of the bus priority measures, including additional stretches of bus lanes is reportedly being completed by East Sussex County Council (Hastings Observer, January 18th). Currently – and with encouragement from Stagecoach Buses and the Hastings Sustainable Transport Group – we are trying to set up a ‘bus users’ group for Hastings and Bexhill areas. There is already a ‘support group’ that meets in Hawkhurst (Kent) at the north end of the Hastings – Hawkhurst/Cranbrook 349 route which includes East Sussex members and they will be invited to share experience and give positive support, while in Battle on Friday 1st February at a Rother Voluntary Action meeting, we will be canvassing support for the Hastings/Bexhill area users’ group at its start-up. Please contact Derrick* if you would like to join or even simply be kept ‘in the loop’. Photos below: Sunday 349 at Bodiam en route to Cranbrook; View near Hawkhurst. This successfully restored Sunday service is holding its own. *derrick.coffee@talk21.com

The bus lanes will certainly perform a valuable role when the large scale housing developments in north Bexhill come on stream provided that those developments are well served by public transport with high quality pedestrian and cycle links – and a full range of measures to incentivise their useage. The bus is part of the future.

PARKING ON BUS STOPS STOPS
Some good news for bus users in Bexhill and Rother in general: the era of bus users – including elderly and disabled citizens – struggling to get on and off the bus due to cars freely and frequently parked on the bus stops, may be coming to an end, with ESCC taking over parking enforcement. This quite disgusting and uncivil practice has been tolerated for far too long and the change will be welcome.

RURAL BUSES GET A BOOST – ELSEWHERE!
In rural Ireland, steps have been taken to introduce 50 bus routes serving rural communities: services include evening buses. Any lessons here for East Sussex I wondered? Here’s a link to the news item on RTE:

An extension of the rural transport programme will see 50 new bus services across 19 counties rolled out as part of a six-month pilot programme, Minister for Transport Shane Ross has announced.

The extension to the rural transport programme comes as Mr Ross accused rural TD of attempting to use “filibuster” tactics block the passage of his latest Road Traffic Bill. Envisaged is a total of 188 extra trips a week on the rural transport network with 50 new services – including 20 extensions to existing services – operating in some cases up to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Passengers will pay a nominal fee while travel pass holders and pensioners will travel for free. Mr Ross said the Bill is aimed at tackling social isolation.

The cost of the move for six months from the end of June to the end of December is estimated at €450,000. At the end of the pilot scheme the take up will be analysed before any decision to continue the scheme is made.

Intending passengers will be offered the facility of booking seats on a range of services whose routes will be subject to demand.

In total, 19 counties have been included in the pilot programme with eight services to be deployed in Co Kerry alone. Mr Ross has said all rural transport services which applied for additional services were facilitated by the pilot programme, as would any late applications received in the coming weeks.

The routes in the 19 counties set to benefit include; Co Wexford (12 routes), Co Kerry (eight routes), Carlow/Kilkenny/Wicklow (six routes), Cavan/Monaghan (five routes), Donegal (four routes), Laois/Offaly (three routes), Cork (three routes), Waterford (three routes), Louth/Meath/Fingal (two routes), Tipperary (two routes) and Kildare (one route).

After a trial, the NTA said that the majority of the services were performing well. Sounds like Ireland has a funded national rural bus strategy. We could do with one!

RAIL MATTERS
‘Rail improvement’ works seem to proliferate and provide unwelcome surprises throughout the year, often appearing in the ‘small print’ on station noticeboards to catch you out in late evening weekday services. Some of us in East Sussex dream of major investment in track and new stations some of which are the subject of the BML2 scheme for the county and West Kent which offers rail rather than road based development opportunities and gives essential relief for the Brighton Main Line, so often afflicted with planned and random closures and delays. It’s not unusual for East Sussex to be without any direct rail links to London. This was the case on Sunday 27th January. It is enlightening to see the BML2 scheme’s three phases for new (and restored) links between the Sussex Coast, West Kent, London and beyond. We dare to hope. Here’s the link:

http://www.bml2.co.uk

Locally, we still haven’t given up on plans for new stations at Stone Cross (see above) and Glyne Gap (Ravenside, Bexhill/Hastings). The Willingdon Chord – a new, short stretch of line between Stone Cross and Polegate providing opportunities for new services avoiding the journey into and out of Eastbourne – would also be very useful. Eastbourne would not lose any services however. The ‘chord’ would use a span of Jubilee Way (A22) road over rail bridge already built for the purpose but currently idle – so money wasted there. There could also be freight on rail opportunities on this direct east-west chord, and Stone Cross station would become even more viable than it is anyway. A picture of the vacant bridge span is here (it’s the one with the mural of a face!):

DEFRA REVIEW: ACCESSIBILITY TO NATIONAL PARKS AND AREAS OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY

For those who are interested, here’s our response to the DEFRA consultation:

defra my_response-9

THE SCATE STRATEGY – VISIONS OF A BETTER WAY FORWARD
Building new roads such as the ‘off-line’ A27 to solve congestion is not – and never has been – the answer. To counter the outdated, expensive and highly damaging (to health, the economy, environment, climate, civilised socety) ‘roads first’ mindset of most of our politicians, SCATE has engaged with transport planning consultants and the University of the West of England to find an integrated approach for the South Coast designed to meet the needs of all sections of society and deliver huge benefits across a range of policies. Here it is being presented to Stephen Lloyd, Lib Dem MP for Eastbourne by Derrick Coffee (CBT East Sussex) and David Johnson (CPRE Sussex):

The SCATE report – ‘A New Transport Vision for the Sussex Coast’ first launched in early summer, is now accompanied by a ‘Briefing’ which summarises the report. Commissioned by SCATE from consultants ‘ITP – Integrated Transport Planning’, the report has been widely circulated and both documents are now on the SCATE website – along with a short animated presentation illustrating key principles. Links to the ‘Vision’ and the ‘Briefing’ are here:

Scate ‘Vision’ Report
SCATE Briefing

SCATE AT THE HOUSE OF COMMONS!
October the 10th saw the SCATE report being offered to Lilian Greenwood, MP, Chair of the Select Committee on Transport – story here:
‘SCATE_ AT TPS Event

Adopting the principles of the SCATE study would seem now to be a logical step in the light of the initial projections by Highways England for the ‘value for money’ of an off-line option: ‘poor, low or medium’ were the adjectives used in the appraisal. Instead, possibly harried by the promoters, consultants WSP have been asked to have another look at the scheme and see if they can improve the results.

SCATE Campaign – Position in October, 2018
In the west at Arundel, the Highways England ‘preferred route’ for an Arundel bypass has been announced. As this would destroy a large area of designated ‘ancient woodland’ and damage a large area locally of the National Park, objections have been made by several organisations and many individuals. Judicial Reviews are timetabled for the end of November, and surprisingly, Highways England have announced in the last few days that a further ‘non-statutory’ consultation will be carried out in Spring 2019.

A little to the east, close to the River Adur, a well used and popular pedestrian, cycle and equestrian crossing of the A27 at Sussex Pad – good sustainable access to the National Park here – is threatened with closure if a development at Monks Farm goes ahead. To secure its future and avoid impractical detours, it is possible to oppose the plan and request that the scheme is ‘called in’ for a full Inquiry. Here is a link to guide you if you would support this action:
http://actionnetwork.org/letters/ask-the-government-to-save-the-sussex-pad

Support for £75m* Improvements to Existing A27
The Lewes to Eastbourne section, with its already committed £72m (was £75m) improvements will deliver better cycle infrastructure along its length with junction improvements allowing cross A27 movements at key points. *£3m was abstracted from the scheme to fund a Highways England study into a new and entirely ‘off-line’ road which we strongly oppose. The very significant extra capacity created by such an ‘off-line’ scheme would generate large volumes of new traffic over the wider area and drive yet more ‘car based’ developments, difficult to serve by public transport and hostile to walking and cycling. Its close proximity to the National Park would have a degrading effect on unique landscapes, habitats and heritage.

Just south of the A27 on the A259, reducing road capacity to introduce bus lanes has increased bus use by 55,000 passengers a week and reduced traffic volumes by 3,000 vehicles per day! (see previous post). We look forward to the delivery of the committed improvements on the existing A27 and are calling for a return of the £3m to ensure the best quality of the measures proposed. Given the success of the Brighton bus lanes (see below), could the returned £3m be used to help a potentially effective string of bus priority measures along the A27 between Polegate and Lewes? The are no buses operating along this route but maybe a high frequency, limited stop service Eastbourne/Hailsham to Lewes/Brighton could greatly expand the public transport offer east-west. The proposed bus priority measures on the Hailsham – Polegate – Willingdon – Eastbourne corridor (see below) would give the bus a headstart on westward journeys and similarly speed the return trip. A number could be equipped to carry cycles for utility or recreational trips.

New A27 – An Attack on Sustainable Modes
A less obvious effect of the increased volumes of traffic on any new ‘off-line’ A27 would be to severely reduce the efficient operation of the proposed Hailsham – Polegate – Willingdon – Eastbourne sustainable transport corridor. Welcome and necessary measures proposed along this north-south axis include: bus lanes/priority measures; a ‘gold standard’ frequent bus service; new cycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Funding is committed for this set of measures and with luck, they are should be operating well before the ‘wrecking ball’ of a new A27 wreaks its havoc….unless the money is diverted to some other road scheme! It has to be said though that the gestation period of this more ‘sustainable’ strategy is already almost 12 years without any of it on operation; and the ‘car friendly’ housing developments north of Eastbourne have gone on apace with sustainable transport lagging behind or non-existent, while comprehensive sustainable access to the District General Hospital and adjacent Further Education college is a long way off its full potential and even being blocked by some local politicians.

Area Wide adoption of ‘Small, cheap and numerous high ‘value for money’ pedestrian, cycle and bus priority measures are the key
Support for the ‘off-line’ A27 route drowns out completely any well founded calls for better alternatives – small, cheap, numerous and consistently offering high ‘value for money’. It’s always the big and expensive ‘vanity schemes’ that get the headlines, but large numbers of smaller pedestrian and cycle routes plus bus priority measures deliver quick wins if supported by comparatively modest resources. The Horseye Sewer cycle/pedestrian way in Eastbourne, though not yet wholly functioning from Langney to the town centre, is an example.

Great! But we need more and quickly!
HORSEYE SEWER CYCLE LINK
This east-west route connects residential areas with three schools – two primary and one secondary – and also links with a north-south cycleway from Hampden Park to the sea (NCN 21) from which there is a branch west to FE colleges and the District General Hospital. The ‘cherry on the cake’ is a ‘Toucan’ crossing linking east and west sections of the Horseye Sewer route across the very busy Lottbridge Drove.In late September on a school day between 7.55 and 8.55, I counted 18 student and 16 adult cyclists using the crossing and 16 student and 23 adult pedestrians. The largest component of student cyclists are almost certainly from St Katherine’s secondary school in Langney. It is evidently popular with students and parents delivering/collecting their children and in some stretches, is akin to a walk in the countryside – peaceful and with lots to see near and far. More such routes are desperately needed to give children the freedom to make their own way to school and college, and tackle the unwelcome and unhealthy tides of ‘school run’ traffic. It’s also useful for those who wish to walk or cycle to work: “I used to drive to work but the crossing has given me the chance to buy an bike and cycle to work” said one female adult cyclist.

TRANSPORT FOR NEW HOMES – a guide for local planning and transport authorities published by the Foundation for Integrated Transport, with help from the RAC Foundation- examines 20 residential developments in the UK and three in The Netherlands to assess their location and design from a transport perspective in the face of a growing popularity for greenfield developments designed around the needs of the car. The authors say the design standards of many greenfield housing developments do nothing to encourage active travel or public transport. There is good analysis of reasons for ‘bad practice’ in the guide and a plea for coordinated delivery of sustainable infrastructure with assured funding from the DfT, and good economic and geographical analysis in deciding where to build – avoiding a target-led approach which arbitrarily consumes land.

The guide is here:transport-for-new-homes-summary-web

ROAD CAPACITY – WHAT IS IT? AND WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH IT?
Road capacity is the measure of potential accommodation of a road in terms of numbers of vehicle trips that could be taken on its length or part length. Traditionally, we’ve tried (and failed) to tackle congestion by building more and bigger roads which then have filled up with more newly generated traffic. But…..we now know that when we reduce road capacity for cars, it can ease things for everyone. ‘Fill the bus, clear the traffic!’ say Brighton and Hove Buses:

From our previous post, you can see the evidence on the ground showing Brighton and Hove Buses performance with bus lanes superimposed on existing road space leading to 55,000 more (and faster!) bus passengers per week and 3,000 fewer vehicles per day. Car park space is also ‘road space’ at each end of the trip. Removing some of this ‘dead’ space is seen by major consultants Jacobs as a key to town centre regeneration and also part of the solution to the housing shortage: former town centre car parks could be used to provide new town centre homes which would be within walking distance of many services and increase their viability.

In fact, the most effective method of reducing town centre traffic has been shown to be removing parking in towns (see post Jan 2016 on ‘Parking’ – TRL Research and Jacobs Consulting presentation; and April 2018 on Brighton and Hove Buses bus-lane effect). The TRL Graphic is repeated here:

Removing parking may also produce opportunities for pedestrian and cycle links, small retail operations and of course greenery – and most likely, tranquillity where it’s needed most. Pocket parks and conditions for informal childrens’ play could expand. Interventions working together are likely to produce the best results: limiting parking, transfer of roadspace to non-car modes, better bus services, integrated with rail, higher quality urban design, and incentives such as fuel duty increases and/or road use charging give a chance of traffic reduction. Simply improving alternatives to the car as suggested by the Freight Transport Association and many others, will have a limited effect on its own. New realities – such as a discernible slowing of car ownership, and imperatives to massively cut carbon emissions – more strongly than ever restated this month in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC report) – should give impetus to new thinking. I didn’t mention reinstatement of front gardens, but that may come later – we’ve already losts thousands.

WEALDEN DISTRICT PLAN – LOCAL PLAN SUBMISSION
We submitted comments on the above plan during the consultation period. The deadline was 8th October, the date of the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report – and we pointed out this important event to Wealden District Council (WDC). For our organisation, the effects and their, alongside rapid decarbonisation of our poorly performing transport system, are at the core of all our campaigning. We have suggested that aspirations for a new off-line A27 are removed from the plan and that efforts to develop sustainable and integrated transport networks and to incentivise their take-up are pursued with imagination, passion and commitment by all authorities and agencies to trigger behavioural change on a large scale. There should be no more ‘car dependent’ housing developments for a start. (See above report). There are good words in the plan but priorities need rearranging. The plan, and our response (summarised at the end) are below:

Proposed_Submission_Wealden_Local_Plan_-_August_2018_reduced

CBT Response to Wealden Plan Final

SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL GOVE’S REVIEW OF ACCESSIBILITY TO NATIONAL PARKS AND AREAS OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY
We have submitted our views on this issue. Some of the suggestions sit alongside our comments on the Wealden Local Plan submission (espcially those concerning public transport) but go wider than those. You can see the comments we made here – as well as a map of the High Weald AONB:

Gove Review 6 Sept 18

STAGECOACH 349 SUNDAY SERVICE CONTINUES – ACCESSIBILITY TO AND FROM THE HIGH WEALD AONB!
There are big gaps in the rural bus services of East Sussex though the county has fared better than many. One reversal of a cut to Sunday services has been the restored Sunday service linking Hastings – Sedlescombe – Bodiam – Sandhurst – Hawkhurst – Cranbrook, with a connection to Maidstone on the Arriva 5. This service has been running for 18 months now and we’ve recently had the good news that it will run through the coming winter, and summer 2019. The announcement came from Stagecoach in September. There is a growing community of users and for many of those using the service the journey itself is an enjoyable social occasion. Self evidently, the bus trip can be an antidote to loneliness – a subject much discussed recently in Westminster and the media. The route also gives a boost to promote ‘sustainable tourism’ – tourism without traffic! A link to the blog announcing the successful continuation is here:

https://bettertransport.org.uk/blog/buses/chefs-to-new-parent-all-benefit-from-daily-buses

FAREWELL TO STEPHEN JOSEPH, OBE.
Stephen Joseph has been our CEO for thirty years, heading transport campaigns that have changed transport policy direction away from overwhelmingly car based thinking and towards policies that recognise and amplify the benefits of walking, cycling, buses and trains in improving everyone’s quality of life. His sharp mind and persuasive manner have given him a place in many high level discussion and policy making forums where his contributions (laced with wit and humour) have been greatly respected and valued. We’re hugely grateful for his huge and sustained efforts – and his support and encouragement of our efforts in East Sussex. Happily, we are certain that we haven’t heard the last of him! We wish his successor – Darren Shirley – the very best in the hot seat and look forward to working with him.

DERRICK COFFEE

Campaign for Better Transport – East Sussex
01323 646866
0795 1084436
derrick.coffee@talk21.com
9 Mayfield Place, Eastbourne. BN22 8XJ

HASTINGS AND BEXHILL BUS LANES
Designed and presented in the ESCC Local Transport Plan 2000, the bus lanes were intended to be an important element in the three planned ‘quality bus corridors’. These would run:

1.St Leonards, Silverhill, Hollington, and The Ridge via Battle Road/Sedlescombe Road North
2.The Ridge
3.Central Bexhill (including a station interchange) via Glyne Gap to Ore via town centre

These were only partly dependent on the then bypasses being built and could have gone ahead even in a ‘no bypass’ scenario. No 1 was completed but 2 and 3 were not.

Bus lanes were promised again (plus new stations) in the February 2004 consultation on the Link Road (then @£47m, up from £24m estimate of 2002, now £126m). No 3 was a condition of planning consent for the Link Road in 2009 and should have opened in 2015 along with the Link Road.

Traffic was predicted to fall after Link Road opening in December 2015 and did so. This was the moment when the bus lanes should have begun operating to take advantage of the freed up road space before the inevitable recovery of traffic levels. Reliability of the buses would increase, more buses would run and these would be the most modern and clean ‘low emission’ vehicles. More bus passengers would be attracted and the growth in car commuting/school run traffic would be stemmed or reversed.
No such luck. Elsewhere in East Sussex and into Brighton, bus lanes have transformed travel behaviour and people have flocked to the bus as an attractive alternative.

In 2007, between Newhaven and Brighton, the average daily two way vehicle flow was 28,000. In 2017, the figure was 25,000 – a fall of 11%. During that time, following the introduction of bus lanes and more buses on the 12 and 14 routes, bus ridership grew from 73,000 per week to 122,000. Currently, in the morning peak hour on this A259 route, 45% of those travelling into Brighton are on a bus – and buses comprise just 2% of the traffic. That’s a success story. Bus lanes work.

The start of construction of the bus lanes has been delayed on several occasions, most recently in November. We now learn that the first phase of bus lane will begin construction in “May/June” – though that is now in doubt – and so could be opened for buses some months later, close to 3 years after the Link Road opened. The final phase may not be ready for some time after that so the completion could be four years late. That means higher traffic levels as the ‘car commute’ habit grows, and fewer passengers on the bus which will increasingly suffer delays due to the absence of the bus lanes. It is extremely disappointing, as is the editorial in the Hastings Observer which questions spending £450,000 on the bus facilities: the Link Road cost is currently running at 252 times that of the bus lanes at £126,000,000. With a less car focussed transport agenda, political will, and for less than 10% of the road costs, we could have had the new station at Glyne Gap/Ravenside, extensive cycle infrastructure, and many short car trips would have transferred to bike, bus and rail. The health benefits of such an approach are obvious yet sidelined, and with a £3m cut to the original £12m for walking and cycling measures for Hastings and Bexhill to plug a recently discovered funding gap for the increasingly expensive Queensway Gateway Road, commitment to sustainable and healthy transport choices looks very weak.

Jacobs Consultancy (employed by ESCC on the Link Road project) found in a study of 2011 that bus priority schemes (inlcuding bus lanes) had an average benefit to cost ratio of 5.4:1. That’s around three times higher than the Link Road itself. (Value for money of Small Scale Public Transport Schemes, Jacobs, 2011). In Hastings and Bexhill the value for money could be even higher given the predominance of short car journeys. Let’s have the bus lanes as soon as possible.

The Jacobs report can be seen here:

VfMSmallSchemesFinalReportVersion050711

BUS LANES/CYCLEWAYS FOR THE HAILSHAM – POLEGATE – WILLINGDON – EASTBOURNE CORRIDOR?
These are planned – along with cycleways – on this busy A22 corridor, part of the Eastbourne ‘travel to work area’. There is lukewarm backing from local councillors however (see below), even though the county council have put some energy into the plan development, part funded by the South East Local Enterprise Parnership (SELEP). There would (say the ESCC plan statistics) be a 67% journey time increase on this corridor by 2027 if no measures were provided, while with the measures, the increase in journey time would be 47% i.e. – less worse. This is of course due to the predicted housing developments north of Eastbourne in Wealden District, and the consequent increases in traffic. However, with the whole range of high quality alternatives made available to give real transport choice, and demand management solutions applied, the increases in journey times would fall from those far from impressive percentages. That would take political courage which is in short supply. A whole new ‘off line’ A27 would wreck the whole scheme and mean that its almost ten year gestation period would have been wasted. A situation where high volumes of ‘new A27’ traffic collided with the north-south ‘sustainable transport corridor’ along the A22 can only mean ‘traffic mayhem’. Both current MP, Stephen Lloyd, and past MP Caroline Ansell favour the potentially disastrous ‘big new road’ option.

BUSES IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS?
Hansard of March 8th 2018 featured debates on issues around diminishing numbers of passengers and services in rural areas:
Baroness Sugg (Con), Under Secretary of State at the DfT:

“What is the answer? The best answer is encouraging more people to use buses. It is still the best form of regular high-capacity transport that we have. Unlike rail, a bus can go virtually anywhere, and a bus service can be set up very quickly and at a fraction of the cost of rail. But buses need help to achieve this. One solution is to improve traffic in the key corridors used by buses, and one of the most effective ways is to give them priority over traffic. The sight of a bus cruising past lines of stationary cars or getting ahead of the queue at a junction is a much better advertisement and certainly sends a clear message to motorists. Priority measures offer good value for money, and we are funding many bus projects up and down the country through the Local Growth Fund. There are rapid transit schemes in Slough, Reading and Swindon and bus priority corridors in Manchester and Birmingham, which are genuinely innovative projects that are making a big difference in some of our busiest towns and cities. Busways, which provide dedicated corridors only to buses, such as in Cambridge and Luton, are also extremely effective and have the ridership to prove it”.

Other peers joined in – the Earl of Arran (Con):
The further isolation of our rural communities is something that this Committee should deplore, but why? In addition to social mobility, many people are now struggling to reach the basic services most of us take for granted, including shops, education and health. It is estimated that 400,000 people are in work or in a better job because of the availability of a bus service. Fifty per cent of students are frequent bus users for access to education and training. Our economists calculate that bus commuters generate £64 billion of economic benefit per year, with bus users making shopping and leisure trips worth £27.2 billion per year.

Lord Bradshaw (LD):
That brings us to the fundamental question of why so much is done in cities to encourage car use and so little to facilitate bus operation. Is it because of the intense pressure from the motoring lobby or the cowardice of politicians nationally or locally—local authorities vie with each another to attract cars to their shops with offers of highly subsidised parking, often ignoring the land values attaching to city-centre car parks—or is it because of an unwillingness to get tough with obstructive parking? When all these advantages are weighed in any objective assessment, what advantage does the bus have and who speaks for the bus user? In this situation, should not government, local or national, try to redress the balance effectively?

Lord Kennedy (Lab Co-op)
…buses are an important lifeline for people, and the decline in bus use outside London is a serious problem that is affecting the viability of communities, particularly rural communities and those areas in our towns and cities less well served by other modes of transport, as they strive to be sustainable……Bus use and the provision of bus services have to be part of integrated services to make communities viable. Their decline is doing huge damage. The noble Lord, Lord Bradshaw, spoke about car use and car parking. Work is going on to deter this but, as he said, it is not matched by a good bus service being in place to encourage people to get out of their cars and on to buses.

Lots of sense there and good cross party consensus. We don’t need constantly threatenend and diminishing bus services linking country and town. We need bus development. The new South East Transport Board should get to grips with bus issues: buses are part of the future.

RESTORED SUNDAY BUS 349 – HASTINGS – SEDLESCOMBE BODIAM – SANDHURST – HAWKHURST – CRANBROOK TO CONTINUE FOR SUMMER: REVIEW IN SEPTEMBER…
We are delighted to report that the 349 Sunday service linking the beautiful High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to historic Hastings and the coast will be running 7 days a week until at least September. The service will be reviewed during that time to examine a case for continuation after that. In the meantime, a high priority will be given to raise awareness of the service and the opportunities it offers for days out in either direction. It has proved useful in making it possible for people to find employment, carry out social visits – important for all ages – enjoy recreational opportunities (Bodiam Castle, Kent and East Sussex Steam Railway, Boat Trips), and experience the inspiring landscapes that unfold along the journey. Nurseries, vineyards, hopgardens, country walks – and of course countless pub lunch offers in historic pubs – all are on offer along the way. With a bus connection with the No 5 at Cranbrook (Sundays) shopping trips to Hastings and Maidstone are once again possible.

Bus services are rarely mentioned in publicity material as a useful and convenient way to explore attractions across the region, yet they do connect urban and rural areas including tourist and recreational attractions. That needs addressing and we’ll be trying to do just that. Combined with available train services, great days out without a car are perfectly possible and far more relaxing and sociable.

GOOD JOURNEY – WITHOUT A CAR
A new website that advises on ‘car free’ journeys to beautiful places. With local guides’ coverage of beautiful, interesting and historic places failing dismally to advise on non-car access ‘Hello, Good Journey’ (link here) gives some help in this direction and also invites contributions from walkers, cyclists and bus and rail users to build a data base of non-car options. We’ll be forwarding the detail of the 349 bus and the possibilities opened up by the now 7 days a week service.
Good Journey – Contact
https://www.goodjourney.org.uk/contact/
See also East Sussex and Lewes based information on this useful website:
TRAVEL LOG LEWES – Latest Travel Log Newsletter
http://travelloglewes.co.uk/index.php?page=latest-travel-log-newsletter

A27 STUDIES AND SCATE CAMPAIGN
The ‘£75m’ study output recommended junction and safety improvements, plus a continuous cycle/pedestrian path along its length and improved crossings for all non-motorised users at Drusillas roundabout and Wilmington crossroads. It has since become a £72m scheme, as £3m was syphoned off for a further study into a completely new ‘off-line’ A27 between Beddingham and Polegate: this study is underway. Also underway and almost complete is a study with no call upon the public purse into an alternative strategy for the entire ‘A27 corridor’ between Chichester and Polegate. This will be launched by SCATE before the summer and will consider all modes and their relative potential impacts – good and bad.We have a date and venue for the ‘local’ launch, giving a perspective on the Polegate – Beddingham – Eastbourne proposals: Lewes Town Hall, 21st April (Sat) 10.30 until 12.30 – doors open at 10.00.

The South Coast Alliance for Transport and Environment (SCATE) invite interested groups and individuals to the launch. Link here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/new-transport-vision-for-the-sussex-coast-tickets-44634826969

NEW ROADS AND THE ECONOMY – DO THEY HELP OR HINDER?
Without exception, promoters of expansion of road capacity cite ‘economic benefits’ as justification for the roads in question. As we now know, the last major expansion – the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road (BHLR) – included just that in its business case for the road. The Department for Transport’s assessment delivered a judgement at odds with that, giving it a rating of ‘medium to poor’ value for money, and hiding (until challenged with our appeal to the Information Commissioner) an alternative recommendation for a ‘public transport/demand management’ option that was set before the Secretary of State and which arguably would have been very much cheaper and better value for money. Before anyone had a chance to assess that alternative, Chancellor Osborne stepped in with a pre-emptive offer to fund the scheme which is now what we have – and massively over cost estimates.

Steve Melia at the University of the West of England has examined the question ‘Everyone says transport is good for the economy, but does anyone really know?’ You can read an article on the subject here:
https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/comment/55819/everyone-says-transport-is-good-for-the-economy-but-does-anyone-really-know-

BEXHILL TO HASTINGS LINK ROAD (BHLR) – AND PROGENY; OPTIMISM TEMPERED ON CYCLING AND WALKING PROGRESS
We await the ‘one year after’ report on the BHLR with interest. The last predicted date for publication was December 2017 and there has clearly been slippage. There have also been adjustments in costs of all current road projects in Hastings/Bexhill as shown in the graph below:

The increased costs predicted for the Queensway Gateway Road have led to a decision to use £3m of the £12m allocated Walking and Cycling budget. This could explain why a councillor due to give a presentation to Eastbourne, Rother and Hastings pedestrian/cycling organisations on cycle/walking plans in November, disappeared mysteriously from the agenda! ESCC officers gave assurances that progress won’t be held up in the early stages, but in fairness, we should be given the money back for justifiable healthy and sustainable transport as opposed to the unhealthy, unsustainable kind. We should seek assurances that the funds will be returned.

CYCLING CAMPAIGN GROUP – BRICYCLES – as its name suggests – is something to do with cycling in Brighton. But it’s much more than just that. With its comprehensive coverage of cycling as a modern, relevant, healthy and environmentally sustainable way to get around, it takes on a pretty wide remit extremely successfully and is expertly and confidently compiled. A well informed antidote to the pervasive ‘windscreenperspectiveitis’ that currently affects so many of our politicians! Have a look. Link here:

Bricycles News 114-1

EASTBOURNE CYCLING/WALKING – MIXED MESSAGE
In Eastbourne we are informed that despite budgets being substantially trimmed, a start will be made to implement the walking and cycling network improvements. We are pleased to see work in its final stages on the Lottbridge Drove – Langney roundabout section of foot/cycleway, thus completing an arc between Bridgemere (Stafford Junior School) and Langney. We hope that Ratton county councillors will reconsider their negative attitude to East Sussex County Council’s plans to create safe walking and cycling networks based on the congested Hailsham – Polegate – Eastbourne corridor where many would cycle (especially the young) to school, college, hospital, town and home. Councillors appear to have dismissed the plans altogether: they’ll be responsible for congestion and dirty air.
See Eastbourne cycling group’s website (BESPOKE) – Link here:
Bespoke Cycle Group – Safer Cycling In Eastbourne
http://bespokecyclegroup.org.uk/

ROTHER TRANSPORT ACTION GROUP R.I.P.
Hosted by Rother District Council for maybe a decade, this group is being disbanded. The rationale for this is that by combining with a newly formed Hastings Transport Action Group, the inextricably linked transport needs of the three neighbouring towns of Hastings, St Leonards and Bexhill will be better reflected in the decisions taken: this new entity will be known as HARTAG. The idea of such a combination has been around for 30 years and regularly suggested by CBT East Sussex. It was adopted for the purposes of securing funding for the controversial Link Road, but never spoken of when the issue of Glyne Gap/Ravenside new station came up. The composition of HARTAG will be quite different to the RTAG membership, with the parishes of Rother no longer having individual places at the table. We understand that ways of capturing their perspectives are being explored – as they should be – but with a more formal local authority presence (including ESCC) it’s uncertain to what degree official policies will govern deliberations or admit objectives wider than, but highly relevant to just ‘transport’. We thank RTAG members for their support in securing, at least for now, the 349 ‘Bodiam Sunday bus’ – notably highly relevant to Hastings as well as the quality of life of those living in the High Weald towns and villages.

One of the last votes (maybe the first one ever taken) of RTAG was on the subject of Rother District Council moving ahead with a ‘decriminalisation’of parking offences, allowing action at last to be taken by the authority on parking transgressions such as motorists parking on bus stops – a situation repeated many times daily on Bexhill’s two main shopping streets – Sackville and Devonshire Roads, and Battle High Street. It is common to see less able passengers struggling to the kerb because the bus stop is obstructed. The vote was overwhelmingly in favour of dealing with this selfish behaviour.

CLEAN AIR FOR EASTBOURNE CAMPAIGN
Eastbourne Friends of the Earth are hosting information on local air quality issues and also offering kits to the public and to schools for monitoring local air quality.
Further information here:
friendsoftheearth.uk/clean-air/join… @friends_earth Clean Air Kit
https://www.facebook.com/eastbourneair/ and on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/eastbourneair

RAIL SERVICES – NEW SOUTHERN TIMETABLE FROM MAY
The presentation of the new timetable (begins May) is here: Southern New TT Pres 3 18
Less worse than feared on Brighton – Ashford services: these will be Eastbourne – Ashford. Extra semi-fast trains Brighton – Hastings. This will address the frequent and severe overcrowding at several points on the route currently operated by two car diesels and provide more ‘seats’ east – west on the busiest section of route. We also had confirmed at the DeLaWarr presentation that there will be ‘safer’ late evening connections between Tunbridge Wells – Hastings services and Hastings – Eastbourne – Brighton trains. There would also remain capacity for extra coastway services should there be calls for services, and a business case built, to serve a new station at Glyne Gap/Ravenside.

THOUGHTS ON HOUSING PLANS
Battle, Hastings, Eastbourne, Hailsham and almost certainly Crowborough are inline for £millions in funding for new housing schemes – some affordable (definition hazy) and with no mention in reports we saw of ‘social housing’. There are also significant funds promised for ‘infrastructure’ – major roads, a new school (Hailsham), etc.

New and existing homes for sale are now subjected to an ‘energy efficiency’ and ‘carbon footprint’ audit which features a graphic display. This shows for each category the actual and potential’ cost effectiveness’ of the dwelling and by implication, its ‘carbon footprint’. (See Below):

The diagram gives only a partial picture of the ‘environmental impact’ of a dwelling, however. It doesn’t take account of the transport impact of the dwelling as reflected by the modes of transport adopted by those living in it on completion and in future years, or the impact of the whole development. For instance, on an estate where alternatives to the private car are poor and ownership and usage high, the diagram would be highly misleading and of limited value. It could be that a dwelling rated ‘high’ on both energy efficiency and low carbon emissions, but with high car usage, would score a significantly lower rating compared to the current system. Applied to a whole estate, we’d be heading in the wrong direction to achieve ‘sustainable housing’ served by all modes of ‘sustainable’, healthy transport. But the ‘estate wide’ performance would be the more useful measure for transport and land use planning purposes.
We have recommended to Stagecoach that for new housing developments on the edge of Hawkhurst – see photo – bus stops be provided, and that some of the value of the housing should be captured to support the local cross border bus services. All new developments should be designed to be easily served by public transport and to favour pedestrian and cycle movements over vehicle movements. That is not yet the case, and it has led Stagecoach to publish its own guide to developers. (see previous post link to ‘bus services and new developments’)

ROAD CASUALTIES – SUSSEX SAFER ROADS
Figures for ‘killed and seriously injured’ (KSI) in the county continue to be of concern: they are not improving. The recently released figures for 2017 show KSI at the 4th highest since 2008 (370) while fatalities at 26 are the second highest since 2008. We wrote to Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne asking about developments nationwide in improving matters. Our letter is here, along with a response from a member of her staff:
Katy Bourne Letter and the response:
Katy Bourne ReplyRoad Casualties
The link to the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership site is here, and well worth examining through the ‘data portal’ button:

Welcome to Sussex Safer Roads Partnerships | SSRP
http://www.sussexsaferroads.gov.uk/
‘SSRP is a collective that uses combined
expertise to make the roads safer and reduce collisions. Together, our aim is to “
Create a safer environment for all road users, significantly reduce life-changing
injuries and eliminate fatalities.” Find out more about the partnership’.
The related issue of conditions in East Sussex (and other) lanes where powerful vehicles need not defer to each other (or pedestrians and cyclists) but can just ‘power their way through’ results in damaged verges that offer no refuge. A challenge to any such driving style is often met with an outburst of obscene language. It makes walking in lanes far less pleasurable than it should be. Why should we permit this? Photo of lane near Etchingham with large puddles on damaged verges.

CAMPAIGN FOR BETTER TRANSPORT – CURRENT CAMPAIGNS/CEO STEPHEN JOSEPH TO STEP DOWN THIS AUTUMN
Campaign For Better Transport: Campaigns
https://www.bettertransport.org.uk/
After 30 years as CEO of Campaign for Better Transport (formerly Transport 2000), Stephen Joseph is stepping aside – though remaining for a short while to help his successor take the reins. He has been a great and widely respected champion of sustainable transport and planning throughout that long period and will be missed by many in the transport world. Thanks Stephen for your unrelenting inspiration and quiet determination, and canny ability to point out the ridiculous in a way that raises a smile, and encourages all to reflect upon the absurdities and contradictions that pepper transport policy.

SECRETARY OF STATE GRAYLING WANTS CHEAPER FUEL AT M’WAY SERVICE PUMPS – WHAT ABOUT RAIL AND BUS FARES?
Chris Grayling, Secretary of State for Transport, wants cheaper fuel for those stopping at Motorway service stations (widely reported across media). How about acting on public transport fares? Come on Grayling! Do your homework! The last 10 years have seen bus fares rise 70%, rail fares by 60% and motoring costs by 25% (RAC Foundation). Please do something about that, and quickly.
Link here to RAC Foundation statistics:
Cost of motoring against costs of public transport – RAC Foundation
https://www.racfoundation.org/data/cost-of-transport-index
Do let your MP know if you feel that public transport fares are too high and join Campaign for Better Transport’s rail FAIR FARES campaign – information here:
Campaign For Better Transport: Campaigns
https://www.bettertransport.org.uk/

A259 BUS LANES – DELAYED CONSTRUCTION

Provision of bus lanes on the A259 was one of the conditions on which Link Road funding was granted in 2012. They were first promised in 2004 to ‘complement’ the road, along with ‘new services and new stations served by more trains’ . The ‘new stations’ (Glyne Gap (Ravenside) and St Leonards – West Marina) won’t be appearing any time this decade, if ever, and the bus lanes may not be ready for use until Christmas 2016 – a year after the opening of the Link Road. (see press release: Bus Lane Presser – part published in Has/Bex Observers 3rd June 16)

It matters because a declared objective of the Link Road (Combe Valley Way) was to relieve congestion on De La Warr/Bexhill Road and – as the title  of the public consultation document (Future Travel Options) suggested – give us ‘alternative travel choices’. Ultimately, the title really meant ‘Which new road route out of 6 do you prefer  ?’ We now know that 5 of them were plain bonkers with no chance of being built.

East Sussex County Council predicted that although congestion would be relieved by the new road (as it has), traffic would begin growing back straight away – though by how much would depend on the quality of the bus and rail services on offer, and conditions being made acceptable and attractive for safe walking and cycling. Bus lanes would certainly be useful for cyclists. If this package of  alternatives could be attractive and of a high quality, the congestion reduction  benefits of the Link Road would be ‘locked in’.

The fact that the bus lanes will be delayed and the new station and rail services absent, will mean that there will be no incentives to swap the car for alternatives for short trips on the A259. Traffic will grow back faster as the ‘car habit’ is confirmed and encouraged. This is hardly sustainable or beneficial for local residents, workers, visitors or students: poor air quality is a known killer, and ‘active travel’ a recognised solution. (See guidance for local authorities – link):

Active travel: a briefing for local authorities :

The ‘value for money’ of the Link Road was assessed by government as ‘poor to medium’. If the congestion reduction function is weakened and traffic grows back faster than predicted through the absence or delayed provision of the promised bus lanes and rail station and services, the value of the very expensive Link Road (c£130m) is diminished further. Faster than predicted traffic growth is a very real prospect in any case if the current multi-million road building frenzy around Bexhill and Hastings continues. We won’t be getting ‘value for money’ or for that matter, better health.

Traffic growth means more pressure to convert front gardens to hard standing for parking, with consequent loss of biodiversity and increased risk of ‘flash floods’. There are many other side effects, a described in this BBC article:

The decline of the British front garden – BBC News

Bus Lanes Location Plan here:

Overview of proposals

The bus lanes and a new station at Glyne Gap would provide better alternatives to the car  between Barnhorn (new housing proposed), Little Common, Bexhill,  Hastings and Ore – with Ravenside retail park, Bexhill College, the beach, Combe Valley Countryside Park and the Bathing Pool site important intermediate destinations and major generators of short trips by car. See photos below:

1. Picture  on A259 near Harley Shute post Link Road opening: greater car dependency, gardens lost to hard standing, increased flood risk, more traffic…….bus lanes needed as soon as possible please.

2. Bexhill Road at Glyne Gap – a useful access point for the Combe Valley Countryside  Park .                                                                                                                  

3. Glyne Gap station would be just a few feet away from Ravenside retail park. The train now passing…                                                                                          

4. This demonstration drew cheers from the crowd waiting for the new M&S store to open. Why no station?                                                                                            

5. While out on the Link Road, the Bexhill Enterprise Park boasts a bus stop (good) with no direct access to the brand new office block (daft).                                                              

A27 – EASTBOURNE MP CAROLINE ANSELL WANTS A BIG NEW ROAD 

And nothing else will do! No mention of the need to work out where the traffic will park or even where motorists need to get to and from, or, importantly, what will happen when the thousands of cars she ‘s so looking forward to, collide with the new bus services and cyclists using the long talked about and eagerly awaited ‘sustainable transport corridor’ between Hailsham – Polegate – Eastbourne. And if they’re piling into Eastbourne, where will the vehicles be left? Significant areas of town will have to be demolished to form massive new car parks. There are strong arguments in favour of converting car parks into housing land. This would reduce traffic, strengthen town centre economies, improve public health, improve air quality, help solve the housing crisis, give the next generation a fighting chance of something better……

None of this seems to matter to the MP who is apologising to her constituents* for the time spent on gathering evidence to determine the best transport future for the area. (not a word on rail investment).

Please Caroline, don’t wreck our National Park, and do your best to save us from the toxic traffic fumes which currently are leading to the premature death of at least 40,000 people a year in the UK: According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Eastbourne’s air quality is already bad enough! * ‘Eastbourne and Out magazine, April/May 2016.

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH DEFRA AIR POLLUTION MAPS HERE:

Pollution forecast – Defra, UK – UK-Air

CAUTIOUS WELCOME: LONG PROMISED CYCLE ROUTE APPROVED BY EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

The next phase of the station/town centre – Langney cycle route has been approved: it will continue the latest Horsey Stream route from Stafford school to Lottbridge Drove and will pass behind St Anthony’s avenue to Langney Roundabout, with a spur to Tollgate school. Raising the profile of cycling in this way is essential but must be accompanied by policies that challenge the primacy of the car: any challenge to poor driver behaviour which cyclists find intimidating is often met with obscene language and irrational over-reaction. This can put off those members of the public who are wary of traffic danger but willing to ‘give it a go’. Most cycle journeys will begin on streets where there are no restraints on aggressive driver behaviour – it’s a small percentage of drivers who are to blame, but then there are so many thousands of vehicles on the roads that conflicts are commonplace. Eastbourne’s cycling campaign  group ‘Bespoke’ have published a map of ‘safer’ routes and those which are ‘less safe’. Link here: (Click on ‘MAP’)

NEWS – link to Bespoke map.

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY – URBAN AND RURAL

Eastbourne station car park access was, until mid 2015, from Upperton Road with the exit via Commercial Road. Then in August 2015 the Upperton Road entrance was closed and the Commercial Road exit became two way, with a rearranged carriageway. For many years the Commercial Road entrance had been an important and busy pedestrian route in and out of the station and through to the town centre. It still is. But pedestrians were suddenly relegated as their needs for safe access and egress were ignored.

CBT East Sussex undertook a count of car drivers/passengers, and pedestrians entering and leaving the station for one hour in the morning peak, and one hour mid-day. Here’s the result:

Pedestrians outnumber car-borne entries/exits by 12:1

We pursued this with Cllr Rodohan of ESCC and he did his best to relay our concerns: slowly and bit by bit the situation was partially remedied. (See photos below):

1. Blind Corner: no pedestrian refuge. Concerns raised..

5. Small victory for the pedestrian: a refuge was provided on the blind corner, the ‘left turn arrow’ relocated and a zebra and speed hump appeared. It doesn’t look planned.                              

We have fed photos and data at regular intervals to East Sussex County Council via Cllr Rodohan, though we have yet to send the latest observations. At no point did we receive any direct acknowledgement from ESCC. Cllr Rodohan’s efforts are appreciated but clearly, more needs to be done.

NOW THE RURAL BIT:

Two bits really, though connected. On Thursday 26th May there was a planning committee meeting in Bexhill Town Hall (Rother DC). I was there to support objectors to a planning application for a tourist accommodation development off Sheep Street Lane Etchingham: my objection was concerned with intrusion of such a development on the very peaceful East Rother valley, including the potential impact of traffic which did not appear to have been considered. The lane – between Ticehurst and Etchingham – already experiences fast moving vehicles, and for those walking or cycling, can be an intimidating environment. In recent years vehicles have got bigger (and smaller) but the big ones leave ruts, chew up verges, and not infrequently, don’t defer to vulnerable road users or each other. (See photo):

---

Local District Councillor Mary Barnes eulogised about the lane and its community, tranquillity and wildlife (nightingales were mentioned). There are also glow-worms (brilliant creatures!). She then voted for the development which she felt had acceptably stringent conditions attached. We’ll see. But most worryingly, she pronounced the lane too dangerous to walk down. And presumably to cycle on. Action required to remedy that?None suggested. It’s a countywide, or even nationwide problem and a product of ‘car culture’ and it needs not dumb acceptance but a robust challenge: the alternative is to lock up our children.

To get to the planning meeting, I cycled to and from Bexhill from Eastbourne, using the seafront in Eastbourne to start and then moving to Pevensey roundabout to take the ‘old marsh road’ parallel to the A259. It’s a scenic lane, but far from tranquil – with vigilance needed at all times. On the two way trip, I was ‘cut-up’ twice and observed two drivers using mobiles while on the move. Scary. Potentially a great area of marshes and ditches and wide landscapes through which to walk or cycle, but for family outings with children on bikes you could never recommend it – too risky.  The remedy, suggested at the last Rother Transport Action Group meeting (and earlier by Sustrans): make the lanes ‘access only’ and get rid of the through traffic.

PART TIME SEASON TICKETS

These were the subject of letters I sent to three East Sussex MPs. (Hastings, Bexhill and Battle and Eastbourne – Amber Rudd, Huw Merriman and Caroline Ansell).

Put simply, we were made aware that the Department for Transport (DfT) had spent considerable sums on working with train operating companies to bring about these tickets for those seeking part time work yet currently having to buy weekly seasons or expensive daily tickets. Despite this, there had been no news on their introduction. ‘Victims’ of punitive fares also included those who had had to move out of London due to excessive rents and house prices and were relocating to cheaper accommodation, making some savings through ‘home working’,  yet trapped by the rail fares now needed to get them to work. Grossly unfair! Matters are far from resolved but we will continue to press for more user friendly ticketing and suggest that those affected do so too by writing to their MPs. This letter, received from an agent of Caroline Ansell MP (Eastbourne) and written by rail minister Claire Perry, MP, is the most positive response yet:

Part Time Seasons C Perry response

Just to ‘test the water’, a request was made at Petts Wood, Southeastern, and Eastbourne, Southern stations for a three day season ticket for specific days of the week ahead. Neither of the ticket offices could offer such a product, so nothing doing yet. Interestingly, Claire Perry’s letter mentions availability of a ‘carnet’ of day tickets offered at a discount by Chiltern Railways: that could be part of a solution for other train operators. Fragmented railways eh?

A quick note about a facility withdrawn from Southern ticket offices: on production of a Eurostar ticket, until the beginning of May 2016 you could get a discounted ticket to and from St Pancras. It’s still available but only on-line. Oh dear, the Southern website is a daunting prospect with its physically impossible maps – I’ve just tried and failed again. It is a truly awful website.

REAL TIME PASSENGER INFORMATION AT BUS STOPS

The system has at last been switched on (see previous post) and is to a considerable extent working in Eastbourne, Bexhill and Hastings. Hastings station installation has not yet begun however – and is currently the subject of negotiations with rail bodies, Stagecoach and ESCC.

*************************

derrick.coffee@talk21.com

BHLR – Local Transport Plan 3 – Campaign Pointers for 2016 – A Range of Measures

The opening of the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road took place in late December – precisely 7 years after the initial date predicted by East Sussex County Council (ESCC), and at £120.8 million, exactly five times the originally estimated 2002 costs of £24m. The costs may yet rise further. The real reasons for the delay are explained in our previous post (scroll down to read). The original 2004 timetable for delivering the completed BHLR shows as December 2008 the road ‘open to traffic’ . (see  bhlr-tt-2004-rt-size-2 ) From the word ‘go’ in 2004, the public consultation document offered only road schemes, despite being titled ‘Future Travel Options’.   (bhlr-consultation-2004) The conditional approval for the BHLR in that year required close cooperation with government’s own statutory conservation bodies – English Heritage, Natural England, Environment Agency. Nearly three years later all objected (two formally) to the BHLR at the planning application stage. It also required that contributions were sought from the private sector. None ever came. The costs were required to remain unchanged: they didn’t; and ‘value for money’ assessment by the Department for Transport ended dramatically at ‘poor/medium’. It stays a speculative and risky scheme that materially affects future travel and development patterns. We have to campaign in this new environment.

The stories behind the March 2012 green light from Chancellor Osborne to fund the road must continue to be told as a warning and an example of how a series of conclusive reviews and analyses (including the government’s own doubts) advising against a course of action to fund and build it, can be overturned at a stroke:  the most powerful government minister, in charge of prudent use of funds in times of supposed austerity, came to fund the  road scheme in England with the worst value for money and highest climate change gas emissions.

Now, as then, we have major financial commitment to new roads, £15m for the Queensway Gateway Road (QGR) and an almost certainly depressed figure of £5m for the North Bexhill Access Road (NBAR). Given the history of BHLR costs, these figures will surely rise, paid for by………….

These new roads spawned by the BHLR scheme are now at varying stages of development. The Queensway Gateway Road has been approved by Hastings Borough Council planning committee; the North Bexhill Access Road has received £200,000 from ESCC for ‘development’, but the planning application has been deferred, possibly because  no business case has been written yet, possibly through fear of a legal challenge on ‘air quality’ grounds. (for further information on these and other matters, see Combe Haven Defenders | Stop Osborne’s Roads to Nowhere: Stop …)

Both roads would have significant negative environmental impacts, and housing and commercial/industrial developments would be difficult to serve by means other than the private car. The ever expanding car parks and inadequate or threatened public transport services to/from the Conquest Hospital are likely to be reflected at these developments. We are in car county, where land use, transport and health policies are applied in a seemingly haphazard way. CBT – East Sussex has objected to both schemes.(see nbar-obj-final-2 and qgr-objection-3).

So, what follows?

Most recently, and as  for the past 30 years, we have responded to the invitation by ESCC, the statutory transport authority, to comment on the latest stage of the Local Transport Plan process (LTP3). We believe our comments represent a positive vision that would sit comfortably with many UK local authorities’ positions on best practice in ‘transport and land use planning’,  and a move away from ‘car based’ perspectives. Transport choices other than the car are too frequently absent as we close our front doors behind us to face the challenges, opportunities and joys of a new day. A significant shift is required to restore this imbalance. View ESCC LTP3 ‘Implementation Plan’ here: ltp-draft-2016-20

…and the response from CBT – East Sussex here: ltp3-implement-final-3

We believe the submitted attachments to our response amplify the points made in our response. A brief explanation follows each one below:

Cars reversing over pavements would not induce parents’ confidence when considering allowing children to take their first steps to independence by walking or cycling to school. In addition, the biodiversity loss and increased risk of flooding should be of concern to all of us. The research into flood risk caused by loss of gardens to ‘hard standing’ for cars on a massive scale  carried out in Southampton will be of interest. Many gardens along the Bexhill Road (A259) have also been lost : front-gardens-to-car-parks-2

The relationship between ‘parking availability’ and aspirations to reduce levels of traffic is well known and usually ignored by politicians anxious not to upset ‘the motorist’. This leads many of them to set aside, or at least relegate, concerns on public health and healthy modes of transport, the environment, local accessibility and the availability of ‘walkable/cycleable’ services and shops – all essential components of a pleasant neighbourhood. It also impacts on the rights of children, the elderly and those who would choose high quality alternative modes of transport if they existed.  The following two attachments show how parking policy could be used to create better town centres and at the same time save huge sums of public funds – and solve the housing crisis:

(The TRL research was published by a rather more enlightened Conservative administration of 1996 as a formal contribution to the Transport Debate – ‘Transport – The Way Forward’ April 1996.)

and,

Jacobs consultant John Siraut (Director, Economics) presents a slide show offering an interesting and expert view on better use of scarce town centre space. Jacobs have carried out work for ESCC, though not in the field of economics.

parking-presentation-jacobs-2

A further example of  better use of town centre space is illustrated in the example in the link below where car parking spaces have been removed and cycle storage, lockers and showers installed instead. Hastings FE college car parking could be usefully and similarly replaced:

London’s first underground cycle vault in Bloomsbury Square …

WHAT NEXT?

LTP3 SHOULD BE: A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTOR TO A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THIS AND THE NEXT GENERATION: And we will continue to campaign for a reversal of priorities in favour of alternatives to the current procession of expensive big road schemes. These should be replaced through an integration of transport policies with policies on land use, health, environment and support for local urban and rural economies. Transport measures appropriate for creation of more easily accessible and attractive town and district centres would flow from this policy integration, creating healthier town and village environments and populations, and stronger more resilient local economies. The starting point should not be the latest ‘traffic generating’ road scheme (exclusive) but expansion of choices from everyone’s front door (inclusive). That would be a step change!

See response from cycling campaign group Bricycles here: ltp3-bricycles-respnse-2

WHAT TO SECURE AND MONITOR?

Adoption of the whole available range of traffic demand management measures, imaginatively and fairly applied, and including workplace travel plans (wtp) including ‘personalised travel planning’ (information from consultants Steer Davies Gleave  here.); parking restraint; affordable, reliable, comprehensive and attractive public transport services; 20mph residential speed limits; 40mph limits on rural lanes; workplace parking levies to support sustainable transport investment; putting walking and cycling first in street design and maintenance (DfT; Manual for Streets); good value fares for young people on the cusp of independence.

Adequate evening, Sunday and Bank Holiday public transport services in the coastal towns and rural East Sussex, including restoring key services where there are none, such as Bodiam Castle and Batemans whose busiest days are Sundays: 287,000 visitors per year – loads of traffic – no Sunday buses. Reinstatement of cross border Kent – Sussex links. Quality advertising/marketing to be carried out in respect of ‘supported services’ There is often ignorance about their availability and local authority tourist guides don’t ‘champion’ them. Cycle carrying buses to be explored on appropriate routes in East Sussex e.g. High Weald AONB; South Downs National Park.

Specifically, pressure on Stagecoach to improve poor or non-existent Sunday, Bank Holiday and Christmas period bus services: Boxing Day and New Year’s Day saw no services at all. Brighton and Hove buses (which serve parts of Eastbourne well) ran on both days. Stagecoach should move with the times.

Seamless connections on bus services to the Conquest Hospital from Bexhill using the BHLR. Passengers are currently left waiting at Hollington Tesco for up to half an hour. Public transport links from communities to hospitals according to clinical need and convenience of visitors, and the needs of all working at the hospitals.

Enhanced bus services along the A259 corridor between Barnhorn (west of Little Common) and Ore: first proposed in LTP1 in 2000, it’s needed now.

Confirmation by ESCC of a February start to construction of bus lanes and priority measures on the A259 Bexhill Road, and improved levels of service before the traffic grows back after BHLR opening. This scenario of a steady increase in traffic is predicted by ESCC itself.

A realisation of the potential of rail to meet public needs and offer a good alternative: station plans for Glyne Gap, St Leonards – West Marina, Stone Cross to be reviewed with the Willingdon Chord installed. Provision of a new London – Sussex Coast link via Lewes – Uckfield – Tunbridge Wells. Enhanced levels of Coastway services. To protect the National Park – a stunning and priceless asset – abandonment of any ‘new A27’ proposals.

Part time railway season tickets – promised in the current government manifesto – have yet to be offered. High rents in London and high fares for part time workers are a toxic combination resulting in difficulties for a newly qualified highly talented student of 24; a housing officer of 40 priced out of London accommodation but now having to travel from the coast for 3 of 5 working days and home working for 2; a hard working and talented carpenter unable to seek work in London or elsewhere because of the lack of a part time season ticket arrangement. The lack of part time season tickets closes down opportunities for hard working and talented individuals.

A new funicular rail link to be examined capable of carrying cycles/wheelchairs from Pier/White Rock to Hastings Museum and offering access to all through ‘gradient transfer’. Together with the existing East and West Hill lifts enhancing accessibility for all, these would operate from 7.00a.m. and into the evenings and be an important tourism asset. The Ebbw Vale system, recently installed, could be a model.

Real Time Passenger Information for bus users –  system to be accelerated please: the Eastbourne system was installed 8 years ago but has never been switched on. Clearly not a priority. Hastings and Bexhill are currently being added to the system and we look forward to seeing it at work. (Photo)

A step change in public transport links between Hailsham – Polegate – Eastbourne Hospital/Colleges and Town Centre equal to the best in the UK. Complementary cycle/pedestrian improvements to enhance their safety and status, along with essential traffic demand management measures (see above). Enhanced 98 and 99 bus services to take advantage of Hailsham – Eastbourne upgrades.

A renewed campaign to challenge aggressive, careless and inappropriate driving styles in urban and rural environments which daily threaten and harm pedestrians, cyclists – and considerate motorists. This impacts on childrens’ freedom and persuades those who would like to allow their children to walk or cycle to ‘get in the car’. Unfair, unhealthy; inhumane.

Packages of measures such as those alluded to in this blog would automatically flow from proper analysis of transport problems and can be sifted and tested for their efficiency, appropriateness and positive/negative impacts. The resulting mosaic of measures is much more likely to deliver the wide range of accessibility, health, environmental, social and economic objectives than the often speculative ‘big scheme’ approach beloved of politicians. They become objectives. They are not. In stark contrast, the package approach is certainly a better way of reducing CO2 emissions than pursuing the ‘big new roads’ agenda now threatening East and West Sussex along with the consequent growth in often short private car trips. These emissions are growing in the transport sector, in contrast to a fall in other sectors. We therefore welcome Secretary of State Amber Rudd’s recent commitment to challenge the Department for Transport on this matter of growing emissions and look forward to her withdrawal of support for the Queensway Gateway Road and other ‘traffic generating’ schemes which have constantly crippled all alternatives to the private car. rudd-ltt-art-5

A fuller appreciation of the major health benefits of reducing ‘car dependency’ and sedentary lifestyles expressed through ‘active travel’ measures – easily delivered and with  benefits quickly discernible in the improving health of our communities. Five hundred people or more die prematurely in the county through poor air quality. Tackling mental and physical health problems through active travel measures would bring massive benefits to our quality of life – and almost immediately reduce pressure on the NHS. These opportunities must be grasped with urgency.

Derrick Coffee.

(County Officer, Campaign for Better Transport – East Sussex)