Bonfire parking restrictions help crews clear blocked Lewes drains
Temporary parking restrictions during Lewes Bonfire have allowed crews to clear a number of hard-to-reach blocked drains around the town.
Two Balfour Beatty Living Streets ‘jetters’ were sent to work on long-impacted drains while cars were parked elsewhere following Bonfire.
The operation was coordinated with the overnight street cleaning carried out by Lewes District Council crews.
Green councillor Wendy Maples had argued for years that the clear streets created during Bonfire offered an opportunity to reach drains often covered by parked vehicles.
Councillor Maples said: “They haven’t done every drain but I’m pleased East Sussex Highways has listened to something I have been suggesting for years,”
She added: “Taking advantage of temporary parking restrictions seemed like such an obvious solution! I’m pleased this practical step has been taken – I’ll keep pushing for more sensible and timely actions on drains, and not just once a year,”
Green Party district councillor for Lewes Castle ward, Nick Kortalla-Bird, said residents could face difficulties when reporting blocked drains.
He said: “I know how frustrating it is when you report a blocked drain, only to have East Sussex Highways reply to say there’s not a problem, when there clearly is a problem: the drain’s blocked!
“Using Bonfire’s clear streets to deal with the problem was a great idea of Wendy’s, and she kept pushing until it happened.”