Bus company's objection to new 20mph speed limit in Lewes overruled

A bus company's objection to new 20mph speed limits in the Old Malling area of Lewes has been overruled by county councillors.
Compass BusCompass Bus
Compass Bus

East Sussex County Council held a public consultation to gauge support for the changes on the roads immediately to the west of the A26 from Spences Lane northwards in November 2015.

Of the 153 responses, 79 per cent supported the introduction of a 20mph speed limit.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The lead member for transport decided to progress the scheme and it was formally advertised in April, with one objection received from Compass Travel to the speed limit in Church Lane only, due to its impact in slowing down bus services.

The county council’s planning committee voted unanimously not to uphold the objection on Wednesday (June 22).

Officers explained that Compass had objected to traffic regulation orders for 20mph speed limits in other areas of Lewes on similar grounds.

They had commissioned consultants to analyse the speed of buses in the entire Malling estate, and showed that they only travel above 20mph about 19 per cent of the time.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Analysis showed a worst case impact of between seven and 31 seconds per journey if the changes were implemented.

Meanwhile only two of the four bus routes in the Malling area would be affected.

Officers concluded that route reliability ‘would not be adversely affected’, and because there were a high number of movements across and along Church Lane they thought it was appropriate for the road to be included in the scope of the 20mph speed limit proposals.

Roads included are Fitzgerald Road, Queens Road, Deanery Close, Barn Road, Prince Charles Road, The Meadows, The Martlets, Malling Close, Hereward Way, Spences Lane, Coombe Road, Waite Close, Spences Field, Orchard Road, and Church Lane from its junction with Mayhew Way to Malling Hill.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.sussexexpress.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Sussex-Express/

3) Follow us on Twitter @sussex_express

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Sussex Express - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.