Lewes Bonfire road closures and train time changes confirmed

Lewes normally becomes significantly over-crowded on bonfire night, therefore the multi-agency group's message is that this remains an event for local people.

Road closures will be in place outside the town from 4pm, followed by further road closures inside the town at 4:45pm.

Diversions will be in place for traffic to travel outside of the town. Lewes residents are advised to get vehicles home before 16:00 to avoid any road closures in place. Visitors are advised not to bring vehicles into the town.

The road closures will include: A27 junction with A277 Brighton Road (Ashcombe Roundabout), A275 junction with Offham Road, C7 Kingston Road junction with C324 Wellgreen Lane, A26 junction with A2029 Malling Street, A26 Malling Hill Junction with Church Lane, The A26 from Earwig Corner to the Cuilfail Tunnel will be open to through traffic.

Parking restrictions in Lewes will begin to be imposed from 12:00.

A full list of road closures and parking restrictions is available at www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/lewesbonfire

There will be no trains calling at Lewes, Glynde, Southease, Falmer and Cooksbridge after 15:00 on Saturday, November 4. No trains will call at these stations until the first timetabled trains on the morning of Sunday, November 5.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service are encouraging residents to “Choose Local” this bonfire season, supporting locally organised events rather than setting off fireworks or having bonfires in your own gardens or attending Lewes Bonfire. Anyone who would like to find an event local to them can go to www.esfrs.org/local

This year’s event presents a particular challenge to the multi-agency group tasked with ensuring public safety particularly because it falls on a Saturday.

This is likely to make the event even more popular and tens of thousands of people are expected in the town, prompting concerns about over-crowding particularly in busy areas such as the War Memorial. The measures are part of plans to help the event run as safely and smoothly as possible.

Since 2010, 896 injuries have been reported at Lewes Bonfire. In 2022, numbers of people were treated by South East Coast Ambulance Service and St John Ambulance for injuries, the vast majority of which were relatively minor. Many of these were hurt on the procession routes and by bangers or other fireworks, and over-crowded streets make it harder for emergency services to reach those in need of help.

Sussex Police officers will be on duty to support the event’s stewarding and security teams, this includes at road closure sites as well as in the town centre itself. Anyone attending the event who sees suspicious activity or something that doesn’t seem right should report it to the stewarding teams or police officers on patrol.

Attendees are also reminded that the use of drones during the event is strictly prohibited and is a criminal offence.

For more information and FAQs on Lewes Bonfire, visit lewesbonfire2023.blogspot.com