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Committee: |
Regulatory Planning Committee
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Date: |
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Report by: |
Director of Communities, Economy and Transport
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Title of Report |
Bus Service Improvement Plan A259 The Drove and Seaford Road, Newhaven – Traffic Regulation Order 520/539/540
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Purpose of Report: |
To consider the representations received in response to the formal consultation on the draft Traffic Regulation Order associated with the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) Bus Priority Scheme on A259 The Drove and Seaford Road, Newhaven. |
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Contact Officer:
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Humphrey Basset - 01273 482416 |
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Local Member:
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Councillor James MacCleary |
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Planning Committee is recommended to:
1)
Not uphold the
objections to the draft Order as set out in Appendix 2 to this
report; and
2) Recommend to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport that the Traffic Regulation Order be made as advertised.
1.1 The A259 The Drove and Seaford Road, Newhaven Bus Priority Scheme in Newhaven forms part of a package of bus priority measures that the County Council initially consulted upon with the public and stakeholders in summer 2023 at feasibility stage.
1.2 The Lead Member for Transport and Environment approved to progress the schemes to preliminary design, detailed design and construction at a decision-making meeting in January 2024.
1.3 To meet DfT programme targets the scheme has been split into two phases. Phase One has progressed into the detailed design phase with construction scheduled to follow in 2026/27. Phase Two will progress once further funding is identified.
1.4 The scheme is integral to fulfilling the objectives of the East Sussex Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4 - adopted October 2024) and the East Sussex BSIP which is a supporting document to the LTP4. The BSIP aims to expand access to high-quality bus services for residents, optimise journey times by minimising delays, and provide a frequent, integrated, and comprehensive alternative to car travel within Newhaven.
1.5 A summary of the Notice of the proposals is listed below. A full version of the Notice is detailed at Appendix 1.
East Sussex County Council proposes to introduce:
· Bus Lanes in the following roads in Newhaven:
o Denton Roundabout (northern side)
o A259 Seaford Road (southern side)
o
Mount
Road Service Road (bus interchange)
· One-way workings in the following roads in Newhaven:
o Mount Road Service Road (northern arm – north to south)
o
Mount
Road Service Road (western and eastern arm – west to
east)
· 40 miles per hour (mph) speed limit in the following roads in Newhaven:
o
A259
Seaford Road (both sides)
· No Waiting At Any Time in the following roads in Newhaven:
o Mount Road (south-west side)
o Mount Road (north-east side)
o
Station
Road (west side)
1.6
Bus
stop restrictions were referenced in the public notice for
transparency; however, they do not form part of the formal Traffic
Regulation Order and may be introduced separately under the Traffic
Signs Regulations and General Directions.
The locations referenced were the
following:
· Mount Road Service Road (north side)
· B2109 Avis Road (north-east side)
· B2109 Avis Road (north-east side)
· Mount Road (north-east side)
· Station Road (east side)
2. Comments and Appraisal
2.1
An
initial informal consultation on the proposed Traffic Regulation
Order (TRO) for A259 The Drove and Seaford Road, Newhaven took
place between 16 December 2024 and 16 January 2025 with the local
District and County Councillors, bus operators, businesses,
residents and statutory consultees including the emergency
services. 631 responses were received.
2.2
On 30
January 2026, the County Council gave notice under the relevant
sections of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, that it was
proposing to make a Traffic Regulation Order - A259 The Drove and
Seaford Road, Newhaven - TRO/520/539/540. A copy of the
Notice is included at Appendix 1.
2.3
The
Notice was advertised in the Sussex Express on 30 January 2026.
Copies of the Notice were placed on columns along the scheme
extent. Hard copies of the documents relevant to the proposed TRO
were available to view at Newhaven Town Council and County Hall in
Lewes. 2,500 postcards with details of the consultation were
delivered to residential and business properties along the scheme
extent. 57 local Newhaven businesses were emailed with details of
the proposed TRO and how to make a representation. Active travel
groups and accessibility groups were also emailed. The consultation
was placed on the Council’s Consultation Hub website and
residents were also invited to provide their feedback by email and
by post. Residents were provided with a contact telephone number if
they wished to request the TRO information in an alternative
format. The formal period for representations ended on 22 February
2026.
2.4
During the formal
consultation period, 76 representations were received in relation
to the proposals. Of these, 73 were objections, of which 18 were
specifically related to the orders proposed within the TROs. Seven
representations expressed partial support, three were in full
support of the proposals, and one objection was withdrawn
following the provision of further information. Full copies of the
correspondence received and responses from ESCC have been made
available in the Members’ Room and have also been made
available to Planning Committee Members in electronic
format.
2.5 Each objection has been considered individually and a summary of the objections and officer responses are included in Appendix 2.
2.6 Having considered the objections, officers are satisfied that there are not sufficient grounds for the proposals to be withdrawn and that the objections should not be upheld.
2.7 The recommendation is to not uphold the objections to the draft Order as set out in Appendix 2. The numbers listed in Appendix 2 exceed the total number of objections received since many objections referenced multiple themes and therefore many representations are counted under more than one theme.
3. Conclusion and reasons for recommendation
3.1 The A259 The Drove and Seaford Road bus priority scheme in Newhaven is part of a wider package of bus priority measures that is funded through the BSIP funding that East Sussex County Council has received from Government to deliver bus priority infrastructure in the county.
3.2 Introducing the A259 The Drove and Seaford Road bus priority scheme is integral to delivering the objectives of the East Sussex LTP 4 and East Sussex BSIP, enabling residents to enjoy higher quality bus services, improved journey times with reduced delays, that provide a frequent, integrated and comprehensive choice and an alternative to the car. The proposals also aim to improve safety and accessibility for all road users within the area.
3.3 The scheme is currently at detailed design stage and is programmed for construction in 2026/27.
3.4 The TRO will enable:
· The introduction of a bus lane on the northern side of Denton Roundabout, the creation of a new bus interchange connecting Denton Roundabout and Mount Road Service Road with an eastbound exit onto the A259 Seaford Road, and the introduction of a westbound bus lane on the A259 Seaford Road.
· The introduction of one-way workings within the new bus interchange, north to south through the northern arm, and west to east from the western to eastern arm.
· The extension of the existing 40mph speed limit south-east along the A259 Seaford Road by 192.5 metres.
· The introduction of No Waiting At Any Time restrictions on sections of Mount Road and Station Road.
3.5
The
approach in trying to resolve objections to the Orders has been to
appraise the concerns raised by residents and other road users,
whilst meeting road safety standards and the objectives of the
scheme. Officers consider that for reasons presented in this
report, objections should not be upheld and the proposals in these
areas should proceed as advertised.
3.6
It is
therefore recommended for the reasons set out in this report, that
the Planning Committee does not uphold the objections in Appendix 2
and recommends to the Director of Communities, Economy, and
Transport that the Order be made as advertised.