28 August 2007
Wealden Council Supports Evening Buses in Hailsham and Polegate
A letter has been sent to Eastbourne Buses and East Sussex County Council by Wealden District Councillor Keith Whitehead expressing concern over changes to evening and late night bus services on Eastbourne Buses’ 51 service.
“I am concerned by the changes being outlined by Eastbourne Buses,” said Councillor Keith Whitehead, Cabinet Member for Planning & Development. “We strongly oppose the changes to 51 service. They will have detrimental impacts for people in the Hailsham and Polegate area who rely on buses to travel to work or to access education and social opportunities and healthcare in Eastbourne. This could particularly affect young people, the disabled, and those unable to afford a car. People wanting to visit theatres, bars or clubs in Eastbourne may have to pay extra to travel back from their evening out, or if these costs are too high may have to just stay at home. Given the economic and social links between Hailsham, Polegate and Eastbourne, better publicised and more regular bus services should be provided between the towns. Good public transport is also an important way of reducing congestion on the roads and reducing our environmental impacts.”
The changes due to come into effect on September 30, mean that the last bus from Hailsham to Eastbourne will run at 8.45pm and the last bus from Eastbourne to Hailsham at 6.40pm. Travelling between Eastbourne and Hailsham by taxi could cost up to eight times more than the current bus fares. Anyone living in Hailsham commuting home from London would need to leave by 5.15pm to ensure they meet the last bus, or would face paying for a taxi or finding parking in Polegate.
