Proposals for new bus lanes to move ahead

Proposals for new bus lanes in a seaside town in East Sussex will move ahead, a senior county councillor has decided.

Councillor Claire Dowling, East Sussex County Council’s lead member for transport and environment, agreed for officers to continue with plans to install new bus lanes in Eastbourne along the A259, Seaside and St Anthony's Avenue.

The proposals, which were put out to consultation over the summer, are a revised version of plans considered by the council last year.

Ms Dowling said: “I know this is a very controversial, very emotive subject, particularly for those who live and work within the area concerned."

The previous versions of the scheme would have seen bus lanes running on both sides of the road, which had seen strong opposition from residents and businesses due to the loss of parking spaces this would have involved.

Officers said the revised scheme addressed these concerns by only having the bus lanes on one side of the road, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The revisions also include changes to road crossings, the removal of several traffic islands and the introduction of new parking spaces.

Objectors argued the revised scheme remained unacceptable and even introduced new problems in terms of highway safety, pollution and congestion.

The scheme now moves ahead to its next stage involving the development of a detailed design and the council requesting sign off from government on its amendments.

Ms Dowling added: “Taking into consideration the changes that have been made by the officers as a direct response to feedback by businesses and residents, the additional traffic modelling results, the outcome of the public consultation and the expected benefit for bus users…I am going to approve these recommendations."

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