Brighton Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle has criticised the decision to close a number of railway stations to stop people travelling to and from Lewes for Bonfire next month.
Mr Russell-Moyle, who grew up in Lewes, said that he would write to the government to complain about the decision which he said was draconian, undemocratic and wholly inappropriate.
He said that the decision, along with other travel restrictions, would cause problems for people who had to work.
And the approach was the wrong way to deal with the crowds that traditionally turn up in Lewes to mark fireworks night, he added.
Sussex Police and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service have both published press releases announcing much more severe restrictions for Lewes Bonfire this year.
The event is due to take place on Saturday 5 November.
The police and fire service said: “No trains will stop at Lewes or several neighbouring stations after midday on Saturday 4 November and road restrictions will apply.
“Restricted travel arrangements have been requested by a multi-agency transport group including the emergency services.
“This is to help ensure the safety of the travelling public and people in the town centre which cannot cope with a huge influx of people during the busy Lewes bonfire celebrations.
“People from outside the town are being asked to ‘stay local’ this bonfire season, supporting locally organised events rather than trying to come to Lewes.
“Trains will not be stopping at Lewes station or at London Road (Brighton), Moulsecoomb, Falmer, Glynde and Cooksbridge from midday on Saturday 4 November until normal services resume on Sunday 5 November.
“There are road closures around Lewes
- The A26 will also be closed for the event through the Cuilfail Tunnel between the Southerham roundabout (junction with the A27) and Earwig Corner (junction with the B2192 to Ringmer) between 4.30pm and 1am in both directions as part of enhanced security measures for the event
- The A275 between Lewes and B2116 at Offham
- Brighton Road between A27 and prison cross roads in Lewes
- Kingston Road between Lewes and Wellgreen Lane
“There are no designated drop-off points.
“The move is announced as a part of special travel arrangements which will apply to the town and surrounding area that day.
“Residents are being asked to take note of the changes and, if they still intend to travel that day, to plan their journeys with great care.
“Non-Lewes residents are advised not to try and visit the town on Saturday 4 November.
“The multi-agency transport group includes British Transport Police, East Sussex County Council, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, East Sussex Highways, Lewes District Council, Southern Railway, South East Coast Ambulance Service and Sussex Police.
“Lewes quickly gets overcrowded and uncomfortable on bonfire night.
“South East Coast Ambulance Service and St John Ambulance treated around 81 people last year.”
This compared with 204 people who were treated during Pride when Sussex Police also reported 27 arrests.
The force said: “There is also no guarantee that you will be able to get to and from the town with road closures in place. Last year saw hundreds of people waiting for the last scheduled bus – too many to fit on board.
“Sussex Police made a number of arrests and people were given tickets for throwing fireworks.
“If you stay local and find your nearest events instead, we believe you have a much better chance of enjoying your night out.”
Mr Russell-Moyle wrote to the fire service, which is leading on communications on the Bonfire preparations.
He said: “I am a very worried that there are no trains from Falmer and Moulsecoomb, both of which serve my constituency, during this period which will cause delays throughout the city on that weekend.
“I note that the road closures in Lewes don’t start until 4.30pm so there seems no need to restrict the trains before that time at least.
“As trains will still be running from Brighton to Eastbourne and there is no serious possibility of people getting off at Moulsecoomb (or London Road for that matter) and walking to Lewes, I see no reason at all why these stations would be shut.
“I cannot see why trains cannot just bypass Lewes and a full service remain on the other services.
“For many people Bonfire weekend is about being with family and friends of which exist across Sussex and making people suffer travel misery will not from my perspective increase safety for people.
“Can I ask if the universities, the stadium, councillors and Members of Parliament were consulted on these plans which, frankly, seem draconian.
“It will lead people who work on the weekend being stranded and rather than deterring visitors to Lewes it will cause more traffic as people are forced to take cars.
“I do hope that you urgently review this decision and I will be supporting some of the local councillors complaining about this decision.”
Elizabeth Curtis, the fire service’s communications and marketing manager, replied on behalf of the multi-agency group: “It is for the sake of public safety that the multi-agency group, which includes experts from the emergency services, has requested these restricted travel arrangements and they include road closures as well as changes to train services.
“In previous years we have seen very large numbers attend the event in Lewes.
“The town centre cannot safely cope with such an influx of people and trains and stations can become dangerously overcrowded.
“Last year around 81 people needed treatment by the ambulance service.
“Removing the stop at Lewes without also closing the other railway stations is unfortunately unsafe.
“These are stations from where the majority of people attempt to travel to the event and if we don’t close them, there is a very real risk that people will board the trains and then pull the communication cord at Lewes.
“It would also be extremely difficult to control crowds at these smaller stations where we need to prevent people from thinking they can travel by train to Lewes.
“We are also concerned that a small minority of people may even trespass on the track at some of the closer stations, thinking they can walk to Lewes.
“With trains continuing to operate in the area, and lines being electrified, trespassing on to the tracks could have lethal consequences.
“Closing these stations is therefore the most effective way of preventing incidents from occurring.
“We have alternative travel arranged for passengers to use Brighton and Hove buses between Falmer – Moulsecoomb – London Road (Brighton) – Brighton.
“Brighton Station, of course, has to stay open. People not interested in the bonfire event need to travel there especially if making onward mainline or west coastway connections.
“At Brighton, we will have posters and station announcements telling people that the trains won’t stop at Lewes and police officers and additional staff to spot obvious partygoers who haven’t heeded the message.
“We simply can’t run this sort of operation at the smaller stations that have to close.
“We recognise the changes will cause disruption and were very conscious of this when the decision was made. However, we have to place the greatest emphasis on public safety and hope the public will understand and support this.
“We are therefore asking people from outside the town to ‘stay local’ this bonfire season, supporting locally organised events rather than trying to come to Lewes.
“You also asked why the train service was being changed from 12 noon while road closures were not being brought in until later.
“This is in line with the on street parking restrictions which are also being brought in from noon and will affect the majority of roads in the centre of Lewes. Vehicles must be removed from these routes or risk being towed away if they are not.
“This means traffic can flow through Lewes but not stop on streets – in a similar way to the trains going through Lewes but not stopping.”
Mr Russell-Moyle described the response as “not satisfactory”. He said: “I will be writing to the Secretary of State to make official representations of complaint and I will endeavour to make sure that this doesn’t happen next year.
“It’s interesting to note that Bonfire has happened for almost 100 years with generally little incident and in many years extra trains were put on to help ferry people away from the town.
“Now people will be stuck there and this could cause greater not less public disturbance.
“While I’ve no truck for large influxes from London or further afield, as a Sussex man, the right to attend the county celebration in my county town has been restricted in the most undemocratic way.
“I note that for most of my family and most of my friends it’s not Christmas when people reunite but Bonfire is the one time in the year people come to see each other and celebrate – people from across Sussex who might have been priced out of Lewes but remain strong connections to their county town.
“While I’m not the MP for Lewes town I do cover Lewes district and Brighton and Hove City Council.
“The stations closed affect more of Brighton than they do of Lewes and those residents of mine who are not seeking to enjoy the county celebration in their county town are being restricted just going about their legitimate business or as you say ‘staying local’ because they will be restricted getting back home.
“It’s wholly inappropriate to deal with large crowds by just closing stations.
“The majority of stations closed are not even in Lewes district or East Sussex and it’s totally undemocratic to have another authority be able to impose closures.
“And finally it’s an abuse of power to try to restrict people going their legitimate business on a weekend between Brighton and Falmer.
“This, as far as I can see from your answer, is not about safety but about lack of staffing or signs at the respective stations.
“I will also be raising the issue with my Bonfire Society (Commercial Square) and ask them to explain and make representations though the Bonfire Council as well as writing to all members of the multi-agency group lodging my official disagreement and complaint of the decision made behind closed doors.
“Falmer Station, while small for example, copes with large crowds almost every week to the stadium and the idea that it couldn’t cope with some extra passengers to Lewes is just not credible.”
He also criticised the “arbitrary time of midday” to close the railway stations, adding: “I had hoped at least for the smaller stations not even in the Lewes district a harmonisation of 4.30pm would be acceptable but there seems to be no understanding from yourself as to compromise on this situation.”
What a mess. In days gone by the railways bent over backwards to accommodate crowds attending events by laying on special trains. The town itself seems to be at fault here too however. Why not try to accommodate crowds at a rec ground or park, rather than just not bothering and telling people to stay away?
Three points:
1) rail companies now refer to the public as “customers” (i.e. people who buy tickets) rather than “passengers” (i.e. people who they have to, y’know, move from A to B)
2) because of the way the rail franchise was awarded, the train company gets paid in advance, rather than through ongoing ticket sales
3) they only get fined if a train is cancelled or delayed – not if it fails to stop at a particular station.
If they are not stopping at Lewes because of large crowds then….why not cancel trains to the Amex on match days for the same reason!!!??? Total stupidity!
2) because of the way the rail franchise was awarded, the train company gets paid in advance, rather than through ongoing ticket sales
This is why a travel company doesn’t see an event that draws thousands of people as an opportunity to make money. It does the same for London-Brighton bike ride. Its like Easy-Jet not flying to Spain in summer because too many people want to travel.
No, it’s like easyJet getting paid by the government to fly to and from Spain, whether or not they bothered to land at commercial airports.
And they are still heavily subsidised by the taxpayers…but that money goes to middle men through licensing and franchise support…just like the fare system highlighted. The Tories and their supporters topslice the public purse whereas they slam any funds going to the poor.
And that is despite the massive state subsidies for the railways which go to licensing, franchises and other middlemen when BR was split into over 100 different companies so that rich Tories and their supporters can topslice the public purse for billions. However, if the sick, needy and infirm are given handouts then the Mail, Sun and Telegraph will cry foul.
It’s odd how we talk about “subsidising” railways – and yet when the State uses public money to repair and develop highways, we refer to it as “investing” in roads. Very weird.
Maybe Mr Russell-Moyle should get a bit more involved in his Society rather than just turning up on the 5th expecting it all to be ready for him and then he’d see why the Bonfire Societies are all in favour of the trains not running and have been pushing for it for years. Typical fifther with a sense of entitlement.