Brighton bus service changes prompt Hove Town Hall protest

Brighton bus passengers are planning to demonstrate outside Hove Town Hall this week about changes to their service.

The demo was organised at a public meeting at St Patrick’s Church in Woodingdean attended by the ward councillors and Simon Kirby, the Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown.

People living in Woodingdean and Ovingdean told the meeting about the problems they were facing since the 52 bus route was shortened last month. It now stops at Brighton Marina rather than going into the centre of Brighton.

School children said that it was taking them nearly an hour and a half to get to Cardinal Newman, Blatchington Mill and BHASVIC.

And other residents spoke about how difficult it was to commute to Brighton station or get to the Royal Sussex County Hospital since the changes were introduced.

They were part of a package of spending cuts agreed by Brighton and Hove City Council.

The demonstration is due to take place before the full council meeting at Hove Town Hall on Thursday (25 October).

At the meeting a deputation of residents will put questions to the Green Party transport spokesman Councillor Ian Davey.

And two Conservative councillors, Dee Simson and Mary Mears, plan to question Councillor Davey about the decision to cut the service.

Councillor Simson said: “We were told that there would be good connections for other buses at Brighton Marina but there aren’t.

“Villagers from Woodingdean are often having to wait 20 minutes as other buses are either full at peak times or are late.

“One young girl who has never been late for school before has suddenly got four late marks since September all thanks to the new 52 bus route.

“Residents pay the same council tax in Woodingdean as everyone else and nothing short of the 52 being reinstated in full will satisfy us.”

Councillor Graham Cox, the Conservative group transport spokesman, said: “It is becoming increasingly clear that the Green Party didn’t think this decision through properly.

“They say that they want people to use public transport more yet I have been hearing of residents, who had become car-free in recent years due to the 52, who are now having to buy cars again as the bus service just isn’t reliable enough.

“It doesn’t make any sense.”

The protest is scheduled for 3pm on Thursday, with the meeting due to start at 4.30pm. The meeting is open to the public.