Emergency Services and other organisations are reminding people that Lewes Bonfire night celebrations mean road closures and changes to train services.
The measures are part of plans to help the event run as safely and smoothly as possible.
Lewes Bonfire night presents a unique challenge to the multi-agency group tasked with ensuring public safety, particularly because the Bonfire Societies cancelled events last year due to Covid-19 guidance and legislation, and this year 5 November falls on a Friday.
This is likely to make it even more popular and tens of thousands of people are expected in the town, prompting concerns about over-crowding particularly in busy areas such as the War Memorial.
Additionally, it is important to remember that the fireworks sites are strictly ticket-only. Capacity at sites is determined on the basis of safety and the events may be affected by Covid guidance from Government: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-covid-19/events-and-attractions.
This is why the multi-agency group cannot be complacent and have taken a number of actions ahead of the event, as well as providing extra guidance relating to Covid.
Covid guidance for locals planning to attend
- Help keep everyone safe by having your vaccination and taking a Lateral Flow test before the event
- If you have possible Covid symptoms, please stay home and get a test
- Check in via NHS Test and Trace wherever possible
Covid guidance for local businesses and licensed premises
- Encourage people to check in by displaying the NHS Track and Trace QR code and app
- Encourage social distancing measures including one-way systems and queue management
- Encourage good hygiene for staff and customers by continuing to provide sufficient hand sanitising stations and having robust cleaning and disinfection regimes in place
- Ensure adequate ventilation in inside or crowded places
- As with previous years, a series of travel restrictions will be introduced for 5 November 2021 to help reduce the risks associated with this event and safely reduce the number of people attending.
These are being confirmed ahead of the event in order to allow people more time to plan. People are also being encouraged to attend fireworks events closer to home and not to attend Lewes Bonfire Night.
Road
Road closures will be in place around the town from 4.45pm. Diversions will be in place for traffic to travel outside of the town. Lewes residents are advised to get vehicles home before 4.30pm to avoid any road closures in place. Visitors are advised not to bring vehicles into the town.
The road closures will include:
• A27 junction with A277 Brighton Road (Ashcombe Roundabout)
• A27 junction with A26 (Southerham Roundabout)
• A26 junction with B2192 Ringmer Road (Earwig Corner)
• C7 Kingston Road junction with C324 Wellgreen Lane
• A275 Offham Rd junction with B2116 Plumpton Road
• A27 junction with Southerham Lane (Cliffe Industrial Estate)
Parking restrictions will begin to be imposed from noon.
A full list of road closures and parking restrictions will be available at
www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/lewesbonfire
Rail
Plans for rail travel on 5 November are as follows:
• There will be no trains calling at Lewes, Glynde, and Southease after 17.00.
• There will be no trains calling at Cooksbridge after the 16.24 from Victoria to Eastbourne has stopped there at 17.23 - the same as previous years following representations and review.
• There will be no trains calling at Falmer after the departure of the 18.31 Brighton to Hastings service at 18.40. This is a change from previous years when the last train was at 17.00, and it has been made in response to feedback.
No trains will call at the above stations until the first timetabled trains on the morning of 6 November.
It is recognised there will be an impact on train passengers and road users who are not planning to attend the event. The decision to bring in travel restrictions has been made in the best interests of safety. It is hoped that those who are inconvenienced will understand that and have time to make alternative arrangements where possible.
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