October 2026
To see this newsletter in your browser click here.
TRAINS STILL IN A MESS
The reduced service through Lewes on the Haywards Heath to Eastbourne route continues between 9.00 and 16.00 Mondays to Fridays in order to deal with trains running slower because of derailment fears. Passengers outside these times must take their chances.
Trains from Brighton to Eastbourne via Lewes are running as normal.
There is also a reduction in service during these times from Eastbourne to Ore.
Mondays to Fridays the first train to Haywards Heath after 9.00 is the 10.04, followed by the 11,04, 11.59, 13.04, 14.04, 1504, 15.25. On these trains you will have to change at Haywards Heath for ongoing trains. It is always possible to get a train to Brighton and change there but this is a longer journey.
Do check online journey planners if you can, especially when returning to Lewes from places like London. You may need to change at Haywards Heath or at Brighton and it may not be clear where you should change.
It has been suggested that these changes may end mid October, but no firm date has been announced.
SAVING THE BUS STATION
Sara Earl from the campaign to save the bus station writes:
“I had already written to Andy Burnham at the beginning of September about the situation we face with the Lewes Bus Station site, and Ruth and Neil Thomson, knowing this, gave me a copy of their new book: All Change! Lewes Bus Station asking me to get a copy to Andy Burnham. Initially, I thought this could just be achieved by asking James MacCleary to help, but there are complexities. We also need to include Heidi Alexander, the current Secretary of State for Transport and Simon Lightwood, Under-Secretary for Transport.
I had already attended The People’s Emergency Briefing in Seaford back in the summer and since I last wrote to the PM there has been a webinar about how to get maximum support for transport change as has been achieved in Bristol, Manchester and Cambridge. It recommended trying to involve as many community groups as possible. Apart from the obvious climate and sustainability benefits, there have also been new government initiatives this month on women’s safety on public transport, including an online consultation which has to be filled in by October the 9th, here is the link.
It also helps that the price of the Lewes Bus Station site has been reduced by 33% to £3 million as this demonstrates the lack of an appetite to build by the current owners, and makes reinstatement of transport facilities more financially viable.
So, I plan to resend an updated version of my letter to government (Andy Burnham, Heidi Alexander, Simon Lightwood and any other minister with an interest in transport) with the book and try and attempt to get the letter co-badged by Lewes Climate Hub, and all the organisations that have anything to do with transport signed up with the Climate Hub.
We are thinking about having sheets for people to sign to show their support of the letter at the engagement Saturdays in the Eastgate Precinct planned for 10th 17th and possibly 24th October (similar to those we had in September 2025).
We are wondering about taking a group on a bus up to Westminster to present the book to Andy Burnham/ Heidi Alexander to get some publicity for the cause, and Ruth and Neil are excited about this idea and therefore supportive. The campaign is also interested in renewed media coverage for the problem at the 4th anniversary and, as James MacCleary has the last word in the book, we would obviously want to involve him if at all possible. To this end, I will attend his surgery at the LCH in early October”.
MEETING ON PLANNING FOR PEDESTRIANS 28TH OCTOBER 7PM AT THE DEPOT
Lewes Living Streets writes:
“Narrow pavements and increasing number of vehicles don’t easily mix. Over the last few years, Lewes Living Streets has worked with Cycle Lewes to devise a plan for a slower lower traffic Lewes, where pedestrians have safer and more pleasant spaces as do cyclists and those with mobility issues.
We’ve employed consultants to look at how this might be done. Over the last year we worked with a range of groups across Lewes to produce a Master Plan for the town with the idea that this will be supported by the South Downs National Park. This includes the aim of delivering more genuinely affordable homes in Lewes, more employment space, a greater range of social and community facilities across the whole town. It also addresses the challenges we face in reducing through traffic and making Lewes a great town for people to ‘gather and dwell’, to travel by public transport, and to walk, cycle or wheel . It also includes safe walking and cycling routes to neighbouring towns and villages.
Come along on the 28th October to the Depot Cinema (studio) at 7pm to the first of a series of joint meetings with Cycle Lewes. You will hear about the work that has been done from the initial concept of low traffic Lewes to the Master Plan for Lewes and how we are working with South Downs National Park (and want to work with the planned Sussex Strategic Mayor) to make it a reality. The meeting will include a visual presentation of some schemes that have worked in places like Lewes. There will be opportunities for questions and discussions”.
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
Public health professionals have started to highlight the way transport affects public health. This is in no small part down to Eastbourne Activist Professor Scarlett McNally, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.
She has been behind the Bristol declaration which highlights the dangers of car dependency.
She has also written an article for the British Medical Journal on the links between transport and health.
BUS ROUTE OF THE MONTH the 129 in Lewes
The 129 service, which is a Mini-Bus operated by Community Transport Lewes area, runs on Monday to Friday 9.30-14.00 Monday to Friday on a figure of 8 route serving parts of town not served by other routes.
It leaves the Waitrose bus stop at 9.23, 10.23, 11.33 and 13.23 for a circuit via Tesco and Spences Lane in Malling.
It leaves Stop B in Friars Walk at 9.54, 10.54, 12.14 and 13.34 for a circuit via the parts of the Pells, Wallands, Winterbourne and the railway station. It will stop anywhere in Lancaster Street, Abinger Place, the Avenue, Park Road, Prince Edwards Road, King Henrys Road, De Warrenne Road, Gundreda Road and Fitzjohns Road. Elsewhere it stops at ordinary bus stops.
Normal fares and bus passes apply, including the Lewes day ticket.
As always, it is a case of use it or lose it. Why not schedule a journey now?
THE CYCLE ROUTE FORWARD
Across the UK, a growing number of high-quality cycle schemes are changing the way people move around their communities. When safe, direct and well-connected routes are provided, people respond by cycling more, while the places around them become more attractive, accessible and welcoming for everyone. Here is a film which may give you some ideas for Lewes.
MORE ON INTERRAIL
After last month’s article about Interrail passes, here is another article with some interesting suggestions for how to use your pass.
THIS MONTH’S WALKS
Some walks for autumn colour:
Chailey woods, commons and fields
A delightful circular walk featuring woods (bluebells in spring), commons and farmland based on the Chailey Link walk devised by local people. Slightly undulating. A number of stiles. 6.82miles / 10.97km
Forget Beachy Head and the South Downs, The High Weald is the best place for walking in Sussex. This walk, which is easy to get to from many parts of the south east, introduces you to the some joys of the High Weald and also to one of the threats to it. 6 miles, 10 km
A lovely varied walk through Wealden woods and hills, using the London to Hastings Railway and ending at famous Battle. It starts at Robertsbridge Station, which may seem a long way from Lewes, but if you consult Travel Line South East to get a good connection, you can be there in little more than an hour. 7.4 miles/12km. Rolling hills and a couple of moderately steep climbs
A SAFER C7
The Safer C7 campaign seeks improvements in the C7 road from Southover to Newhaven via the valley villages. They write:
“The Safer C7 Project is pleased to announce that we are now ready to start implementing the plans to improve the safety of the C7 Lewes-Newhaven road for all its users.
Detailed concept design plans were produced by PJA associates and have been refined following six public consultation events in 2024 and 2025. Representatives from East Sussex County Council Highways and the South Downs National Park have made site visits and provided helpful comments on the design plans as these have evolved.
The concept design plans can be viewed on the project website; www.thec7road.org/safer-c7-project
There will be further opportunities for residents, parishes, local groups and other members of the public, as well as statutory bodies, to make comments on the detail of the plans during the planning application and approval process.
This summer, following a lengthy application process, the Safer C7 Project has become a registered charity, so we are now in a better position to handle significant sums of grant funding and to commission contractors on behalf of the community.
We have recently appointed a suitably qualified and experienced project manager, Chris Patching of Patching and Miller Ltd, to take the lead on the planning approvals process and management of the implementation programme.
We have now got most of the funding needed to implement the first phases of the project.
We were successful in applying to the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds to install village gateway signs to increase drivers’ awareness of all the villages and settlements tucked out of sight along the C7. The idea is to alert drivers to the likelihood of vehicles and pedestrians emerging from the many concealed junctions. The signs have been designed by the national park to give a stronger sense of ‘place’, reminding drivers that they are passing through an area of outstanding natural beauty, and are likely to encounter walkers and cyclists as well as residents seeking to enjoy the landscape, using the many footpaths and cycle ways that cross the C7.
We were also successful in applying to Lewes District Council for CIL funds to provide some new and improved crossing points and to improve some bus stop areas where needed. We are also going to install some new footways along the side of the C7; initially to connect the garden centre to the bus stop and adjoining footpaths near the Wellgreen Lane junction, and the Abergavenny Arms pub to the footpath from Northease and Iford.
These are the initial phases of the project, designed to influence drivers’ perceptions of the road and hence driver behaviour. The next phases are designed to provide some physical restraints to reduce the speed of traffic, including priority working points at Rodmell, Northease, and on the Kingston Road, as well as some modifications to junctions. Reducing vehicle speed should enable us to meet the current East Sussex County Council criteria for reducing the current 50 and 40 mph speed limits to speeds more appropriate for this narrow and winding country road and its range of users.”
PUBLICISE TRAVEL LOG LEWES
Travelman would really appreciate it if you are able to help spread the word about Travel Log Lewes. You could do this by:
1) copying the newsletter to your friends.
2) Displaying a poster in your window. There is a link to some suitable posters here.
3) Placing an article in the newsletter of any group or organisation to which you belong.
Email travelman@travelloglewes.co.uk and I can send you something tailored to your group.
PLANNING CORNER
LIDL- Plans for a new Lidl superstore have now been resubmitted, allegedly taking account of objections that were made last time. Comments by council officers suggest that they will support the application. However no account seems to have been taken account of the public footpath through the site. If you wish to comment you can find out about the plans and comment here.
THE SUSSEX TROUT- The proposals for large housing schemes at both Hamsey/Cooksbridge and East Chiltington/Plumpton have highlighted the threat to tributaries of the Ouse River and the rare ‘Sussex Tiger’ Sea Trout Here is a film about the Trout in the area.