Lewes BONFIRE 2009 Important information for residents and visitors
Changes this year to keep crowd numbers to a safe and comfortable level will affect travel and parking on the day
We are committed to preserving the historic bonfire tradition in Lewes whilst keeping everyone safe. This year there
are new arrangements to help people enjoy the night:
Crowd numbers along the central procession route will be kept to a safe and comfortable level. The emergency access routes will be kept clear of parked vehicles and obstructions.
IF YOU ARE A LEWES RESIDENT
Please get your vehicle home before 5.00pm on 5th November so that you can avoid the road closures. The closures will be in place until about midnight. All parking will be suspended on the roads shown in red on the safety map from 4.00pm on 5th November. Any vehicles that remain parked on the roads shown in red after 4pm will be towed away. Residents
on these roads will receive more detailed information about alternative parking prior to the event.
The A275 Nevill Road and Brighton Road will be open until 7.00 pm to allow residents of Nevill, Landport and Houndean to gain access their homes. At the Ashcombe Roundabout there will be no access to Lewes.
Normal parking controls in streets and car parks in Lewes will resume at 9am on 6 November.
IF YOU ARE A VISITOR
Please dont drop litter or bring glass bottles into the town.
RAIL SERVICES
You will have to queue at Brighton and other stations. Last services from Lewes depart between 12.00am and 12.30am depending on your destination.
PARKING
Parking in Lewes will be limited on 5th November. The town centre procession and emergency access routes will be cleared of cars by 4.00pm. Dont try to bring your car into Lewes for the bonfire celebrations.
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
Procession Routes The red routes are used for processions and are within Lewes Central Parking Zone. Parking will not be allowed on red routes after 2.00pm. Contravention notices may be issued to any vehicle parked on a red route after 2.00pm. Any vehicle remaining on any red route after 4.00pm risks being towed away to a compound. Residents who have permits to park on the red routes will receive a letter before 5th November giving details of alternative parking places. Emergency access routes From 5.00pm the following routes shown green on the map will become clearways with no parking or waiting. The entire length of the Brighton Road from the Ashcombe roundabout along the A275 Nevill Road to
its junction with the Offham Road (including the parking bays on Nevill Road). The A26 Cuilfail Tunnel and Malling Hill from its junction with the A27 Southerham roundabout to the junction with the B2192 Earwig corner (including the lay-bys).
Parking will not be allowed on any part of the A27 or A26 Trunk Roads at any time. Any parked vehicles will be towed away. Road closures The roads coloured red will be closed from 5.00pm. The following traffic restrictions will also come into force:
1. The C7 will be closed at the Kingston road junction with Wellgreen Lane at 5.00pm. Traffic going north will not get past this point and will have to divert through the Wellgreen Lane C324 to gain access to the westward bound A27. There will be no parking or waiting on the C7 north of the closure.
2. At the Ashcombe roundabout the A27 exit to Brighton Road will be closed at 5.00pm. There will be no access to Lewes
3. At 7.00pm until midnight, the A275 and Brighton Road will be closed to all traffic from the Offham Road junction through to the Ashcombe roundabout. Residents of Nevill, Landport, Houndean and Winterbourne will be able to get access until 7.00pm by driving south on the A275 and Brighton Road. Southbound through traffic on the A275/Brighton Road will be able to gain access to the A27 until 7.00pm.
4. The Offham Road A2029 will be closed at 5.00pm at its junction with the A275.
5. Mayhew Way will be closed at 5.00pm at its junction with Church Lane (U5137).
6. The A26 Malling Street into Lewes (the Snail Roundabout) will be closed from 5.00pm. Access for buses will
be maintained.
BONFIRE SITES
There are six different bonfire societies:
Lewes Borough Commercial Square
Southover Waterloo South St Cliffe
At each fire site (shown on map) the Bonfire Society will light its bonfire and hold a firework display at
about 9.30pm.
PROCESSIONS
There are many processions along the red routes during the evening. Each bonfire society sells its own programme giving details of its procession routes. The main procession route is from Western Road, through the Bottleneck along the High Street then pass the War Memorial and down School Hill to Boots corner. The United Grand procession starts at
about 7.40pm. The main procession route from the Bottleneck becomes crowded early in the evening. When it is full,
the access barriers will be closed. Anyone coming into the town after that time can stay outside the main procession route or go straight to one of the bonfire sites. There will be marshals in the town centre who can give directions to the bonfire sites.
USEFUL CONTACTS
Lewes Bonfire Information Line: 01273 484004
