Eastbourne Eco Action Network (EEAN) welcomes the decision to approve the new bus lanes. The East Sussex County Council (ESCC) Lead Member for Transport and Environment now supports the revised plans for bus priority measures along Seaside and St Anthony’s Avenue. This being part of the county council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.
The second public consultation showed that the majority (56%) of replies supported the new plans. Following concerns from local residents and businesses, changes have been made to the original proposal with the result that there will be more parking places than originally planned along the route.
The new plans are predicted to have little or no detrimental effect to journey times along the two roads but would reduce bus journey times, greatly improve reliability and make the bus an attractive alternative for short, local and cross-town trips.
Local councils want to support public transport, walking, cycling and wheeling. ESCC have received £41 million from the government to support better bus services. Bus priority is important for Eastbourne to be able to move to a more sustainable transport system in the future. Buses provide transport for all members of the population including the old, young, disabled and those unable to afford cars.
EEAN are confident that the bus priority measures will be successfully introduced and that local businesses will continue to thrive.
There has to be a better way to implement new transport schemes, than making two sets of campaigners, fight it out.
Seaside
The contentious Eastbourne Seaside bus lanes, which have now been agreed by East Sussex County Council (ESCC), still have to be redrawn and then go back to the Department for Transport , for a third time, for final sign off. Large amounts of money have already been spent on redesigning, two consultations, micro modelling traffic flows, health and safety and equality assessments . All this while nothing has been built and a year has gone by.
Non Bus Lane Options
However is seems that outside of the formal process it is possible for the various campaigning sides to agree what they think would work.
In terms of the £41M Bus Service Improvement Programme (BSIP) measures this includes:-
A scheme, proposed in the BSIP consultation, of a 100m ‘bus gate’ at then end of Atlantic Drive and the Crumbles, that would join the North and South harbours for buses. Perhaps a modified version of the 5 and 5A could then run along the seafront and through the harbour. This could lead to a faster and more regular service for the new housing developments.
Priority Traffic Lights for buses, where they actively change the lights, to let them through. You can see the idea at Huggetts Lane in Willingdon , where lights miss a phase if nobody wants to turn right or the green light stays longer if more traffic is on one direction. This makes the traffic flow better. Now add in the detection of buses and perhaps have longer, or earlier green phases. Of course the other vehicles on the same carriageway would also benefit. ESCC have £1.5M for 34 locations where there will be priority lights. Let us make the most of these time savings.
These are both examples of widespread support. There is then less likelihood of campaigners disagreeing and more of the tight budget will be spent on actually building schemes.
Cycling
The same idea should also be used for cycle routes, where there is a often a consensus, that off-road routes do not cause issues for motor vehicles. Such successful schemes include Horsey Sewer, Cuckoo Trail and the A27 shared path to Firle. So let us prioritise these where possible, instead of contentious and poorly configured solutions that are ‘shoehorned’ into narrow spaces on roads and footways.
Based on letter in Eastbourne Herald and Sussex Express ( on line)
What a wasted opportunity! Thousands of new houses are being built in South Wealden without enough solar panels. Very similar in Eastbourne where apart from small schemes, houses are being built with either no or inadequate solar. This being the sunniest place in the UK!
Background
The price of solar panels ( Photovoltaic PV) keeps dropping dramatically . So why do local councils not influence builders in making the most of this clean energy?
It would make sense to reduce electricity grid demand by ensuring that all our newly built homes have enough solar panels. This does not appear to be happening. Where they are included, there can be as few as 2 panels and no battery. This would provide up to 1kW. This is barely enough to run a toaster.
Eastbourne’s previous MP, Caroline Ansell, in 2022 backed a bill, to make solar panels mandatory on new homes. “Solar costs have fallen by 50 per cent in the last seven years and I believe it is now the right time to ensure developers put this technology on all new homes.This is a win for homeowners and the planet. Installing solar is green and it will cut energy costs for people when gas and electricity prices are high and will remain so for some time.”
Sunsave says “The benefit of legally mandated solar panels on new builds in the UK would be enormous, and it seems to be on the horizon. However, until that time, it’s crucial that developers refrain from putting a pointlessly small number of solar panels on the roofs of new properties, as this only causes headaches for homeowners further down the line. “
Locally
Hindsland – Eastbourne Road Polegate
Some developers are doing well and some not. Here is an example in Hindsland (Polegate) . There will be 180 houses, where each unit, has around 2 solar panels. Next to it will be Mornings Mill with 800 units. Let us hope this will do better.
In the main picture is an estate in Hellingly. These houses have 4 to 6 panels. However on the other side of the road is a huge estate with next to none.
Building Regulations
So solar panels aren’t compulsory on new builds. They have become a common way for developers to meet certain building regulations. Many builders choose to install them in order to meet the required SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) score for energy efficiency.
By incorporating solar panels in the roof, developers enhance the property’s energy performance and raise their SAP score. This score is a calculation of its energy cost performance and renewable energy sources. Each building’s SAP score is then used in its Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating.
SAP scores are on a scale of 1 to 100+ with higher scores indicating better energy efficiency and less environmental impact. A score of over 100 would mean that the property’s net cost of energy over the year is nil, perhaps due to exporting back to the grid.
According to the UK Government’s most recent survey, the average SAP rating was less than 70 points. So how do developers get a higher score?
Walls, roofs, and floors are well-insulated
High-efficiency boilers or heat pump
Solar panels
Using double/ triple-glazed windows LED lighting
Mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR)
Less heat loss by design & construction
Smart thermostats & heating controls
So solar panels are just one way to increase the score. But adding only 2 panels can have negative effects. One common problem is that developers don’t use all the available roof space. The property gets a higher SAP score but with only a few panels the actual impact on energy bills is negligible.
This can then create challenges if the homeowner decides to expand their solar panel system. Sometimes the original panels might be sunk into the roof and will need to be removed, to allow for a larger system, which adds to the total cost.
From the house to the Power Grid is becoming bi-directional (From Octopus )
Often the developers will provide an EV charger, for each house, but this will need to use the national grid . What a waste ! When more panels and batteries could result in free power. The idea of ‘National Grid 2.0’ allows for electric cars with solar panels and a battery, to export excess energy and provide enough household energy for up to a week.
Conclusion
Many developers appear to be installing as few solar panels as possible. This will not support net zero. There should be a minimum number. Perhaps 4 panels in a ‘standard house’ with even more in larger ones.
There will be new Eastbourne bus lanes in 2025/26. They will mark a major step in improving public transport and reducing congestion in the town. They will also deliver significant benefits to bus reliability and journey times. The bus lanes, which will run along Seaside and St Anthony’s, are part of a wider effort to promote sustainable transport solutions. Plus they should reduce the number of car trips in the town. Priority for buses is an important step in reducing traffic on our congested roads.
East Sussex County Council’s officers (ESCC) have recommended these bus lanes should proceed. With the final decision being made at the ESCC Transport and Environment Committee on November 18th.
Background
The Government gave £41m to ESCC, for their Bus Service Improvement Programme (BSIP). ESCC state this funding is to “… to ensure that East Sussex residents and visitors enjoy the highest possible quality bus services that provide a frequent and comprehensive choice, reduce congestion and make a positive contribution to better air quality and decarbonisation.”
Without new bus priority infrastructure, such as these bus lanes, it is unlikely to succeed.
Initial Consultation
The Initial BSIP bus priority public consultation ran for 8 weeks in 2023. However the Seaside scheme had 70% opposing it. The responses highlighted concerns about the loss of on-street parking provision. As well as the negative impact on general traffic flow due to reallocating road space for bus lanes. The designers were then told to reconsider the design.
Unfortunately one of the effects of the bus lanes being rejected, as Stagecoach predicted, was the Government did not allocate any funds to the county for Zero Emission buses (ZEBRA) . Whilst Surrey, West Sussex , Kent and Brighton were funded for hydrogen and electric buses.
Second Consultation
There was then a modified scheme. This had the proposed cycle infrastructure removed. Plus a considerable number of parking places reinstated. This was to address the concerns of residents and local businesses along Seaside. This design was consulted on and this is the scheme that has been accepted. See details here
This second consultation had 2,788 completed surveys. 56% supported the new scheme and 37% opposed it. It is fair to say, this has split the town, with some opposition from some local business owners. As is often the case, businesses may over estimate the number of their customers, who drive to their premises. Only time will tell what affect the bus lanes will have!
Time Savings
ESCC predict improvements, for bus times, will vary by the time of day but should be Eastbound up to 3.6 minutes and Westbound 3.4 minutes. So on a return trip around 7 minutes. Plus there is the benefit of a more reliable timetable.
Following concerns from residents there was also further modelling undertaken. This was to include the local streets, that had junctions on Seaside. The conclusion was that “nil detriment to general traffic journey times in both the AM and PM peak periods, whilst delivering significant benefits to bus reliability and journey times.”
Bus lanes along Seaside should be good for passengers. They will also play a vital role in improving overall mobility in Eastbourne , give people greater transport choices, make the area more liveable as well as improve the environment.
Paul Humphreys – EEAN Transport Group
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However is seems that outside of the formal process it is possible for the various campaigning sides to agree what they think would work.
The same idea should also be used for cycle routes, where there is a often a consensus, that off-road routes do not cause issues for motor vehicles. Such successful schemes include Horsey Sewer, Cuckoo Trail and the A27 shared path to Firle. So let us prioritise these where possible, instead of contentious and poorly configured solutions that are ‘shoehorned’ into narrow spaces on roads and footways.
