Community petition over Stagecoach 51 Service heads to County Hall
2nd September
Community Petition Over Stagecoach 51 Service Heads to County Hall
Heathfield, East Sussex – A petition calling for improvements to the Stagecoach 51 bus service will be considered by East Sussex County Council (ESCC) on Monday 8th September at 9am, when the Lead Member for Transport, Cllr Claire Dowling, addresses the matter at County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes.
“I will be making representation at the meeting, as will the initiator of the petition, Erin Wigham. The meeting is open to the public, and it would be great to have some supporters, though it is unlikely that Cllr Dowling will allow anyone else to speak. If you wish to attend, you should be at County Hall in good time to allow for signing in at reception.” commented Cllr Anne Cross, East Sussex County Council, who has been supporting the campaign from the start.
The petition, launched earlier this year by local resident Erin Wigham, gathered more than 1,500 signatures before being presented to the council in May. A detailed report has since been produced by ESCC’s Director of Transport, Rupert Clubb, and will form the basis of the discussion at next week’s meeting.
Concerns Over Service Reliability
Campaigners argue that despite Stagecoach’s promise in March that moving the 51 service to an hourly timetable would improve reliability, passengers have continued to face frequent delays and missed buses. Some residents feel the situation has even worsened.
Adding to frustrations, Stagecoach has announced yet another timetable change later in September. Under the new schedule, buses will no longer run at regular hourly intervals but instead at gaps of roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes, creating further uncertainty for passengers.
Public Involvement
Both Erin Wigham and Cllr Anne Cross will make formal representations at the meeting, which is open to the public. While supporters can attend, Cllr Dowling is not expected to allow additional speakers. Those planning to come are advised to arrive early to allow time for signing in at reception.
What’s Next
The meeting represents a critical moment for residents who rely on the 51 service, many of whom feel the repeated changes have left them without a dependable link to work, school, and essential services.
Full details, including the agenda and Rupert Clubb’s transport report, are available on the ESCC website.
