Local residents asked to feedback on the Stagecoach bus route with any comments on current service
5th November
Have you noticed any change to the 51 Bus Service? Local residents asked to share feedback
Cllr Anne Cross has reported an update after the recent presentation of the petition to East Sussex County Council over ongoing issues with the Stagecoach 51 bus route, which serves Heathfield, Five Ashes and Mayfield. this includes a new commitment from the council to improve reliability.
Cllr Dowling, Lead Member for Transport, has confirmed that the County Council will continue to work with Stagecoach to identify and implement highways measures to reduce service delays, alongside improvements to real-time passenger information — both key goals of the East Sussex Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).
“Local councillors and residents have long raised concerns about the 51’s reliability, with many people in this rural part of the county relying heavily on the service for daily travel. Despite previous timetable changes aimed at improving performance, reports of cancellations and delays have continued. The Heathfield News reported back in March 2025 on Erin Wigham’s campaign to improve bus services amd this is the continuence of that conversation. https://www.theheathfieldnews.co.uk/student-from-heathfield-campaigns-against-cuts-in-stagecoach-bus-service/
A meeting with Stagecoach is being set and your feedback is needed
“A meeting with senior Stagecoach managers is being arranged in the coming weeks, and feedback from regular passengers will be crucial. Residents are being asked to share their experiences — both good and bad — to help build an accurate picture of how the service is performing.
“Are buses turning up on time? Are you still experiencing cancellations? Are the real-time displays and website information working properly?” explained Cllr Anne Cross with a plea to update her on residents feedback.
Contact Stagecoach directly
You can contact Stagecoach directly via their FAQs and contact page, but if you don’t receive a response, please inform East Sussex County Council by emailing publictransport.pts@eastsussex.gov.uk and copy in your local councillor.
If you’ve noticed improvements and are now happy with the 51 service, that feedback is equally valuable.
The Heathfield News will continue to follow this story closely. If you’d like to share your experience, you can also email ESCC directly at: publictransport.pts@eastsussex.gov.uk
