Traffic chaos as Brighton buses refuse to travel down 'dangerous' North Street (From The Argus)
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Traffic chaos as Brighton buses refuse to travel down 'dangerous' North Street
6:50am Thursday 5th April 2012 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter
NOT ON THE BUSES: Two women at a suspended bus stop
Cracked surfaces following roadworks have forced hundreds of buses to be diverted away from a main shopping street.
Brighton and Hove Bus Company said yesterday it would not be running any services in North Street, Brighton, until urgent repairs are carried out.
And later yesterday afternoon, it said that due to "acute traffic congestion", it was terminating many buses at the Old Steine, and others would avoid the Old Steine altogether (more details at the end of the story).
About 5.15pm the firm said westbound services were now back using North Street as queues on the seafront had led to services becomming severely delayed.
Earlier bus bosses said the diversion was for safety reasons, adding it was being "proactive rather than reactive".
Brighton and Hove City Council, which is responsible for the road, said it was committed to repairing the road "as soon as practically possible".
A statement issued by the bus company said buses had been "severely grounding on failed utilities manholes and trenches in North Street".
It added: “We are closely working with Brighton and Hove City Council to ensure rectification work is done as soon as possible.
“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and will get buses back into North Street as soon as the rectification work is completed.”
A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: "The council is concerned about the condition of North Street following works carried out by utilities companies and is grateful to Brighton and Hove Buses for continuing their services on a diverted route.
“North Street is a major bus route in the city and our priority is to find out the extent of the problem and make sure the road is repaired to the standard required for its safe use.
“We are committed to doing this as soon as practically possible, and, as a matter of urgency will be carrying out an in-depth digging investigation over the next few days to find out just how serious the problems are.
"We will then have a clear picture of why the re-instatement has failed, and if this is as a result of utilities’ works, we will use all the powers at our disposal to address the issue with the companies concerned and resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
“The council takes the quality of works undertaken on the city’s roads very seriously.
"We want to make absolutely sure the right repairs are put in place and do not fail again. We may need to hire specialist equipment to carry out the investigation and then we’ll be ensuring the work is done.
"In the meantime we thank the public for their patience and apologise for any inconvenience while we undertake the investigation.”
Update from the bus company at 5.15pm yesterday
Westbound buses have now returned to their normal route up North Street. The diversion route via the sea front and West Street was causing buses to become extremely late.
At the moment buses on services 12/12A/12X, 28 and 29 are still starting from the Old Steine to try to get them back on time, but from tomorrow morning (Thursday) they will return to Churchill Square.
Eastbound buses from Churchill Square or Dyke Road are operating via Queens Road and North Road, then northbound services continue via St Peters Church to normal route, and eastbound buses continue to Old Steine to join normal route.
Eastbound buses from Brighton Station operate from Queens Road via West Street and Seafront to Brighton Pier then normal route.
Brighton and Hove Buses apologises for any inconvenience caused.
Comments(71)
rolivan
says...
11:19am Wed 4 Apr 12
jimbobmaginty
says...
11:21am Wed 4 Apr 12
long-term resident
says...
11:21am Wed 4 Apr 12
pperrin
says...
11:25am Wed 4 Apr 12
Central Brighton is virtually a dedicated Bus Station.
This at a time when parking prices are going through the roof -- the Green loons in the council are gradually killing our city's golden goose.
nikkwad
says...
11:56am Wed 4 Apr 12
fedupwithgreens
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12:01pm Wed 4 Apr 12
Michael Inkpin-Leissner
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12:13pm Wed 4 Apr 12
BrightonHoveboy
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12:20pm Wed 4 Apr 12
kkj
says...
12:25pm Wed 4 Apr 12
pperrin wrote:Taxis? Private Hire? Delivery vehicles? Cycles?
I think Brighton and Hove Bus Co should pick up the bills.. they have exclusive use of this road.
Central Brighton is virtually a dedicated Bus Station.
This at a time when parking prices are going through the roof -- the Green loons in the council are gradually killing our city's golden goose.
I suggest you get a dictionary and look up the definition of 'exclusive'.
george smith
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12:26pm Wed 4 Apr 12
Hove Actually
says...
12:33pm Wed 4 Apr 12
Archie Bun
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12:36pm Wed 4 Apr 12
NickBtn
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12:40pm Wed 4 Apr 12
Archie Bun wrote:depends how long the council takes to fix the road.... could see it adding up to thousands by then!
Thousands of buses? Err i'd query that.
NickBtn
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12:41pm Wed 4 Apr 12
Archie Bun wrote:depends how long the council takes to fix the road.... could see it adding up to thousands by then!
Thousands of buses? Err i'd query that.
paul76
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12:41pm Wed 4 Apr 12
toldsloth
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1:39pm Wed 4 Apr 12
Pitviper
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1:41pm Wed 4 Apr 12
toldsloth wrote:You shouldn't be standing up until the bus arrives at the stop, there are warnings on the bus telling you that!
I hope that the works also include resurfacing the "bus lane" at the War Memorial - it has now reached the point where it is dangerous to stand up as the bus enters the lane. Also Western Road in it's entirity needs resurfacing.
nikkwad
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1:58pm Wed 4 Apr 12
ripmaxman
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2:07pm Wed 4 Apr 12
nikkwad wrote:At least you can eat a chocolate tea pot and have some enjoyment. The only thing the Greens seem to be good at is spoiling every bodies fun!!!!
AND Bank Holiday weekend...mmmm The Green party are showing to be as useful as a chocolate tea pot...
ripmaxman
says...
2:14pm Wed 4 Apr 12
They couldn’t run a p*** up in a brewery.
Can’t wait until the next election to get these Muppets out.
nikkwad
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3:45pm Wed 4 Apr 12
ripmaxman wrote:Quite agree..!! These road works popped up over night! If I had some kind of a warning - and I would define a warning by posters and not suddenly being plunged in to a traffic jam - I could have planned ahead for work...inconsiderate morons...!
nikkwad wrote: AND Bank Holiday weekend...mmmm The Green party are showing to be as useful as a chocolate tea pot...At least you can eat a chocolate tea pot and have some enjoyment. The only thing the Greens seem to be good at is spoiling every bodies fun!!!!
taman
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3:50pm Wed 4 Apr 12
Mrs Newcastle
says...
3:52pm Wed 4 Apr 12
North Street, Brighton
Update 2.30pm 4 April - due to acute traffic congestion, all services that normally terminate at Churchill Square, Palmeira Square and Brighton Station will instead terminate at/restart from Old Steine in order to get buses back on time for subsequent journeys. Additionally, east/northbound services 5/5A/5B, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 46, 49, 49A, 50 and 56 from North Road will now operate direct to St Peter's Church and are not serving Old Steine. Westbound services are still serving Old Steine. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Jo Wadsworth
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4:10pm Wed 4 Apr 12
kkj
says...
4:21pm Wed 4 Apr 12
Mark the cab
says...
5:09pm Wed 4 Apr 12
Hundreds of buses pass through North St. everyday undermining the surface.
Too many buses clog this area up some days you could walk the length of North St on the roofs of the buses.
A turnaround at Palmeira sq.& old steine for some services with a shuttle bus running through the centre might help. or trolley bus shuttle.
Too many buses trying to get through A funnel!
More out of the bus thinking!
6LXB
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5:13pm Wed 4 Apr 12
NickBrt
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5:20pm Wed 4 Apr 12
Jacobdog
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5:30pm Wed 4 Apr 12
kkj
says...
5:43pm Wed 4 Apr 12
NickBrt wrote:Get off your soapbox, this would have happened if the council had been magenta & gold striped. The current council are continuing with a policy that has been in place for years.
We never had this trouble when we had a Labour Council, or indeed with the terrible Tories, yet the Greens let the public down once again. When will they consider the public's needs instead of their own selfish dogma.
rolivan
says...
5:48pm Wed 4 Apr 12
Mark the cab wrote:I have raised this idea before to no avail and yet now it seems it can be done.It would seem The Bus Company have all of the power and can run buses how they want when they want.They used to terminate at the Steine and Palmeira Sq in days gone by why can't it be done now with as you say a shuttle instead of ccan endless stream of buses trying to navigate North St and Western rd.
May be the bus company should take some responsibility for the roads as well.
Hundreds of buses pass through North St. everyday undermining the surface.
Too many buses clog this area up some days you could walk the length of North St on the roofs of the buses.
A turnaround at Palmeira sq.& old steine for some services with a shuttle bus running through the centre might help. or trolley bus shuttle.
Too many buses trying to get through A funnel!
More out of the bus thinking!
davyboy
says...
6:14pm Wed 4 Apr 12
pperrin wrote:no, they don't have 'exclusive' use. taxi and shop deliveries, plus the councils own rubbish collectors also use this road. if utilities contractors don't repair the road properly, then they should be footing the bill. it has long been the case that these contractors will do as cheap a job as possible, and this is the result. fair play to the bus company for forcing the councils hand, but the council in turn should be getting the contractors back to do the work properly.
I think Brighton and Hove Bus Co should pick up the bills.. they have exclusive use of this road.
Central Brighton is virtually a dedicated Bus Station.
This at a time when parking prices are going through the roof -- the Green loons in the council are gradually killing our city's golden goose.
Dribblethwaite
says...
6:20pm Wed 4 Apr 12
nikkwad
says...
6:38pm Wed 4 Apr 12
Dribblethwaite wrote:Bus drivers are too blood thirsty these days to make going on your bike safe! Plus..I work an hour away from my home...its risking my life...I think id feel safer ON a bus than being followed by one
On yer bikes ladies and gentlemen!
NickBrt
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6:47pm Wed 4 Apr 12
george smith
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7:28pm Wed 4 Apr 12
NickBrt wrote:Probably economically, it would be sensible to rejoin East Sussex
Dear kkj, I am mystified that you consider failure to do something about the roads is a 'policy in place for years'. the only policy the Greens know is to throw money at any pet project they fancy while completely ignoring the taxpayers who have to fork out for it.
kkj
says...
7:33pm Wed 4 Apr 12
Add to this the increasing number of buses using the North St-Western Road corridor and its not surprising the roads are falling apart.
It can't all be laid at the feet of the utility companies either. Building pinch points, loading zones, wider pavements, new traffic lights is all down to the council, and its been happening whatever the colour.
biker brighton
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7:35pm Wed 4 Apr 12
ICantThinkOfAName
says...
9:22pm Wed 4 Apr 12
Steve Concerned
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10:28pm Wed 4 Apr 12
graham_Seagull
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10:31pm Wed 4 Apr 12
ICantThinkOfAName wrote:The council officers would be the same no matter the colour of the administration, same policies as well.
Were the Greens in power when the major work by the utlities (Southern Water, was it??) was carried out or was it a Council of a different colour?
Next question?
Stu
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10:41pm Wed 4 Apr 12
Corn Hill
says...
11:11pm Wed 4 Apr 12
It may cost more in the short term but it will be safer and last longer, withstanding the daily rigours of 'thousands' of B&H buses.
I also agree with the idea of a shuttle service, Old Steine - Palmeira on some routes rather than a line of buses all going through Churchill Square.
They could have a £2 ticket valid for one hour to cover all the passengers connections...Simple
s
pte
says...
11:32pm Wed 4 Apr 12
6LXB wrote:Yes, it's giving the drivers haemorroids
According to a B&H source, who is a senior manager, the trade union 'Unite' has refused to allow buses to be driven through North Street. This is due to their safety concerns over the state of the road.
Bristol VR
says...
12:05am Thu 5 Apr 12
ghost bus driver
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1:10am Thu 5 Apr 12
pperrin wrote:No they don't. Stagecoach, Metrobus, Countryliner, Compass and Big Lemon all use it, along with taxis delivery lorries and normal traffic downhill from the side streets.
I think Brighton and Hove Bus Co should pick up the bills.. they have exclusive use of this road.
Central Brighton is virtually a dedicated Bus Station.
This at a time when parking prices are going through the roof -- the Green loons in the council are gradually killing our city's golden goose.
Joshiman
says...
9:28am Thu 5 Apr 12
Old Ladys Gin
says...
9:43am Thu 5 Apr 12
ICantThinkOfAName
says...
9:59am Thu 5 Apr 12
graham_Seagull wrote:Thank you, you made my point.
ICantThinkOfAName wrote:The council officers would be the same no matter the colour of the administration, same policies as well.
Were the Greens in power when the major work by the utlities (Southern Water, was it??) was carried out or was it a Council of a different colour?
Next question?
Rearrangethedeckchairs
says...
10:26am Thu 5 Apr 12
Hove Actually wrote:They also hate people who do not hug trees or knit their own yoghurt, who do not want to fill Brighton with extra terrestrial travellers in a ufo station, who want their pasties hot as opposed to Duncan-do-nuts, who do not drink (Caroline) Lucas-ade and all the reasonable and fair people who write to Argus on-line exposing the Greens as evil in-car(well not car I spose cos they hate them as well)-nate. There ort to be a law against it...
This was a ploy by the council to destroy the Easter Weekend as apart from the cars they also hate visitors and people having fun
Rearrangethedeckchairs
says...
10:30am Thu 5 Apr 12
ripmaxman wrote:I am very upset by this comment. Just because I am green does not mean I am Green. Sensitively yours Kermit the Frog.
This just shows what happens when a party that has never run anything gets into power!! They couldn’t run a p*** up in a brewery. Can’t wait until the next election to get these Muppets out.
Ballroom Blitz
says...
10:42am Thu 5 Apr 12
I can't think of another major european city that has a bus company that can't (or won't) run buses down the main street of their city.
We should be ashamed.
And all of you who voted the Greens in should be doubly ashamed.
Great timing as well, what with the first Bank Holiday weekend of the year upon us.
And the greens wonder why people elect to uses their cars.
Obvious really.
Ballroom Blitz
says...
11:11am Thu 5 Apr 12
Priorities - Please!!
Ballroom Blitz
says...
11:11am Thu 5 Apr 12
Priorities - Please!!
Pebbles
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11:16am Thu 5 Apr 12
s&k
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12:15pm Thu 5 Apr 12
jaffadub
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12:27pm Thu 5 Apr 12
mimseycal
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1:17pm Thu 5 Apr 12
BHCC should be far more on the ball when it comes to ensuring that utility companies do not leave our roads in such a state that public transport cannot use it.
BH busses should be far less prima dona'ish. They charge enough for their services and get plenty of concessions from both BHCC and central Government.
All these companies make me sick. They are all so busy seeing how far they can pass the ball, they care not a jot of the effect their machinations have on the paying public.
John Steed
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1:25pm Thu 5 Apr 12
Old Ale Man
says...
3:33pm Thu 5 Apr 12
pperrin wrote:Well said pperrin.
I think Brighton and Hove Bus Co should pick up the bills.. they have exclusive use of this road. Central Brighton is virtually a dedicated Bus Station. This at a time when parking prices are going through the roof -- the Green loons in the council are gradually killing our city's golden goose.
My sentiments exactly particularly about the loons, well it's them thats in charge of the loooony bin, en it?
I heard they were quite happy about their new traffic calming measures.
Old Ale Man
says...
3:44pm Thu 5 Apr 12
Mark the cab wrote:Not hundreds Mark it's close on 3000, yes thats right three 000.
May be the bus company should take some responsibility for the roads as well. Hundreds of buses pass through North St. everyday undermining the surface. Too many buses clog this area up some days you could walk the length of North St on the roofs of the buses. A turnaround at Palmeira sq.& old steine for some services with a shuttle bus running through the centre might help. or trolley bus shuttle. Too many buses trying to get through A funnel! More out of the bus thinking!
now that does a lot of damage to the roads and the environment don't it Mark?
Sussex jim
says...
4:56pm Thu 5 Apr 12
North Street in Brighton? No 1000ft. sheer drops, no low tunnels carved through rock, no sudden avalances or washouts due to tropical storms.
Sussex jim
says...
5:07pm Thu 5 Apr 12
North Street in Brighton? No 1000ft. sheer drops, no low tunnels carved through rock, no sudden avalances or washouts due to tropical storms.
Old Ladys Gin
says...
5:35pm Thu 5 Apr 12
The buses, and permitted traffic, could still use it but must give way to pedestrians.
Oh no! They do that kind of thing abroad and we can't possibly learn from them can we now?
hubby
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10:06pm Thu 5 Apr 12
grev02
says...
1:02am Fri 6 Apr 12
And within precisely 2 days of it being resurfaced... utilities workmen turned up and dug a hole in it.
It's been dug up so many times since then that almost none of the new road surface is actually left!
Old Ladys Gin
says...
4:05am Fri 6 Apr 12
hubby wrote:Whether the planet survives or not is beyond anything that can happen in Brighton, and also beyond any Green party.
Brighton has shown an amazing enlightenment in electing the Green party.It is the way forward if the planet is to survive.Give them a chance!
I honestly wouldn't worry too much.
Old Ladys Gin
says...
4:23pm Fri 6 Apr 12
co.uk/news/9636776.B
righton_and_Hove_bus
_fares_go_up_again/
And they still want to force us to travel on these dirty, empty, and largely ineffecient devices.
Old Ladys Gin
says...
12:32pm Sat 7 Apr 12
All 9 of me
says...
1:16pm Sat 7 Apr 12
John Steed wrote:hehe good one John
the next series of Ice Road truckers, the worlds most dangerous roads is being filmed in brighton, apparently filming would have started earlier in the year but the Nepalese driver who normally only drives in the Himalayas found north street too dangerous so a mongolian yak herder will be doing it instead
BURIRAM says...
11:16am Wed 4 Apr 12