TRAINS will not stop at Lewes tomorrow night amid fears there could be unofficial Bonfire Night celebrations.
Lewes Bonfire organisers say they looked at lifting the rail restrictions, which were decided upon last month, but decided against this after seeing party-goers breach Covid-19 restrictions in Brighton on the night of Halloween.
Hordes of revellers were involved in a series of parties in the city on Saturday night and police were met with “violence and abuse” as they tried to disperse the unruly crowds.
The organiser of one party was fined £10,000 for breaking lockdown laws.
Now there are concerns that further illegal mass gatherings could be held in lieu of Lewes Bonfire tomorrow.
The event had already been cancelled due to concerns surrounding social distancing amid the ongoing pandemic, with the bonfire societies prioritising the safety of their members and emergency services.
November 5 would usually see thousands of people take to the streets in Lewes for the biggest Bonfire Night celebration in the UK.
Each year, a huge procession of people wearing full costumes and carrying torches marches along the streets, and giant effigies of controversial figures are torched at the end of the parade.
However, this year, November 5 marks the start of national lockdown measures brought in to stop the spread of coronavirus this winter.
Lewes Bonfire organisers said: “There will not be any public bonfire sites, processions or public firework displays in Lewes and we expect all pubs and restaurants to be closed.
“A multi-agency group, which includes emergency services and public health, met on Monday.
“It received an update from Sussex Police about a number of events over the weekend where there were significant breaches of the current Covid-19 rules in Brighton, including youth disorder and large-scale illegal gatherings.
“It was decided that it would not be in the best interests of public safety and public health to remove the restrictions on train services, as there remains a real risk that visitors will still come to the town, exposing the local community to an increased risk of Covid-19.”
There will be no trains calling at Lewes, Glynde and Southease after 5pm. The last train to call at Cooksbridge is the 4.24pm Victoria departure.
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