A number of buses became stuck at a crossroads at the start of roadworks tonight (Wednesday 15 November) when the diversion route was also closed.
Brighton and Hove Buses warned passengers about the problems in a series of tweets.
The company said: “With apologies, the road maintenance due to commence in Western Road this evening has begun.
“We were due to divert our service via Montpelier Road in both directions.
“Due to the contractors also closing Montpelier Road unexpectedly, we are currently trying to contact the contractors as our buses are stuck at the Western Road crossroads.
“As soon as we have an update on diversion details, we will post on here and on our socials.
“Apologies again for any inconvenience caused by this.”
Shortly afterwards, the bus company tweeted again: “Due to road resurfacing along Western Road overnight, there will be a road closure of Western Road and services will be on diversion between Palmeira Square and Churchill Square in both directions between 9pm and 5am.
“We will be unable to serve Brunswick Place, Norfolk Square and Waitrose.
“Passengers are advised to use either Palmeira Square or Churchill Square (eastbound) and Imperial Arcade (westbound).
“The diversion route will be as follows: eastbound is Palmeira Square, Davigdor Road, the Seven Dials and Regent Hill to Churchill Square.
“Westbound is via Imperial Arcade, the Seven Dials, Davigdor Road and Holland Road back to Palmeira Square.”
Brighton and Hove City Council said that more work in Western Road was planned for the week starting Monday 11 December and for a week next summer on dates to be decided.
The more staff our council add to the travel and transport departments – and they have tripled them in the last 4 years – the more of a shambles local travel and transport becomes and our city grinds to a near-halt.
At least three quarters of these goons could be sacked and no one would notice. In fact I would anticipate we would notice an improvement and much needed saving in our council tax.
Agreed!!! and it doesn’t just apply to transport
Reduce the wage bill, improve efficiency and get rid of the goons.
The Transport Dept are a waste of space and other people’s oxygen
why? the problem is effective communication between contractors and local council and is the same at national road level, no communication .
I think “goons” is flattering . I live a couple of miles outside Brighton and avoid the place because travel in and around it is so difficult. Eastbourne is easier.
This sounds like something from ‘On The Buses’
Where’s Blakey !
The incompetence displayed by this council is incredible. It goes on from bad to worse, day by day. They clearly got their training, while “shirking” from home, from the Greens. Time to clear out all the expensive, wasteful dross.
How much financial allowance do coincillors get?
Do they get free computers/mobile phones/bus passes?
That information is available on the councils website!
But before you look how much do you think they get?
Why can’t the buses run along the seafront and up West St.? There’s already a bus along Davigdor Rd, the No 7.
Wouldn’t make any difference as Western Rd would still be closed ! 🤦🏼♂️
Seafront is choked due to cars being funnelled down single Lanes, bike lanes and no right turns also make that impractical
Total shambles of a Council in dissaray. OK we have a new Labour run one and early days but a top to bottom overhaul should be top of the agenda. Having read the horror stories of what has happened at CityClean just as an example. Sadly having lived in the City for over 50 years I am very much falling out of love with it due to the incompetence of our Council. Don’t get me going on the £40 million is it now owing on the I360.
Standard isn’t it. Workers on the ground probably getting no guidance from the over paid mon-fri 9-5 desk jockeys.
Brighton transport department at the council needs sacking. They cannot seem to get into their heads every road scheme has an impact on the rest of the city. If you block a road, the road next to it will have double the traffic, basic fag packet maths
100% agreement on the chaos. I was actually out there last night, and witnessed the appalling mess created. No-one on the ground, construction crews included, knew what had happened to the routes, as happened a few weeks back.
Worse still, the websites for the companies, including Stagecoach, were not updated. And the real-time displays showed the nonexistent buses as due, at Waitrose, Norfolk and Brunswick stops.
Ruinous anytime, and in a long run up to Christmas, a scandal. All those responsible should really apologise, and give any bonuses to charity. That ‘sorry for any inconvenience caused’ trotted out is an insult.
Ditch the goons!!!!
They all need to get back from there homes and start working from the council offices .That way people can be seen by everyone and then be able to I say try togetherness.
I have just requested visitors parking vouchers and the hope to get Back to me within 10 days.If the offices are open then it could all be sorted out on the day
It wasn’t that long ago our street was dug up for water company works which lasted three days. They filled the holes in, didn’t repair the pavements which got broke. Two days later the cable company comes along, digs up same pavement to do some work. Both these jobs had to be approved by the council. I guess it never occurred to the council pen pushers to see if these jobs could run concurrently to minimise disruption. Till now those broken pavements still have not been repaired. Guess the two companies arguing over who’s fault it is
The key word in the report is “contractors”. For the last 40 years the Government in Westminster has forced councils to cut direct labour and to outsource as much work as possible. The result: the jobs were awarded to the cheapest contractors, often without any coordination between them, and often without awareness of the overall picture. As seems to have happened in this situation.
If they left their homes and went to their office by public transport, they might just get what they’ve set up for the general public to put up with…..
BHCC is broken!
No vision.
No strategy.
No people working in the town hall.
Sky high parking charges.
Empty cycle lanes.
Weeds on the streets.
Low recycling levels.
Council tax increased by maximum levels each year.
Pot holes everywhere.
Council house repairs not done.
The staring point in providing services should be to get everybody back working in the town hall. NOW.
Cycle Lanes are Brilliant, slow the traffic down ideally NO traffic in City Centers unless Electric, car drivers need use Public Transport, less pollution, danger to public, more child friendly cycle Lanes for Everyone….. Car Free by 2025..
Who are these idiots in BHCC who throw up road closures seemingly on a whim and completely unnecessarily?
They did this in the summer closing off the top of Preston Street for no reason whatsoever causing absolute gridlock in the Regency Square area. Now the bottom of Waterloo Street is blocked off with no obvious work going on.
If a road must be blocked off for operational reasons, BHCC should at least make sure it is absolutely necessary and that the work starts as soon as possible.
And perhaps they could find the time (they obviously have the money) to remove those dangerous and eyesore planters on the A270 which have been neglected for years. A very appropriate indication for visitors to Brighton coming in via the A23 as to the state of Brighton’s road system (and pavements which really are a disgrace, especially on the seafront).
Many very valid and heartfelt criticisms here, but what to do??
There appears to be fundamental management/organisational problems in the Council, which would be unlikely to be tolerated in the private sector (and no-one is saying perfection lies there either, but…)
Uprate Chief Exec to an accountable elected mayor? Either way we need more direct PR communication ( but not spin) with long suffering residents. Publish a periodic newsletter so we can debate the true facts from source. In addition how can Councillors become more effective, rather than just report on crises and wring their hands, and point fingers, like the rest of us ?