Victory in sight for Lewes traders in fight against loss of parking bays

Upset Lewes traders pictured earlier this month. Picture: Edward Reeves Photography

Plans to remove parking bays along Lewes’ high street could be scrapped due to uproar amongst traders.

East Sussex County Council is looking at schemes to widen pavements across the county as part of a government directive to reallocate road space for cyclists and pedestrians.

This is to support social distancing in areas where people congregate such as town centres and high streets.

But plans to temporarily suspend the on-street parking bays in parts of Lewes High Street so barriers could be installed to widen footways prompted widespread opposition from the town’s traders.

They felt the move would be ‘disastrous’ and remove the only parking option for the elderly and less able shoppers.

It appears their vocal opposition could have paid off.

Claire Dowling, the county council’s lead member for transport and environment, is set to decide which active travel schemes to progress on Monday (August 17).

In the view of officers, the Lewes scheme should not proceed, given the strength of opposition to what was being proposed.

While the report highlighted some support from residents, the traders’ comments meant the concerns outweighed any benefits.

Officers said: “There has been a relaxation of social distancing guidance from 2m to 1m+, lower risk outside and the new rules about wearing face masks/coverings.

“As a result, the widening of the footways originally proposed to enable social distancing are now not so necessary.