Final update

Lewes bonfire 2022 is drawing to a close.

Crowds have been making their way home after a busy night in Lewes, where processions and displays took place in very wet conditions.

As of midnight, most of the people treated by St John Ambulance and South East Coast Ambulance only had minor injuries.

Sussex Police have made one arrest.

It will take some time for the roads to get back to normal, with the clear-up operation underway.

Emergency services, local authorities and transport operators worked closely with bonfire societies and the local community to prepare for tonight.

Chief Superintendent Howard Hodges said: "Tonight's bonfire celebrations have passed without significant incident, and on behalf of the multi-agency group, I'd like to pass on our thanks to the community of Lewes."

Update 21.30

 As of 21.30, Lewes remains busy, despite the wet weather  

Crowds are now moving to or already on the bonfire sites.

St John’s Ambulance have treated a small number of people for minor injuries. 

One person has been arrested for a public order offence.

With no let up in the wet weather, we are urging everyone to take extra care while on the streets and bonfire sites.

Update - 20.00

The streets are currently very busy in Lewes for the annual Bonfire celebrations.

Road closures remain in place and any members of the public who were thinking of travelling to the town are urged not to attend.

With bad weather out there, we are also encouraging people to take care while walking at fire sites where the ground may be slippy.

Processions will continue through the town centre.

So far, there have been no arrests. Two people have been treated for injuries.

Further updates will be provided in due course.

Advice remains - avoid travelling to Lewes bonfire

Following announcements regarding rail strikes, the message remains to avoid travelling to Lewes Bonfire.

Network Rail have confirmed services for 5th November cannot be reinstated and to only travel by rail if absolutely necessary, meanwhile Govia Thameslink Railway have confirmed a late start-up to services will also remain for Sunday 6 November.

Read more: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industrial-action/ 

Lewes Bonfire - an event for local people

Emergency services, local authorities and transport operators have been planning for Lewes Bonfire for many months. 

There remain serious concerns about overcrowding in the narrow streets of Lewes.

Measures, including road closures and parking restrictions, remain in place to help the event pass safely by managing the number of people attending.

Weather

With more rain and high winds forecast, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service is urging everyone to take extra care. Some roads are still flooded, river levels are high and gusts of wind can affect fireworks and bonfires, adding to the risk of people being hurt or property being damaged. 

Road closure reminders

Road closures will be in place around the town from 16:00. Diversions will be in place for traffic to travel outside of the town. Lewes residents are advised to get vehicles home before 16:00 to avoid any road closures in place. Visitors are advised not to bring vehicles into the town.

The road closures will affect:

•           A27 junction with A277 Brighton Road (Ashcombe Roundabout)

•           A275 Offham Road with B2116 Plumpton Road

•           C7 Kingston Road junction with C324 Wellgreen Lane 

•           A26 junction with A2029 Malling Street 

•           A26 Malling Hill Junction with Church Lane 

Parking restrictions will begin to be imposed from 12:00.

A full list of road closures and parking restrictions is available at www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/lewesbonfire 

Read our FAQs

It is recognised there will be an impact particularly on motorists who are not planning to attend the event. The decision to bring in travel restrictions has been made in the best interests of safety. It is hoped that those who are inconvenienced will understand that and have time to make alternative arrangements where possible.

Choose Local

Find out about local events which may be closer to your home,

 

Please don't travel to Lewes bonfire night

With Lewes Bonfire Night just days away, members of the public are being urged not to travel to the event.

Measures, including road closures and parking restrictions, are being brought in to help the event pass safely by managing the number of people attending.

Train times had already been amended in line with safety precautions, but due to national industrial action taking place on 5 November, there will now be no trains serving Lewes and the surrounding stations.

Emergency services, local authorities and transport operators have been planning for the celebrations for many months. 

There remain serious concerns about overcrowding in the narrow streets of Lewes.

Tim Whelan from Lewes District Council said:

“We work closely with other organisations and with crowd control experts to identify where they may be problems with over-crowding. We will have stewards working on the night, giving people advice on where they should avoid, and we ask that anyone who chooses to attend follows this guidance to help keep people safer.”

Since 2010, 896 injuries were reported. Many of these were hurt on the procession routes and by bangers or other fireworks. 

Doug Marshall, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Group Manager said:

“We would ask that you head to locally organised fireworks events rather than coming to Lewes, as crowded streets make it harder for us to get to people in an emergency.  We also want to remind people of the Fireworks Code to help us all have a safe night.”

Chief Superintendent Howard Hodges said: 

“Sussex Police will have officers on duty to support the event’s stewarding and security teams, this includes at road closure sites as well as in the town centre itself.

“If you see suspicious activity or see something that doesn’t seem right, then please report it to the stewarding teams or our officers on patrol. In an emergency always call 999.

“Unfortunately, each year the event is held we do make arrests, including for offences such as assaults (including on police officers), criminal damage, and possession of drugs. This is clearly not acceptable. 

“Our officers will be supporting partner agencies and Lewes District Council on the night to ensure public safety, and we are determined to ensure that this is an event everyone can enjoy safely.”

Road

Road closures will be in place around the town from 16:00. Diversions will be in place for traffic to travel outside of the town. Lewes residents are advised to get vehicles home before 16:00 to avoid any road closures in place. Visitors are advised not to bring vehicles into the town.

The road closures will affect:

• A27 junction with A277 Brighton Road (Ashcombe Roundabout)

• A275 Offham Road with B2116 Plumpton Road

• C7 Kingston Road junction with C324 Wellgreen Lane 

• A26 junction with A2029 Malling Street 

• A26 Malling Hill Junction with Church Lane 

Parking restrictions will begin to be imposed from 12:00.

A full list of road closures and parking restrictions is available at www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/lewesbonfire 

Read our FAQs

It is recognised there will be an impact particularly on motorists who are not planning to attend the event. The decision to bring in travel restrictions has been made in the best interests of safety. It is hoped that those who are inconvenienced will understand that and have time to make alternative arrangements where possible.

Choose Local

Find out about local events which may be closer to your home,

Travel alert! Lewes Bonfire Night less than four weeks away!

Emergency Services and other organisations are reminding people that Lewes Bonfire night celebrations mean road closures and changes to train services.

The measures are part of plans to help the event run as safely and smoothly as possible.

Lewes Bonfire night presents a unique challenge to the multi-agency group tasked with ensuring public safety particularly because this year 5 November falls on a Saturday. 

This is likely to make it even more popular and tens of thousands of people are expected in the town, prompting concerns about over-crowding particularly in busy areas such as the War Memorial. 

Road

Road closures will be in place around the town from 16:00. Diversions will be in place for traffic to travel outside of the town. Lewes residents are advised to get vehicles home before 16:00 to avoid any road closures in place. Visitors are advised not to bring vehicles into the town.

 The road closures will include:

• A27 junction with A277 Brighton Road (Ashcombe Roundabout)
• A275 junction with Offham Road
• C7 Kingston Road junction with C324 Wellgreen Lane
• A26 junction with A2029 Malling Street 
• A26 Malling Hill Junction with Church Lane

 Parking restrictions in Lewes will begin to be imposed from 12:00.

A full list of road closures and parking restrictions will be available at www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/lewesbonfire

Rail

Plans for rail travel on 5th November are as follows:-

There will be no trains calling at Lewes, Glynde, Southease, Falmer and Cooksbridge after 15:00 on Saturday 5th November 2022.

      Trains will not start calling again until the first trains on Sunday 6th November.

    The stop time is earlier than 2021 due to the event falling on a Saturday this year. On Friday last year, school and commuter traffic needed to be catered for.

    Choose Local

People are also being encouraged to attend fireworks events closer to home and not to attend Lewes Bonfire Night. Visit: Choose Local ¦ East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (esfrs.org) for more information on local firework events across East Sussex.

It is recognised there will be an impact on train passengers and road users who are not planning to attend the event. The decision to bring in travel restrictions has been made in the best interests of safety. It is hoped that those who are inconvenienced will understand that and have time to make alternative arrangements where possible.

FAQs

If you have any questions, please check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.  If your question isn’t answered there, please email communications@esfrs.org.

Details of Lewes Bonfire operation are revealed

 Details of Lewes Bonfire operation are revealed

Planning is underway to ensure that this year’s Lewes Bonfire celebrations pass off safely.

Emergency Services, public bodies and other organisations are part of a multi-agency group which is meeting regularly.

The night is run by local bonfire societies and include a number of displays and processions. These usually involve significant amounts of fireworks and attract large crowds.

Given that Lewes normally becomes significantly over-crowded on bonfire night, safety issues are of the utmost concern and we will be communicating key decisions when made in order to inform the wider public and reinforce the message that this remains an event for local people.

There are growing concerns that more people than usual will come to Lewes because this year’s event falls on a Saturday. Combined with significant amounts of fireworks, this presents a unique challenge to the multi-agency group tasked with ensuring public safety.

Changes to train services have been confirmed as part of plans to keep Lewes Bonfire night running as safely and smoothly as possible.

As with previous years, a series of travel restrictions will be introduced for the 5th November 2022 to help reduce the risks associated with this event and safely reduce the number of people attending.

These are being confirmed well ahead of the event in order to allow people more time to plan. People are also being encouraged to attend fireworks events closer to home.

Rail

As in previous years, there will be no trains calling at the following stations after 15:00 on Saturday 5 November:

•        Lewes

•        Glynde

•        Southease

•        Cooksbridge

•        Falmer

No trains will call at the above stations until the first timetabled trains on the morning of Sunday 6 November. 

Road

Road closures will be in place around the town. Diversions will be in place for traffic to travel outside of the town. Visitors are advised not to bring vehicles into the town.

A full list of road closures and parking restrictions will be available closer to the time of the event.