Seventy Buses an Hour Diverted Through Bedford Square
Residents on the narrow, potholed street around Bedford Square have complained about heavy bus traffic diverted due to Western Road resurfacing work.
Diversions cause concern
Seventy buses an hour are now being routed down the narrow, potholed street surrounding Bedford Square in Brighton due to resurfacing work on Western Road. The diversion began on Monday, 2 November, without prior warning to residents.
Jim Hatley, who lives in Bedford Square, said: "The first thing we knew was when the windows started rattling on Monday morning." He contacted the bus company to protest, writing: "The road is very narrow, meaning massively heavy buses are passing just a few metres away from our flat, shaking our windows every few minutes and rattling items on shelves."
Another resident described multiple problems. "As of this morning, high-frequency bus traffic has been rerouted right down through the square due to the Western Road resurfacing," they said. They noted that vibrations from the buses are causing concern about structural stress on historic properties with basement vaults, particularly along the west side of the square.
Safety and infrastructure worries
Residents raised concerns about the road's width and pavement parking creating potential hazards for double-decker buses. Some drivers are "really hammering it down the square" rather than proceeding cautiously, they said. The turn from Bedford Square on to King's Road at the seafront was described as "already looking like an accident waiting to happen".
A resident asked whether the bus company could enforce a speed limit through the square and whether alternative routes could be considered. They noted that the previous diversion route via Montpelier Road, Seven Dials and Davigdor Road would have been preferable.
Brighton and Hove Buses said the Bedford Square diversion was chosen to help maintain bus timetables. Gordon Frost, operations director, said: "Essential resurfacing works in Western Road have resulted in a temporary bus diversion to keep the city moving while the works are carried out safely. The diversion is in place until the weekend when we understand the roadworks will be completed by the council."
He added that drivers had been reminded to take extra care on Bedford Square.
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