Shuttle service confusion angersbus passengers

Regular bus passenger Oliver Hayward said there was poor information on the bus stops and no timetable for the new shuttle bus service. He also questioned why Brighton and Hove buses could manage a school journey along the High Trees Corner and Rising Sun leg, but not at other times. Mr Hayward said he and his wife, who live in Upper Beeding, use the buses regularly. “Many people from the village use the buses to go to work in the Shoreham and Brighton area, to shop there and to connect with trains at Shoreham station,” he added. Although he attended the information evening at the Old Tollgate in Bramber last Wednesday, he did not feel enough details had been made available. The Sussex Bus won the contract to run the shuttle bus, a circular service from the Rising Sun in Upper Beeding to Steyning Grammar School, via Beeding Castle Hotel and Steyning High Street. Visit thesussexbus.com to view the timetable for the service, called Bramber Shuttle. Mr Hayward added: “Incidentally, passengers wishing to go to Shoreham and beyond would do better to catch the Compass bus to Steyning at four minutes past the hour for the connection there, rather than the earlier shuttle bus. “Single large notices incorporating all the details and times should be placed at the bus stops in Steyning, Bramber and Beeding.” Upper Beeding shops close to the bridge reported quiet trading since the works started on Monday. Beeding News owner Sue Plautz said: “Obviously it has had a massive impact on our business, because about 50 per cent is passing trade. “It is very quiet but I expected that. As long as it is done in the period they say, we will just have to grin and bear it.” Sue, who has run the business for 20 years, said she was closing during the quietest period of the day, 12pm to 3pm, to try to alleviate some of the effects. “From the business point of view, you have to minimise the effects everywhere you can, so I am shutting during the quiet times to try to save some costs.” She was pleased Balfour Beatty had stuck to its promise to park the works traffic the other side of the bridge, so there was still plenty of parking available for people using the village shops. “I just hope people who have had to change their routines come back to us when the bridge is open again,” she added. “We offer a particular level of service here.”