Ditchling Road Bus Depot
Click here or on picture above for video clip.
Paul Callcutt writes:
I have been campaigning along with Councillors Pete West and Raphael Hill (who have been extremely helpful) to get this absurd choice of bus changeover location moved since around June.
Brighton and Hove Bus Company have shown no interest whatsoever in the clear and obvious safety issues, not to mention the noise and air pollution caused by the decision to implement an ad-hoc bus depot in a residential area.
The council conducted a safety review and deemed it to be unsafe. The Traffic Accident Investigation officers informed Brighton and Hove Buses of this on September 14th. They have done nothing and although they say they will change the southbound location in January that remains to be seen.
I would strongly encourage anyone who wants this quite clearly stupid location to use to be relocated elsewhere to contact the following people:
- 1. Owen.McElroy@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Owen McElroy LLB MIHE
National Bus Strategy Programme Manager
Public Transport Team, Brighton & Hove City Council
Ground Floor, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove, BN3 3BQ
Owen has been trying to get the bus company to move, but the more pressure placed on the council, the more likely the are to take proper action.
- 2. info@buses.co.uk
Brighton & Hove Buses
43 Conway Street, Hove, East Sussex BN3 3LT
They will no doubt tell you that the "safety and wellbeing of the communities in which we operate is our primary concern" then ignore the safety report and continue to do what they want. But, having a record of complaints in writing is useful, they can't claim it is just one person.
In my opinion both the north and southbound locations are clearly unsuitable, it causes a massive safety risk, air and noise pollution, let's hope it doesn't take a serious accident before Brighton and Hove Bus Company actually do something.
- 3. Environmental Enforcement
Brighton and Hove City Council
Dominic Furlong writes:
For the attention of those who complained to our councillors about bus changeover parking at the southbound Ditchling Road bus stop — I noticed a new sign this evening. I guess this means bus changeover cars can no longer park there?
Above text, pictures and video kindly supplied by Paul Cee with exception of "new sign" supplied by Dominic Furlong.
Sample complaint
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Date]
To: Owen McElroy LLB MIHE
Owen.McElroy@brighton-hove.gov.uk
National Bus Strategy Programme Manager
Public Transport Team, Brighton & Hove City Council
Ground Floor, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove, BN3 3BQ
To: Brighton & Hove Buses
info@buses.co.uk
43 Conway Street, Hove, East Sussex BN3 3LT
Rupert Cox becomes the new interim Managing Director of Brighton Buses on 1 January.
Subject: Formal Complaint — Unsafe and Unsuitable Bus Changeover Location at Ditchling Road / Princes Crescent junction
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to express my deep concern and strong objection regarding the continued use of the south- and northbound bus stop area on Ditchling Road as a bus changeover location. I understand that this site was identified as “unsafe” by Traffic Accident Investigation officers — a fact communicated to Brighton & Hove Buses on 14 September — yet no meaningful action has been taken to relocate the depot or implement safety improvements.
My reasons for complaint are as follows:
- Safety risks to residents and road users — The location is clearly unsuitable for a bus changeover point in a residential area. The clustering of buses creates hazards for pedestrians (including children), cyclists, and other road users. The original safety findings seem to have been ignored
- Noise and air pollution — Having a bus depot in a residential neighbourhood inevitably causes noise (idling engines, manoeuvring buses) and air pollution, which adversely affect the wellbeing and quality of life of residents.
- Lack of meaningful response — Despite repeated concerns raised by community members and local councillors, there has been no substantive action. Promises of relocating the southbound changeover point “from 12th January” are insufficient.
- Inappropriateness of use for a residential area — The decision to implement an “ad-hoc” bus depot in an area clearly dominated by homes seems fundamentally flawed and demonstrates a disregard for local residents’ rights to a safe and peaceful living environment.
I therefore request an urgent review of the suitability of the Ditchling Road location for bus changeovers, with a view to relocating the facility to a more appropriate, non-residential site.
I trust you will treat this complaint with the seriousness it deserves. I look forward to your prompt response and to being informed of the steps you intend to take to resolve the issue.
Yours faithfully,
[Your name]
Reply from Brighton & Hove City Council
Thank you for your email. I am sorry to hear of your safety and nuisance concerns at this location.
The decision on the location of driver changeover sites is an operational one taken by Brighton & Hove Buses (BHB). I see that you have written to them so they should be responding to you. The council can give advice but has no enforcement powers in respect of the location of this activity.
However, a complaint was made by another resident about the safety of vehicles turning out of Princes Crescent, and as the Local Highway Authority, we were able to make a road safety assessment and give written advice that in respect of the southbound driver changeover, this site was unsuitable.
The bus company have agreed to move the southbound changeover location from 12th January 2026 they cannot change it sooner because “it impacts upon timing points and driver duties for which the changes over the Christmas and New Year period have already been published”. Both bus stops will remain in place, and the driver changeover operations will continue for the northbound stop."
I think the reason why changeovers started here is because of capacity issues at Conway Street, Hove depot, due to its redevelopment, has had knock on effects on their city-wide operations, causing more changeovers to occur on street.
Thank you, Owen.
Reply from the bus company
Good afternoon,
Thank you for contacting us, although I am sorry you had cause to do so. I'm sorry to hear that the Ditchling Road changeover location has caused concern for yourself. We have listened to and addressed such concerns of residents, and have raised this to our Planning and Scheduling team for a full review.
I can confirm that, as of 12th January, we have made plans to change the layover area. I appreciate that this is not immediate, however major changes such as this do need to fall in line with Service Updates, so that the running times can be adjusted accordingly. This was the first available opportunity to make this change.
I hope this outcome is positive for you, and thank you for taking the time to get in touch.
Kind Regards
Ciara | Senior Customer Advisor
Brighton & Hove Buses