2 weeks Ago
The most popular bonfire event in the county is days away - here’s everything you need to know. Lewes Bonfire attracts thousands of visitors to the town every year, as the streets are taken over by effigies and parades and the night sky is illuminated by fireworks and flames. It is set to return on Tuesday, November 5.
What is Lewes Bonfire? Multiple torch-lit processions will make their way through the streets of Lewes from 5pm onwards, organised by seven different bonfire societies. A number of effigies, a model of someone, often depicted negatively, will be carried through the town before they are burned. In previous years, effigies have included Rishi Sunak, Suella Braverman and Liz Truss.
An effigy of Rishi Sunak from last year's event (Image: Andrew Gardner/The Argus) The bonfire societies will be running their own bonfire sites to visit after the procession through town, some with ticketed entry only. Firework displays are also conducted towards the end of the evening, finishing at around 11pm. READ MORE: Arrests, explosions and hilarious effigies at Lewes Bonfire Night Road closures A number of road closures will be in place from 4.
45pm on the day, including: 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. ‘Do not attend’ warning Emergency services urge those outside of Lewes not to attend the event every year due to “serious concerns” regarding overcrowding.
Sussex Police said that since 2019, 212 injuries have been reported and 17 people have been taken to hospital, having been hurt on the procession routes, by bangers or by other fireworks. A police incident in Lewes last year (Image: Andrew Gardner/The Argus) East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service station manager Alex Probyn said: “We would ask that you head to locally organised firework 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 Firework Code to help us all have a safe night.
” Trains No trains will serve Lewes, Falmer, Cooksbridge, Glynde and Southease after 5pm until the following day. Southern’s customer services director Jenny Saunders said: “The multi agency group, which includes all the emergency services, has examined closely the risks of fireworks and overcrowding in the narrow streets of Lewes. “In the interests of public safety, we have once again been asked not to stop our trains at Lewes and the four surrounding stations from 5pm on the day of Lewes Bonfire.
“This is a Tuesday, a regular working day, and the last train back to Lewes from London Victoria will be as early as 3.54pm. "We're sorry for this and urge customers who use those five stations to consider working from home or to carefully plan ahead using our online journey planner at southernrailway.
com.” Buses Buses will run but will be diverted away from the town in line with road closures. After 11pm, buses will be available from the A2029 Malling Street.
Anyone travelling by bus should check the Brighton and Hove Buses website for live travel updates. Parking Parking restrictions will be in place from 12pm onwards. Lewes Borough Council has created a map of different routes subject to restrictions.
Purple and blue routes will be closed from 4.45pm until 2am with parking suspended from 12pm. Westbound traffic only will be granted on the black route, the A277 Brighton Road, from 4.
45pm until 7pm and the road will be closed from 4.45pm until 2am. Parking will be suspended from 12pm.
Motorists will not be able to access Lewes from the A27. The orange route will be closed from 5pm to 2am. Parking will be allowed in authorised bays.
The green route, the A26 Malling Hill, will be open to through traffic although on-street parking will be suspended from 12pm. "Vehicles must be removed from these routes or risk being towed away if they are not," Sussex Police warned. Food and drink Some pubs will be selling food and drink, with a range of street vendors also available.
Toilets There are a number of public toilets in Lewes including in Market Lane, Greyfriars Court Road, Grange Gardens and Western Road. The toilets in Pinwell Road are currently closed. Weather forecast According to the Met Office, it is expected to be dry and cloudy with temperatures ranging between 12 and 14C.
The forecaster also predicts that it will be misty. Event safety Sussex Police Chief Superintendent Howard Hodges said: “We 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. Police incident in Lewes last year (Image: Andrew Gardner/The Argus) “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.”.
