June 4th, 2025.



James MacCleary, MP for Lewes constituency which includes Newhaven, has pressed Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood on investment to improve the A259 in Newhaven and Seaford.

He has also welcomed the news that East Sussex County Council has dropped controversial plans for an eastbound bus lane in Newhaven that would have run across the entrance to Sainsbury’s and made congestion problems even worse.

In a meeting in Parliament this week, MacCleary urged the Minister to fund in full the package of improvements to the A259 submitted after a study into the road. Highlighting daily delays affecting local residents, businesses, and air quality, MacCleary emphasised the importance of keeping Newhaven’s transport challenges firmly on the government’s agenda.

At the same time, East Sussex County Council has confirmed it is removing the proposed eastbound bus lane near The Drove roundabout from its Bus Service Improvement Plan following strong objections from MacCleary and local Lib Dem councillors.
The rest of the council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) is still proceeding as planned including reconfiguring Denton Corner and adding an additional lane for a bus lane westbound on The Drove.

Newhaven’s MP, James MacCleary, said: “My thanks to the Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood MP, for taking the time to listen to my concerns about the growing traffic crisis in Newhaven. It is the first time that the issue has been raised in the House of Commons and I wanted to make clear to her how severe the problem has become for residents, businesses and visitors.

“The County Council has submitted a business case to government for a series of improvements along the A259 including central Newhaven, the notorious Bishopstone Road junction, and also in Seaford. I have pressed strongly for this to be included in the forthcoming government spending review and will keep up the pressure on it.

“I also strongly welcome the County Council’s common sense decision to scrap the proposed eastbound bus lane along The Drove outside Sainsbury’s. It was clearly going to make Newhaven’s congestion problems worse, not better, and I’m glad the council has listened to me and other residents who spoke out strongly against it.”

Newhaven Councillor Lesley Boniface (Lib Dem) added: “I’m relieved that the County Council has seen sense and dropped the eastbound bus lane. Local Councillors, residents and businesses made their views very clear from the inception of the BSIP project: we need solutions, not schemes that risk making things worse.

“The focus now must be on improvements that genuinely ease congestion, support local buses, and improve the lives of Newhaven residents. We’ll continue to push hard until meaningful action is delivered.”


Pictured: Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood MP and James MacCleary MP