An urgent gas main replacement project affecting South Road in Hailsham is currently being undertaken with significant road closures and traffic disruption expected over several months. SGN says the existing gas main has reached the age where permanent repairs are no longer feasible. The key dates and phases are listed further down this page (subject to change):
“We’ve made good progress this week, with our engineering team due to complete the installation of 120 metres of new gas pipe on Saturday. The work has taken place along Diplocks Way and South Road, up to the Ersham Road roundabout.
We’re also pleased to have worked collaboratively with BT Openreach to enable them to install new ducting across South Road and Diplocks Way while our road closures are in place. This means the Hailsham community will avoid the disruption of a separate road closure at a later date.
On Monday 7 September, we’ll be completing work to restore the road surface at the Diplocks Way junction. We expect this work to be finished during the morning, allowing us to safely reopen Diplocks Way by 2pm.
South Road will remain closed between the Diplocks Way junction and the Ersham Road roundabout. Once Diplocks Way reopens:
From Monday 7 September, temporary two-way traffic lights will be in operation on the Ersham Road roundabout, and Gordon Road will be closed at its junction with South Road.
This phase of our project is expected to last for approximately three to four weeks.
We’ll continue to provide updates here as work progresses and would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we complete these essential upgrades to the gas network.”
The following is a reminder of the planned phases.
Always check with the relevant bus service provider before travelling. During the initial phases of work, the majority of the well-used bus routes will operate via the Hailsham by-pass and Diplocks Way to South Road. This arrangement applies to Brighton & Hove’s service 28, Stagecoach’s services 51 and 53 and Metrobus’s service 500.
Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus services are currently being diverted and are not able to serve Gordon Road, Ropemaker Park or
Ingrams Way. Please use Hailsham Police Station for buses towards Eastbourne or Hailsham Tesco in North Street for buses towards Brighton.
Arrangements for Stagecoach’s service 52 are somewhat different as, coming from Dittons Wood, that will run via Stone Cross and the B2104 and thus into Hailsham on Ersham Road.
All services mentioned above will omit stops in South Road to the south-west of Diplocks Way.
Stagecoach, Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus already have the diversions described on their websites. Cuckmere Buses has also advised it will place information on its website and on social media to advise customers of diversion of its services which may be more varied than those of the main bus operators.
Additional Update form SGN: Gas Emergency Repairs in London Road, Hailsham
“Our engineers have now completed repairs to a damaged large diameter metallic gas main on London Road in Hailsham.
We’re currently working to reinstate the road surface and will continue this work over the weekend and into Monday. As the road’s sub-base contains concrete, additional time is needed to allow it to cure properly before the carriageway can be safely reopened.
We expect to remove our temporary traffic lights and fully reopen the road on Tuesday 8 September.”
The Town Council and our local county councillors receives weekly updates from SGN on Fridays via online meetings. Any relevant updates – including changes to timings, traffic management or access arrangements, will be posted on this page in due course.