An urgent gas main replacement project affecting South Road in Hailsham is currently being undertaken with significant road closures and traffic disruption. 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’re pleased to confirm that all engineering work is now complete for our urgent gas main replacement project on South Road and Ersham Road. This essential work has replaced ageing metal gas mains with new plastic pipe, ensuring a safe and reliable gas supply for decades to come.
Work to restore road surfaces is now underway, and we expect to remove our temporary traffic lights from South Road by the end of Tuesday 3 November.
Ersham Road remains closed at its junction with South Road while UK Power Networks carries out its own essential work in the area. If you have any questions about this part of the project, please contact UK Power Networks via their website: www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk.
We’d like to thank the Hailsham community, local councillors, bus operators, East Sussex County Council’s Network Management team, and everyone affected by our work for their patience and support throughout this project.”
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.
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.