FoBS

The Olympic Torch relay comes to Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and Kent on 16 and 17 July. Delay and disruption to buses is expected and below is an outline of how we expect things to happen on both days. However, as this is a total one-off event and therefore a great unknown, things could change considerably on the day if the crowds are huge or the weather is inclement, but we will do our best to keep things running as best as possible.

 
Olympic Torch Arrangements in Brighton & Hove, 16 and 17 July
 
The city council are keeping most roads officially open unless the police close them due to the crowds. With this in mind, we will be having Supervisory staff ahead of and behind the convoy to keep an eye on things and for the most part we expect buses to just follow on behind the relay. Buses heading towards the relay are likely to be held. 

The Olympic Torch arrives in the city at King George VI Avenue at 6pm on Monday 16 July. The Torch comes along Nevill Road, then through Hove Park, then along Old Shoreham Road, down The Drive, Grand Avenue, eastbound along the seafront, then back north via Adelaide Crescent, skirts the western side of Palmeira Square, then straight up along Palmeira Avenue to the cricket ground (arriving approx 6.50pm) where it then finishes for the night with a special event. Service 5B from 5.45pm until 6.30pm will operate via the 5A route between the Grenadier and the Hove Park Tavern in both directions. It won't be possible to divert Hangleton journeys on the 14/14C. From 4pm, Eaton Road will be closed, and so from this time until the end of service, the 81B will double-back at Palmeira Square, then turn left up Holland Road and then right into Lansdowne Road and normal route. All buses crossing The Drive/Grand Avenue junctions will be subject to delay. Church Road and Palmeira Square are likely to become very congested.

The torch leaves Castle Square at approximately 7.20am on Tuesday 17 July, then goes north along the A23 until just before Carden Avenue, where the relay finishes by 8.05am, the torch goes onto a vehicle and then leaves the city. If crowds and traffic dictate, all southbound 5/5A buses from Patcham will operate via Preston Drove and Beaconsfield Villas from 7.15am (or earlier if required). Similarly, from 7.15am (or again earlier if crowds dictate), all southbound 5/5A/5B from Preston Circus should operate via Viaduct Road, Ditchling Road and Grand Parade to Old Steine (not via the bus lanes at St Peter's Church). All southbound buses from Lewes Road/Ditchling Road normally serving London Road shops should from 7.15am serve the Open Market and then operate via Grand Parade to Old Steine (not via the bus lanes). Service 25/28/29 should operate normally except not serve the St Peter's Bus Lane southbound. Northbound buses from Old Steine to London Road shops/Ditchling Road/Elm Grove/Lewes Road should from 7am operate direct up Lewes Road (not via the bus lanes) to The Level/Union Road and then normal route from there (the 5/5A/5B/55 should go up Ditchling Road and along Preston Drove). Once the torch has passed through the London Road shops area by 7.45am, services in this particular area should be able to revert to normal. Buses heading from the north/east into the city centre may also be diverted via the seafront and West Street to the Clock Tower; eastbound buses down North Street will be held.