May 30 2014.


Community Transport for the Lewes Area (CTLA) has launched two new bus services, 131 and 132, after receiving kickstart funding from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF). CTLA, a registered charity, already provides transport for over seven thousand passenger journeys a month in East Sussex, with dial-a-ride services, travel club trips and affordable vehicle hire to charities and community groups.

The new routes, operating on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, started on Sunday the 25th of May and will link South Downs National Park attractions, as well as offering a service for the Landport, Southover and Malling areas of Lewes. These Estates have not had a Sunday service since 2004.

The hop on, hop off services will accept English national concessionary bus passes and a variety of tickets including Explorer, Discovery, Downlander and PlusBus, or customers can purchase a ticket on the bus.

Partnership working is an important factor in Community Transport services and CTLA has gained valuable support from the Lewes Town Partnership, East Sussex County Council, South Downs National Park Authority and many more.

The new services were launched at an event at the Linklater Pavilion in Lewes, which was attended by representatives of local councils, community organisations and visitor attractions on the routes.

Norman Baker  sent congratulations and best wishes to the event as he was unable to attend due to Parliamentary duties. Norman said:  "The new 131 and 132 buses will greatly contribute towards getting people out to some of the wonderful attractions our area has to offer, especially those that are less accessible without a car. I am sure visitors to the area and local residents will take the opportunity this summer to make their visits by bus using these services, and I applaud CTLA for its efforts in getting them started."

Details of the CTLA bus routes can be found on the CTLA website at www.ctla.org.uk and leaflets can be collected from many attractions and stops on the routes, including the Tourist Information Centre in Lewes.


Pictured above: Diane Hall (Deputy Mayor of Newhaven), Councillor Susan Murray (Lewes District Council), Councillor Ruth O'Keefe (Vice-Chair, Lewes District Council), Councillor Dr Micheal Turner (Mayor of Lewes) and Mayoress, Anne Turner and Councillor Robert Robertson (Mayor of Peacehaven).