East Sussex BSIP - A259 Seaside & St Anthony's Avenue - Consultation to remove one tree on A259 Seaside

Overview

The East Sussex Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) A259 Seaside and St Anthony’s Avenue scheme aims to improve bus journey times and reliability along the A259 between Windermere Crescent and Langney Roundabout, while also making it safer and easier for pedestrians to cross the road.

As part of these proposals, a new eastbound bus lane is planned on the A259 Seaside between Windermere Crescent and Seaside Roundabout. To accommodate this, minor road widening is required between Churchdale Road and Southbourne Road.

To achieve the necessary carriageway width, while maintaining suitable pavement widths, one English elm tree has been identified for removal. The tree is located on the north side of the A259 Seaside, between Sandwich Street and Rye Street, opposite Nos. 389 and 391 Seaside.

The screenshot below from the Arboricultural Constraints Report (ACR) shows the tree (hatched in red/Labelled T14) identified for removal:

The tree’s proximity to the kerbline, combined with the requirement to widen the carriageway for the bus lane, means that its removal is necessary.

The images below show the English Elm tree proposed for removal (photos dated May 2026):

   

Design Development and Options Considered

As part of the design process, the BSIP project team explored two potential options that would avoid the need to remove the tree. These are outlined below:

Click here to view the option drawings.

Option A – Removal of kerbside parking

Option B – Half-on/half-off footway parking

These options required the removal of an additional 74.5 metres of kerbside parking , removal of the disabled parking and reduction in footpath width.

Options A and B where considered unacceptable with the loss of parking and reduction in footpath widths which didn't conform with Mobility best practice and therefore where not progressed.

Conclusion

Neither option is considered feasible for the reasons set out above. The proposed preliminary design strikes the best balance between the different needs of road users, and that the loss of the elm tree can be appropriately mitigated through new planting within the Archery Recreation Ground. 

Replanting

East Sussex County Council has discussed new planting opportunities with Eastbourne Borough Council . As mitigation for the elm tree removal, three new trees are proposed to be planted within the Archery Recreation Ground.

The current concept landscape plan, showing the proposed tree removal and replanting locations, can be viewed here.