More bus stops to be suspended following A24 crash

West Sussex County Council has said it is temporarily suspending ‘all’ stops along the A24, between Findon and Horsham, and the A264, between Horsham and Crawley, where there are no lay-bys and buses are forced to stop in the inside lane.

The decision follows a crash back in January in which a bus, which the council said had stopped to pick up passengers, and van collided near the Washington Roundabout.

The collision saw the van driver airlifted to hospital and nine passengers injured.

The crash prompted the county council to suspended five stops between Horsham and Washington after residents raised safety concerns.

A review has since been carried out and the council said it had identified more stops which were a ‘road safety risk’.

A spokesman said: “The County Council has taken the difficult decision to temporarily suspend all those stops on the A24 and the A264 where buses have to stop on the inside lane.

“Suspensions are planned to start from Monday, April 25.

“In addition, two stops on the A259 that operate in a similar way have been identified and will be temporarily suspended.

Other stops along the dual carriageways where buses are able to pull into lay-bys will not be affect, the spokesman added.

The council said bus operators had been consulted on the decision and it was working with them to identify alternative arrangements.

West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, John O’Brien, said: “We understand these changes may have an adverse impact on some bus passengers.

“However, reducing the road safety risk to the travelling public has to take precedence.

“Over the next few months we will be consulting with local communities to understand the impact of suspending the bus stops.

“The results will be used to determine what, if any, measures should be considered to resolve any issues or concerns that are identified.”

The following stops will be affected:

A24 between Findon and Washington: Worthing Crematorium (northbound), North End/Worthing Crematorium (southbound), North End (northbound), North Farm (northbound) North Farm (southbound), Windlesham House School (northbound).

A24 between Washington and Buckbarn: Washington Roundabout (northbound), Washington Roundabout (southbound), Rock Road (northbound), Spring Gardens (southbound), Old Barn Nursery (northbound).

A264 between Horsham and Crawley: The Cherry Tree (eastbound), Park Road (eastbound), Holmbush Farm (eastbound).

A259 Merston: Kings Head Green Lane (northbound).

A259 Ferring: Langbury Lane (eastbound).