Lewes Bonfire FAQs
Who is in charge of the event?
The Lewes Bonfire celebrations are part of a long running tradition and have developed over many years.
There is no single organiser for the event which presents challenges when considering crowd management through the town.
Each Bonfire Society parades through the town to their chosen sites for firework displays. They take responsibility for safely managing their fire sites and their actual processions.
The safety of the overall event is therefore the primary concern of emergency services and local authorities who make up the multi-agency group.
Are the travel restrictions really necessary?
We believe this is an appropriate and proportionate response to the risks involved in Lewes Bonfire, particularly considering its lasting popularity.
Given that Lewes normally becomes significantly over-crowded on bonfire night, safety issues are of the utmost concern. The restrictions are necessary to help keep people safe by trying to minimise those attending Lewes Bonfire as it becomes dangerously overcrowded.
The evidence continues to support the conclusion from safety reports that: "Left unchanged, there is a very high likelihood of an incident occurring that could result in serious injury or death to one or more people in this event."
Controlling the number of people at the event through these restrictions remains a key measure in looking after everyone involved.
The event has passed without serious incident for several years - do you really need to put so many measures in place?
Every year we have a number of injuries and incidents which emergency service have to deal with, so it is clear we cannot be complacent. The measures which are put in place are carefully considered and their impact assessed. We believe the actions we have taken have helped keep Lewes Bonfire as safe as possible. We review our planning around the event each year and despite the event taking place mid-week, on Wednesday 5 November, we still anticipate and plan for high levels of attendance.
How many people have been hurt at the event?
Every year dozens of injuries are reported. Even one injury is one too many.
Many of these were hurt on the procession routes and by bangers or other fireworks. This is unacceptable.
Overcrowded streets make it harder for emergency services to reach those in need of help.
Why do train travellers and road users have to be affected?
Plans for rail travel on 5th November are as follows: Trains will not call at Lewes, Falmer, Cooksbridge, Glynde and Southease from 17:00 on Wednesday 5th November, until the start of service on Thursday 6th November 2025.
As the event is taking place mid-week, we recognise there will be an impact on commuters, train passengers and road users who are not planning to attend the event. The decision to bring in travel restrictions has been made in the best interests of safety. We hope that those who are inconvenienced will understand that and have time to make alternative arrangements where possible.
Why do you have to close other railway stations around Lewes?
Although a few miles from Lewes, people could walk from these stations to the event and back again. Not only would this not help reduce numbers attending, which is needed for safety reasons, but keeping these stations open would introduce more risks as well for people heading home.
Couldn't railway stations reopen later in the evening?
Lewes
On the advice of the multi-agency group that includes the emergency services, council and transport operators, the train service has been altered for safety reasons, to reduce the number of people attending the event. If Lewes station were to reopen later in the evening, then large numbers of people may still attend (arriving much earlier before the trains stopped or by another means of transport) and then rely on the rail service to take them home. This does not satisfy the requirement to reduce the number of people attending the event and might lead to overcrowding on the station.
Cooksbridge, Glynde, Southease and Falmer
Reopening Cooksbridge, Glynde, Southease and Falmer stations later in the evening on 5th November would introduce the risk of large numbers of people leaving the event early to catch a train. Although a few miles from Lewes, people could walk to these stations once the processions in the town are ending. This introduces an unpredictable crowd dynamic in the town and could lead to large numbers of people arriving at multiple stations that are not equipped to cope with large crowds. This also introduces a new risk - that of pedestrians using country roads late at night and in the dark, which we know can lead to injuries and worse.
The frequency of trains at these outer stations is less than Lewes and if large numbers of people congregate waiting for limited trains there may be issues around their wellbeing (e.g. because of cold/wet weather) or there could even be disagreements or unrest which may require emergency services to attend, whose priority is in and around the town of Lewes. An infrequent train service may also lead people to consider trespassing and walking along the railway line.
If the rail service suffered an unexpected problem on the evening, meaning the rail service was suspended, then the above problems also apply with large crowds gathered in remote locations.
The option to have trains "set down only" at these stations is not realistic with it conceivable that people will still attempt to board trains in the knowledge that they must stop, and the doors must open.
How will you keep people updated about the trains?
We will have lots of posters and station announcements telling people that the trains won't stop at Lewes, Falmer, Cooksbridge, Glynde and Southease from 5.00pm on 5th November. National Rail Enquiries and other online services that passengers use to plan their journeys will also be updated. Police officers and additional staff will be on hand at Brighton station to spot obvious bonfire visitors who haven't heeded the message. We simply can't run this sort of operation at the smaller stations, which is another reason why this is the only way to ensure everyone's safety and avoid public order offences, by closing these stations.
What should someone do if they become separated from a child or vulnerable adult?
This event is not suitable for children, young families and/or vulnerable adults because of the number of people, the layout of the town, the noise and it not being a classic firework display. It could be very scary for these reasons and other events elsewhere would be more suitable.
However, if you are with a child or vulnerable adult and become separated, please approach a steward or police officer to alert them immediately. Children and vulnerable adults, where possible, should be told in advance, to look for a steward or police officer should they become separated from you.
