Brighton College’s coaches cause parking ‘chaos’ in road

Karl Shortland-Anderson said he and other residents have been lobbying Brighton College since 2019 to stop coaches dropping and picking up pupils amid heavy traffic in Sutherland Road.

Karl said the coaches cause significant noise and traffic at peak times, causing “chaos” in the road.

He said: “People are trying to get to work or take their own children to school, and there is revving and people shouting.

Karl says the coaches cause chaos when they double park (Image: Supplied) “They are luxury coaches – monster coaches which are twice the size of normal coaches. Children can’t see round them and drivers and cyclists can’t see round them so end up swerving into the way of cars travelling up the hill.”

Karl would like to see a “cohesive plan” from the school about alleviating the problem, such as staggering drop-off times or stopping coaches from lingering after drop off.

Karl said: “We have asked the school repeatedly. They said they would do something by December last year. What is the hold up?

“They said the contract will run out on the luxury coaches and then they would employ smaller ones to ease the issue.

Karl says cyclists can’t see round the coaches (Image: Supplied) “They only do something if it’s legislated or in their interest

“My plan was to get a banner and stand in front of the coach and not let it pass.

“I’m done. No more. We have asked politely. The school has radicalised the area – we have now set up a group where we track anything the school does that’s not fair.”

Brighton College was contacted for comment.

Ryan Tanner, Operations Manager, Spirit of Sussex Coaches, said: “We are sorry to hear a concern has been raised about the dropping and picking up of pupils at Brighton College. We provide an excellent coach service to Brighton College and will work with them to ensure we continue to do so and at the same time keep local residents happy.”