The Seaford Vale Road bus diversion began on 13 October 2026, with Brighton & Hove Buses’ route 12 missing six stop locations in both directions because of roadworks. Passengers travelling along the Brighton–Eastbourne corridor should check the replacement boarding point for their direction, rather than wait at their usual stop.
Last updated: 14 October 2026, 05:15 BST. Sources checked during preparation.
Archive: Brighton & Hove Coaster route 12, beside Eastbourne pier, 17 May 2015. Photo: grassrootsgroundswell / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. This is not Seaford’s Vale Road or the 2026 works. Wikimedia’s resized version is used; WordPress supplies further resized versions.
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In short
- The operator’s notice names route 12, not a cancellation of the whole service.
- Six named stop locations are unavailable in both directions.
- Seafield Close is an alternative towards Brighton; Old Nursery Close is an alternative towards Eastbourne.
- Seaford Library is also listed as an alternative. No end date is supplied.
Seaford Vale Road bus diversion: which stops are affected?
The official service alert and route page for 14 October give the same six locations: Stafford Road, Pondsyde Court, Sherwood Rise, Lexden Court, East Dean Rise and Cemetery Gates.
The list refers to stop locations with services affected in both directions, rather than six individual poles. It is a change to where passengers can board or leave route 12, not confirmation that the route has ceased running.
Where to board instead
| Direction or alternative | Operator’s instruction |
|---|---|
| Towards Brighton | Use Seafield Close, or check the Seaford Library option. |
| Towards Eastbourne | Use Old Nursery Close, or check the Seaford Library option. |
| Seaford Library | Listed as an alternative; select the correct directional stop. |
The notice does not give walking distances, an accessible pedestrian route or a revised journey time. If the extra walk is difficult, ask the operator about your precise journey before leaving. Do not assume the closest-looking pole serves the direction you need.
Why it matters along the coast
East Sussex County Council’s summer network information places route 12 on the corridor through Brighton, Peacehaven, Newhaven, Seaford and Eastbourne. That is background to the service’s wider usefulness, not independent confirmation of the temporary roadworks or a reopening date.
Coaster pages also group services such as 12X and N12 together. This particular alert explicitly names route 12, so check another service’s stopping pattern before treating it as a substitute. The separate Broomfield Avenue suspension in Peacehaven concerns a different location and should not be confused with this diversion.
Brighton Locals’ view
Our assessment is that the direction-specific alternatives are useful, but the missing finish date leaves a practical uncertainty. The sensible response is to choose the replacement stop before travelling and recheck the alert for the return journey, rather than infer that a bus will stop normally once workers have left for the day.
What to watch next
Watch for the operator to remove or revise the Vale Road notice. “13 October onwards” is an open-ended disruption period, not a promise that it ends tonight.
Bottom line
Route 12 continues on diversion. Check your direction and replacement stop before heading to Vale Road.
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