East Sussex Highways - Lewes

Crowman

East Sussex Highways closed the road directly outside my property without any warning, to fell a 60ft sycamore tree opposite. My cars on my driveway where directly in line fire of falling branches etc.
I had to move my cars past cherry pickers debris and cut off branches and parked my cars down a side road away from the works. On my return a large branch was laying where my card had been. I then escorted a lady who had taken her dog for a walk and could not get home because of the road closure and dangerous falling timber ( I had to go through it myself to get in my front door). Later on in the day they cut the trunk down and it catapulted through my front fence destroying the fence and hit the wall of the house, luckily the wall survived. I complained about the damage on the day, Balfour Beatty denied liability. This happened Feb 2024 and took court proceeding in December 2024 to resolve. My advise is to take legal action straightaway. The are a waste of £275,000,000 of tax payers money.

Rosie

I phoned ESHs this morning because my driveway was flooding as a result of a blocked ditch and the water was getting perilously close to my front door. The person I spoke to was very polite and helpful. By the afternoon Chris and Connor had arrived. What great chaps. So helpful and accommodating. They worked really hard and managed to resolve the problem with the ditch. My driveway is now clearing of water and disaster averted. A really big THANK YOU to Chris and Connor!

Tom M.

Two front wheels of my new car have just been severely damaged after hitting an unavoidable crater of a pothole on my journey to work. The hole itself has already been "repaired" by east Sussex council and the hole was still 8 inches deep and 2 feet wide. It had white lines painted around it which proves that they were aware of this damage, although it was left in a dangerous condition although this was invisible at the time because the hole was full of rain water.
I tried to claim for this although they make it impossible by saying it must be first reported to them before they will allow you to continue (I called FOUR times and no answer), they require TWO written estimates for repairs when I only had one because I needed it repaired urgently, they require a copy of your vehicle insurance and V5 which is a breach of GDPR as they have no need to have that information.
The quality of the "repairs" that they do to the roads is an embarrassment.
Unfortunately, you are wasting your time - they won't answer your call or contact you back.

User 7.

With no warning 8 people have turned up, closed the road and dug a hole in my hedge to replace a sign that's been damaged for 8 years. They're the sub contractor so not responsible and have to follow their orders, I have to deal with Highways. Highways have registered my complaint and passed it to the relevant department. The upshot - I'm in a doomloop of unaccountability and bureaucracy in which no-one knows anything or can do anything.

As far as I can tell Highways weaponise their inefficiency and stream of contractors to justify doing whatever they want to a road or private property whenever they want, however they want and whyever they want.

Glen B.

Had a letter about tree cutting on my property , but they failed to say which hedge needed trimming. I rang this morning and spoke to Tyler , very polite and he sorted probably out . They will send pics of hedge that needs attention. I did laugh at letter as the potholes are terrible on the roads, perhaps they are more urgent.

T R. W.

Their website is as bad as their roads. Tried reporting potholes that weren’t showing on the map. After repeated errors, I gave up and found they were already reported on Fix My Street.

As for the potholes - quite unbelievable. They are everywhere throughout the county, but there are some particularly extensive and dangerous potholes on the B2244 south of Hawkhurst. These would be extremely dangerous for cyclists and already cause sudden braking and swerving, so it’s only a matter of time before a serious accident happens. Consider the fact that the Highways Depot is a mere 15 minutes drive - this really does raise some fundamental questions around the competence of East Sussex Highways leadership.

Jake W.

Appalling service and not worthy of any stars. Called and raised online report best part of 2 months ago regarding a blocked drain and water collecting at other end of drive due to no drainage system in place. Have called many times since and also today and constantly get palmed off with same excuses, job raised but no date confirmed, will speak to manager and get a call back. Why is it so hard to come and unblock a drain! I clearly stand no chance in getting my other issue addressed if they can't even unblock a simple drain request. I'm not even going to bother to mention the conditions of the roads as we all know how poorly maintained they are in the area. East Sussex highways you are useless!

Jonathan M.

Once again Walshes road in Crowborough has been closed without notification to businesses on Millbrook industrial estate. The closed road is the only access road for high & long vehicles - Despite repeated assurances from highways to inform the businesses on the affected estate, notification is never received.