Local items on the agenda include: -

* a progress report on matters considered at the last meeting in December such as the Clays Hill speed limit petition and the Bramber Road bus stop relocation,

* a report by Sgt Boyes on local policing issues (with hopefully feedback on action being taken to enforce no parking on the zig zag lines next to the zebra crossing in Steyning High Street),

* a report by Local Highway Manager, Neil Smith, on highway action re the recent bad weather,

* consideration of bids for community grants (inc. Steyning tourist info point funding, Steyning First Responders and Steyning area Youth Clubs), and

* Public ‘Talk with Us’ open forum when the public can raise any local concerns such as parking in narrow roads, speed limits, 20 mph zones, community safety, street scene etc.

The meeting starts at 7pm and everybody is welcome.

Following a request made to me at the Steyning Showcase event I asked the Local Highway Manager if a traffic sign could be provided to indicate the Village Hall in the High Street.

I have been informed that although village halls are signed where they are remote from the main road, this is not the case in Upper Beeding. So in line with the County Council’s stated objectives of reducing sign clutter it is considered that such a sign would not be appropriate in this instance.

The meeting starts at 7.30pm at the Steyning Centre, and one of the major debates could well be on whether the Steyning should become a Town or remain a Parish. No doubt there will be many good arguments for both points of view, but, at the end of the day it will not involve any additional powers nor costs for the council should it decide to formally become a town council.  

I have always considered Steyning to be a Town and would support the suggestion this should be recognised in the name of its Council. Apart from the name, the only difference from a parish council is that the council chairman could become the Town Mayor. I understand that it has been suggested that this would not happen in Steyning if the Council decides to go for town council status; but even if it did it should not involve any extra costs – the role of Town Mayor would be the same as parish council chairman. The outcome of the public consultation in the next newsletter and the discussion at the Annual Parish Meeting on 29 March will be very interesting!

There is also an excellent report from the Traffic Calming Sub-Committee, under the Minutes of the Highways & Lighting Committee of 23 February, covering a possible 20mph zone for the Town. I certainly agree with the feeling of the Sub-Committee that with only six access roads, a high proportion of pedestrians and cyclists, together with the school sites, a 20 mph zone covering the whole Town would be appropriate. Certainly much better than having a few 20 mph limits on specific roads with physical measures to help enforce the limit in those places. Locally in the south the Liberal Democrats running Portsmouth have implemented a successful 20 mph limit on all the residential roads in the City, and whilst Steyning is much smaller there is no reason why such a scheme should not be equally successful here.

Of the six possible entry points to the 20 mph zone: -

Bostal Road junction with Bramber Road,

Bramber Road south of the Bostal Road junction,

Newham Lane junction with Bostal Road,

Horsham Road at Bayards,

Canons Way junction with Steyning Bypass, and

Roman Road/Castle Lane junction,

the first I would move to the Bostal Road access to Mount Park, and the last to the Bramber Roundabout junction with Castle Lane (although I accept that this is in Bramber).

With both Upper Beeding and Steyning considering 20mph zones (and with Bramber soon to get a 20 mph limit in The Street), the approval of new criteria for reduced speed limits, which will be considered by the County Council at the end of March, will be a necessary step forward if such zones are to be progressed.  

At the request of residents of Oreham Common off Horn Lane, near Small Dole, I have asked the Local Highway Manager to arrange a traffic investigation into extending the 40 mph limit from near Woods Mill to beyond the Oreham Common junction.

As a fairly regular user of Horn Lane, I fully understand local concerns about the lack of signs indicating the junction with Oreham Common, which is between two bends in Horn Lane. Vehicles emerging from Oreham Common are often passed at speed by Horn Lane traffic coming round one of the bends, unaware that they are approaching a road junction.

In addition, as all the properties in Horn Lane, including Oreham Common, have the same post code, delivery vans and horse boxes often have to reverse out of the Oreham Common junction having been mistakenly directed to incorrect destinations by satellite navigation.

If anybody has a view on this matter they could attend the next Chanctonbury County Local Committee meeting on 17 March at the Steyning Centre, Steyning to contribute to the debate under the public forum section of the agenda.

There has been a serious flooding problem in Tanyard Lane for some time and I have been working with the Highways Office for action to overcome the situation.

Finally works are due to start next week on Monday 1st March to improve the highway drainage outside No.3 & 4 St.Michaels Cottages, Tanyard Lane. The scheme is expected to take up to 7 working days to complete, weather permitting. The work involves excavation and installation of a new soakaway chamber. Work will generally take place Monday to Friday from 07.30hrs – 16.30hrs and may continue into the following week. There will be no working over the weekend.

Due to the narrow road width and location of underground services, it will be necessary for Tanyard Lane to be closed to through traffic for the period of the works. The temporary closure will be at the western end of Tanyard Lane. The alternative route for vehicles, including buses, will be via High Street, Church Street and Church Lane. Residents who live along Tanyard Lane will have vehicular and pedestrian access to their properties from either end.

The work will be supervised by Mr Tim Smith, so should residents/visitors be concerned about any aspect of the work being likely to cause a problem that could be helped by special arrangements; e.g. for wheelchair users, less mobile or visually impaired please contact him on 01243 642105.

Following the clearance of the visibility splay at the junction with the Steyning bypass I have asked the Local Highway Manager to approach the County Forester to see if new trees can be planted near the fence line. If agreed this would restore the noise and sight protection to the properties backing onto the Bypass.

Further to my previous article on this matter, the drainage survey has now taken place and indicated that the gullies on Horsham Road are connected to each other.  It also indicated that pipe connecting into the land drainage was blocked, probably with roots and is on a programme for root cutting.

The Local Highway Manager has now had the pipe cleared and apparently there was long sucking noise and the water disappeared down the gullies!

Hopefully this action will resolve the problem, but local residents living near the area will undoubtedly keep a close eye on the situation.

The Lib Dem Budget amendment to reduce the £2m proposed cut in the Youth Service to just £600,000 in efficiency savings – not cuts in services, was rejected at the County Council meeting yesterday. This will mean an increase in Council Tax of 2.5% from April.

The Tories preferred to keep the existing publicity budget, the provision for members spending projects, the number of Cabinet Members and the inflation provision of 1.5% for staff pay increases during the year (despite local government employers pay freeze proposal to the Unions). Many Lib Dem speakers made such a strong case for the Youth Service that the Council Leader did agree that if the pay award was less than 1.5% the saving would be ploughed back into the Youth Service.

Council also voted to give a better chance for reductions in speed limits in future

As reported previously, the Council also considered a proposal to revise the speed limit criteria in the County. This was agree overwhelmingly, despite concerns from the Cabinet Member about the success of 30 mph limits being introduced with few if any enforcement measures. He agreed to accept the will of most councillors to revise the current speed limit policy and will report back to the next Council meeting in March on the revised criteria, which will give County Local Committees more scope and opportunities to recommend speed limits that respond to local aspirations.

This is great news, and as I said at the Council meeting, will give a much greater chance of the speed limit on Clays Hill in Bramber being reduced from 40 to 30 mph as called for in the recent petition, which is supported by the three local parish councils.

The Budget is the main item on the agenda for this meeting, when it is likely that an increase in Council Tax of 2.5% will be agreed. The Budget takes account of the need to substantially increase the provision for looked after children by £7m and £5m for personal social care at home free for all those in critical need currently going through Parliament. Another major call on the finances will be £6m to meet the revenue costs from the new Materials Resource Management contract to deal with all the County’s household waste. To offset these huge increases in expenditure (plus inflation) the County is expecting to save some £22m from streamlining services and operating more efficiently and effectively, without cutting the service to residents.

Although the efficiency savings can generally be supported, my colleagues and I are concerned at the late decision to save £2m from the Youth Services Budget before carrying out a thorough investigation of the way efficiencies can be achieved without reducing the service. In addition it is a concern that the repairs to road damage and potholes in 2010/2011 will be funded by re-allocating £2m from the footway programme. The extensive review showing the need for more footway work seems to have been a waste of time. Finally at a time when local businesses need support, can it be right that the provision for keeping West Sussex Working and support for the economic downturn is being reduced by over £700,000?  

The other agenda item of interest is a Notice of Motion from a Conservative member attempting to amend the Council’s speed limit policy in line with revised Government Guidance that 30mph should be the norm in villages. And that the relationship between average speed and speed limits is removed from the County’s policy.  If approved the revised policy would give County Local Committees more scope and opportunities to recommend speed limits that respond to local aspirations. This would also assist them to recommend a programme to deliver a change in driver behaviour.

The mover of the Motion wants the County to set a target in the 2010/2011 Corporate Plan of revising downwards speed limits in at least 30 villages with priority given to those communities with existing 40 mph limits. Not surprisingly the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning & Transport is opposed to the Motion with the usual reasons for opposing reduced speed limits. He is, however, considering setting up a special commission to consider the challenges posed to communities by inappropriate speeds, to look at speed reduction best practice elsewhere and to recommend any changes in County criteria for speed limits by the end of 2010. An attempt to kick the matter into the long grass?

There is likely to be a cross-party debate on this Motion. Many members from all parties want to see reduced speed limits in their areas but are usually blocked by the current County speed limit criteria. In this area many residents want to see a 30 mph on both Clays Hill and the Horsham Road entrances to Steyning, and in both Steyning and Upper Beeding 20 mph on some roads is being demanded - all of which I support. I have no doubt that if the Motion is passed it would help achieve speed limit reductions in Steyning and Upper Beeding (Bramber has already won the case for a 20mph limit in the Street).

I have been informed that this work will start on Tuesday 9th February, subject to weather, emergencies and usual reservations with minor maintenance work. The work has to be done now before the start of nesting season.

As the ground conditions are not suitable for heavy machines there will be a small digger and a chipper, chain saw, small tools

The small trees will be chipped on site and the chips will be left on site to mulch. This is a sustainable way of managing of green waste. The roots will be stockpiled at the side of the road and removed when the cutting work is complete. Any thing that is too big for the one gang involved to handle will be referred to tree surgeons to be felled at a later date.

The work is likely to take 2 to 3 days, and the Local Highway Manager will be on site on the Tuesday about mid- morning.

Once the work is completed the visibility splay will accord with the original plans for this junction with the Steyning By pass, and hopefully improve visibility of traffic from the Washington direction for vehicles turning right out of Canons Way.

Many people will be aware of the continuing flooding of the Horsham Road outside the Leisure Centre whenever we have periods of heavy rain.

I organised a site meeting on Monday to discuss the matter with the Local Highway Engineer, and am pleased to say that in the short term he has added the drainage points concerned to the jetting list to be cleared. 

For the longer term he has added a full survey of the drainage provision in the area to this jetting work with a view to developing a scheme that might resolve the flooding problem. 

We also discussed the flooding which takes place on footpath 2600 outside St Andrew’s Primary School. This is a continuing problem that often leads, when it has been raining, to children attending school with wet feet or using the road, which is dangerous. Recent photographs have revealed that it is more of a ponding problem rather than a ditch related flooding issue and so the Local Highway Manager has arranged to carry out maintenance work to raise the level of the footway where this ponding takes place. Hopefully this will be done soon, but priority is currently being given to repairing winter damage and potholes in the carriageways.  

There is some concern about the ditch next to the footway, and since this is the responsibility of Horsham District Council appropriate District Council officers on behalf of District Councillor George Cockman are investigating any necessary works.

The Liberal Democrat members of the Policy & Resources Select Committee, meeting last Friday, highlighted a number of problems with the draft Budget likely to be agreed by the Conservative Administration at County Hall at the full Council meeting in February.

 In particular we raised the proposed £1m+ cut in the provision for highway maintenance- this appears to fly in the face of the substantial spending now needed to address the vast number of potholes following the recent ice and snow. 

I also expressed considerable concern at the budgeted cut of some £400,000 in public transport support – unless this will be offset by income to that budget from the rise in on-street car parking charges (allowed for under the Act of Parliament concerned). The reduction of bus services which would follow from a £400,000t cut is hardly the right way to go to address the need to reduce the use of carbon from car use required by the County’s support of the 10/10 campaign.  

The £2m cut in the youth budget would be dreadful if it is allowed to take place. The possible impact on the most vulnerable youngsters and so subsequent increase in anti-social behaviour seems to matter little.  

In addition question marks continue over the achievability of the £22m efficiency savings provided for in the Budget, and this was highlighted by the provision of a special reserve of some £7m in the Budget in case these efficiencies are not made. 

And all of this without even seeing the Corporate Plan for the year on which this Budget is supposedly based. It could not be finished in time because of the snow!! Well whilst some staff time had to quite rightly be diverted to dealing with the problems caused by the snow to the most vulnerable people in the County, it does seem amazing that since the preparation of the Budget taking into account that Plan started months ago, not even a draft Plan was made available to the Committee to see.    

Finally the Budget provides for a 2.5% Council Tax increase. Yes it is the lowest increase proposed since council tax was introduced in 1993, but this % increase is likely to be much higher than those in work, whether private or public sector, will receive. And this ignores the many who are on low fixed incomes. There is much more work to do to keep Council Tax increases down and still protect the most needed services.

I have just learned at the recent liaison meeting between Bramber, Steyning and Upper Beeding Parish Councils firm backing was given to the proposed reduction of the speed limit on clays Hill to 30 mph.    

The current position is that I forwarded the petition on this with about 300 signatures to the Local Highway Manager, at the end of November. I have subsequently been informed that, when prepared, an Information Report on this will be made to the Chanctonbury County Local Committee (CLC).   

Assessments of existing speeds have been made in the past, but the new puffin crossing on Bramber Road may well alter traffic conditions and this will need to be taken into account in the Report.  

Hopefully the Report will be made to the next Chanctonbury CLC meeting, due to take place in Steyning on 17 March. I will let people know in due if the matter is on the agenda so that they and the representatives of the three parish councils can attend to support the proposed 30 mph limit, and make their views known to the other members of the Committee.

Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition on West Sussex County Council, Morwen Millson says, “We support the review of the Highways response already announced, but the effects of the recent bad weather were much wider than that. The Liberal Democrats want to look at the response not just of all parts of the County Council but of all public bodies, including parish and district councils, the NHS, the Highways Agency and transport operators and the ways in which they worked together.”

Transport lead member Dr. Nigel Dennis says, “Whilst the response of the Highways department was excellent within the current policies, the policies need to be tested. Is there too much emphasis on the use of gritting and not enough on snow ploughs? Should pavements be treated in addition to roads? Has the council investigated alternatives to gritting such as brine spraying in coastal areas? Is the priority list the best and most up to date? Are there enough grit bins or is there a better solution to supporting local residents to keep their areas safe?”

Brian Hall, Vice Chairman of the Council’s influential Policy and Resources Committee says, “The economy suffered not just from snow and ice and the effects on roads and pavements but also from the knock on effects of school closures. We think that the review should look at ways of avoiding such widespread closures and whether all schools need to close completely, or whether some could operate an emergency service so that parents who are key workers and carers could get to work, knowing their children are safe.

Morwen adds, “The NHS was affected badly, with many people attending A&E departments following falls. There will also be extra long-term costs for follow up appointments for fractures and other injuries. In spite of enormous efforts by care workers, some older people did not receive a normal service from the care system, with meals on wheels and domiciliary care particularly affected.

“Finally, the review should cover the ways in which the different authorities worked together. Although, most districts were unable to operate a normal refuse collection service, some immediately sent refuse collectors out to clear snow, whilst others waited several days. Some large parish councils were able to co-ordinate the response in their areas; should this model be used more widely?

“Weather emergencies are relatively rare in West Sussex, though many believe that changing weather patterns may make them more frequent. It is clear that modern society is dependent on being able to travel significant distances to work. We need our public bodies to take the full costs of their policies into account, not just their own costs. This is something the Government should look at on a national level.”

Derek Deedman, County Councillor for Bramber Castle concluded, “There is a considerable amount of work to do over the coming weeks and months to ensure that all parishes have an emergency plan in place covering all contingencies for the future – not just snow and ice. In my own area I have instigated the preparation of such planning with the first meeting of the Bramber, Steyning and Upper Beeding Parish Councils taking place earlier this month. The plan must involve all the agencies mentioned above, together with the many voluntary groups that do so much good work for local people all year round, and I will be working with the Parish and District Councillors to achieve just that.    

Following campaigning by Bramber Parish Council, which I have fully supported, informal consultation permission has been granted to publish a proposed traffic Order that will introduce a 20mph speed limit in The Street, Bramber.  

As part of the legal process West Sussex County Council is required under the Road Traffic Regulation Act to undertake a further formal consultation with local people. 

Please see the weblink below. This will enable viewing of the: - 

•         Plan showing extent of proposed 20mph speed limit

•         Statement of Reasons for proposing to make the Order

•         Public Notice that will be advertised in the West Sussex County Times on 22 January 2010

•         Draft Order 

http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/content/roads-and-transport/motor-vehicles-and-parking/traffic-regulation-orders/traffic-regulation-order-consultations/chanctonbury-county-local-committee.en 

If you have any problems accessing the consultation documents via the link or wish to express support or raise an objection about any part of the proposal please either use the response form on the website, e-mail tro.team@westsussex.gov.uk, or write to TRO Team, West Sussex County Council, The Grange, Tower Street, Chichester, PO19 1RH quoting reference TRO/170 

In addition to supporting the proposed scheme I have made it clear that the re-shaping of some of the road humps to reduce/remove the impact on surrounding property of traffic going over the humps must be seen as an essential part of the scheme.

 Please note the statutory consultation period ends on 15 February 2010 and any comments you wish to have taken into consideration should be received before this date.

I understand that the County Council has found some extra funding resources to tackle the horde of new potholes caused by the recent cold weather and snow across the county. Work started last week as soon as the thaw started on a “Find and Fix” programme of pothole repairs. 

Highway Inspectors are also out looking at the road network. If anyone has noticed particularly dangerous local potholes please let the Southern Highways Office on 01243 642105 know where they are.

It should be stresses no promises have been made to “fix” all these new potholes immediately, but hopefully this approach will speed up the necessary priority assessment and log for the repair process.

Upper Beeding Parish Council heard this week that traffic staff vacancies in the local Highways Office means that there will be a delay in drawing up draft plans for a 20 mph zone in Upper Beeding.  

In addition the County Traffic Calming Team have commented that the current list of such requests throughout the County exceeds 1000, so the resources have to be prioritized to align with Government targets of reducing the numbers of those killed and seriously injured on the roads. With the budget only allowing 2 urban road safety schemes (including traffic calming projects such as 20 mph zones) each year, the Team concentrates it’s efforts at locations where the injury collision rate is poor.   

I have also requested direct that such a zone be investigated, and have been told that due to budget restrictions only essential works are currently being carried out and so this investigation will be done during the next financial year. 

Steyning Parish Council agreed last night to establish an Emergency Planning Sub-Committee to prepare a community emergency plan to cover all types of emergencies which would require a community response.
This has arisen out of the current snow conditions that has highlighted the lack of a local plan to ensure arrangements were in place to tackle the snow on residential roads, pavements and car parks not dealt with by the County & Horsham District Councils.
When the first snowfalls occurred before Christmas, and it became clear that the priority for the County Council was to salt the strategic road network, I suggested, as reported in the West Sussex County Times, that a community emergency plan should be prepared. This would cover all possible types of emergency in Bramber, Steyning and Upper Beeding.
Following the initial meeting I organised last week on this, hosted by Steyning Parish Council, and at which plans were put in place for salt drop sites in the three parishes, it is great that Steyning Parish Council is now taking action to proceed with preparing a full community emergency plan. Such a plan will clearly involve many voluntary organisations in the area and I hope they will be willing to play their part to ensure we all work together to protect local people should there be emergencies in the future.

Upper Beeding Parish Council in their latest newsletter carried out a survey on a Parish Council proposal to consider the reversal of the current direction of the one-way traffic in Church Lane. 

I am pleased to say that the response from residents has been an emphatic NO! 

The figures reported to the January meeting of the Parish Council were: - 

 The Parish Council has now agreed to drop the proposal.

I understand most of the responses were expressed in very strong terms, highlighting in particular the poor visibility there would be for traffic at the exit from Church Lane to High Street. I fully agree with these views.

Residents were also invited by the Parish Council to make other suggestions.  There was no consistency in these, and most were either too radical to consider (“create a new access road into the village”, “make the High Street one way”) or unenforceable (“make the children walk to school”, “stop people parking outside my house”). This does not mean that no new ideas to improve the traffic situation would ever be considered, so if anyone has a scheme which would be cheap to implement, please let me know. 

I have just learned that the Government has taken control of local authority salt stocks to ensure that local authorities do not run out of salt in the more heavily snow hit parts of the Country. 

This means that although West Sussex still has plenty of salt in hand, no more orders can be placed until that salt is nearly all used. The County therefore has to retain the existing stock for using on the strategic roads as before, and has stopped any salt bags being made available to parish councils. 

Although the deliveries mentioned in the previous article will now not take place (pending any further change in Government policy), local people should still let the parish council contacts know if they could help if salt bag deliveries do eventually take place, and also to let them know if the identified sites are in the right places.

Following the snow emergency plan meeting with Bramber, Steyning and Upper Beeding parish council representatives yesterday, a number of salt bag drops have been requested by the respective parish councils from County Council Highways at Clapham: - 

Bramber

 The drop points are planned to be: -1 - Bottom of Coombe Drove, 2 - Bottom of Sopers Lane,  3 - Near the Maudlyn Lane Notice board, 4 - Bramber Car Park 

Steyning

 The drop points are planned to be: -1 - Health Centre, 2 - Penlands Vale at the peak of the hill, 3 – Goring Road by the junction of Holland Road (to also serve Kings Barn Lane Bridge and the footbridge from Goring Road to Roman Road over the by pass), 4 - Ingram Road by the junction of Hills road, 5 - High Street by the White Horse. In addition a request has been made to refill the bag already in place outside the bus shelter in the High Street. 

Upper Beeding

 The drop points are planned to be: - 1 - Hyde Square, 2 - High Street (by newsagent), 3 - Manor Road.

Bramber, Steyning & Upper Beeding

 I understand from Steyning Parish Council that there is a huge list of salt bags that have been requested by parish councils across the County, so that there is just not enough to go round as Highways need to keep the main roads as a priority.  Highways are, however, hopeful that the refill of the High Street bus shelter bag will take place today. 

It would be valuable, therefore, if residents living near the drop points listed above could contact their appropriate Parish Clerk if they are able to help distribute the salt on nearby pavements. This would help enable a priority order of drop points to be established for deliveries, and Highways advised accordingly.  Email contacts: -Bramber PC rogerpotter1@btinternet.com , Steyning PC steyningcentre@btconnect.com , Upper Beeding upper.beeding@btconnect.com or andrew@lenticular-europe.com

Many thanks.

A number of residents of Godstalls Lane and Perrots Lane have contacted me over that last few months about indiscriminate parking in the narrow part of Godstalls Lane.

This parking by both cars and vans in this narrow part of Godstalls Lane, where there are no houses, just a pavement and a grass verge, has caused refuse collection and other large vehicles having to drive up on to the verge creating a very deep and muddy trench.  This mud is also coming on to the road surface.  This originally happened in the very wet weather a few weeks ago and will no doubt continue as long as the width is restricted by the parked vehicles.

I spoke to the Local Traffic Engineer before Christmas about the situation, and understand that the matter is on the possible Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) list for the new financial year. An approved TRO could restrict parking in this part of Godstalls Lane.

I am not sure whether the consideration of the 2010/11 programme for Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO’s) will be on the agenda for the Chanctonbury County Local Committee (CLC) meeting on 17 March at 7pm at the Steyning Centre. However any local resident can raise the problem under the ‘public forum’ agenda item if there is no formal TRO report. The weight of local concern about this parking will clearly influence the eventual CLC decision on the priority order for any TRO scheme.

Many people will have seen the front page of last week’s West Sussex County Times reporting on the concern of local people about the situation on our residential roads and pavements following the snow before Christmas.

As mentioned in the front page article I consider that with the County Council resources limited to dealing with the strategic road network, local people and agencies should work together to prepare an emergency plan for the local community itself to deal with the residential roads and pavements most difficult to use, after such snow falls have turned the surfaces to ice and made them lethal to use.

I am pleased to report that Steyning Parish Council has agreed to host a preliminary emergency planning meeting which will also be attended by an officer from the County Council Emergency Planning Team, the Local Highway Manager, representatives from Bramber and Upper Beeding Parish Councils, an officer from the Fire & Rescue Service and hopefully local District Councillors.

The meeting will take place on Wednesday afternoon, 6 January and I will report on the outcome later in the week.

The County Council did bring in extra contractors eventually before Christmas for  a day or so to tackle the snow on some residential roads and pavements, but by then most of the worse areas were clearing naturally. I am not aware that any contractors were deployed in the Steyning/Upper Beeding area.

Fortunately the snow and ice has now gone although there are forecasts that it might be back again in early January. Should this happen the County Council will no doubt operate the existing policy of first tackling the snow and ice on the major and strategic routes. People not living on those routes who can stay at home should therefore ensure they keep up-to-date with the weather forecasts and have enough supplies at home to survive for a few days without going out.

Some lessons have been learned, so hopefully, for example, the access to the meals on wheels kitchens should be kept clear of snow in future.

As far as our local area is concerned I have suggested that we need to prepare an emergency plan covering all the activities of the County, District and Parish Councils, the Health Service and any other authorities providing services which need to be maintained during snow, flooding etc.

I will be contacting the County Council emergency services officers next week to arrange for their advice on preparing such a Plan.

Unfortunately these scheduled for this week, have been put back to January 2010.

A number of people have contacted me about the current lethal state of the residential roads and pavements in Bramber, Steyning and Upper Beeding.

I have spoken to the Local Highway Manager this morning (21^st) and the state of the residential roads and pavements is exactly the same throughout the County.

He informed me that the County Council has 23 gritter vehicles and 46 drivers. The County gritting policy is: -

First - priorities 1 & 2 – the major ‘A’ and ‘B’ roads plus a few strategic ‘C’ roads such as unofficial bypass round East Grinstead.

Second, when, after priority 1, priority 3 – roads used for access to schools and other significant facilities.

No gritting of residential roads and pavements will take place, although they will be looked at once everything else has been cleared and no further snow or ice is forecasted in the County.

I asked about the provision of grit bins at appropriate places for volunteers to use, and whilst the County Council does not have the budget for these, it does licence Parish Councils to provide them if they wish. The Parish Councils wishing to do this would have to meet the full costs of providing the grit bins and keeping them maintained. Whilst our local parish councils may investigate this in due course this is clearly not going to help during the present conditions.

Finally there is the question of bringing in contractors to tackle some of the more dangerous residential roads and pavements. I am informed by the Local Highway Manager that a crisis meeting will take place this morning to consider this option, but it will require additional financial resources and could not take place before tomorrow, even if the additional funds can be found (in this regard it should not be forgotten that the County Council is already heading for a £7m overspend this year – well above the contingency fund). I will let you know if this is agreed and whether any of the roads in Bramber, Steyning and Upper Beeding are likely to be tackled.  In any event, even if additional resources are approved no work will be carried out where more snow is expected (as it is for this afternoon across the County) as that would simply cover up what had been cleared.

I will update this information in due course. 

The Chanctonbury County Local Committee discussed this matter on Wednesday evening.

Having heard the concerns of residents backing on to the proposed location, south of Penlands Way, the Committee agreed to recommend that the decision on the location be deferred to January. This would enable all interested parties, including Steyning Parish Council, to meet to agree a compromise site.

The County Highways Director concerned has now agreed that the decision can be deferred to enable a full review by the Local Highway Manager with all concerned.

There has been some concern about water flowing across the High Street from Dog Lane in Steyning, especially with the very cold weather likely to freeze the water and make the road dangerous.

In view of the circumstances County Highways have arranged for repair work to be carried out to the drainage system with the work starting on Monday, 21 December. The work will involve the installation of a new drainage inspection chamber to allow access to the Highway drainage adjacent to the Springwells Hotel on Dog Lane.

Due to the narrow road width and location of underground services, it will be necessary to close the Southern/Western access to Dog Lane to through traffic for a 4 day period. The temporary closure will be at the Western end of Dog Lane. Residents who live along Dog Lane will have vehicular and pedestrian access to their properties from the Northern end. The alternative route for vehicles will be via the other end of Dog Lane via High Street and Sheep Pen Lane.

Please contact County Highways on 01243 642105 if you feel the work is likely to cause a problem for members of your household which could be helped by special arrangements; e.g. for wheelchair users, less mobile or visually impaired people, or for special deliveries you might be expecting, or if you have any other concerns during these works.

Finally It should be noted that the gang allocated to carry out these works are also on the Winter Maintenance rota. Should there be a call for gritting at the same time, then they will have to carry out their gritting duties.

Run times to schools can be a cause for concern and in Steyning with two large schools in close proximity these concerns are addressed through a working group led by St Andrews School and Steyning Grammar School, co-ordinated by Pene Mather from WSCC Safer Routes to School, Travelwise team and supported by WSCC Highways, Sussex Police, the Parish Council, Derek Deedman the local WSCC County Councillor and the Village Wardens.

The group which meets on a regular basis has been looking at ways of improving pupil safety, concerns raised by local residents and parents have been considered, potential solutions have been identified and trials have been carried out.  Many residents may have noticed the yellow signs around Steyning at the beginning of November informing traffic of the School Barrier Trial which ran for 3 days, the results of this trial indicated whilst traffic was reduced on the school sites there would be a need to assess further the impact on the surrounding areas. 

Following this trial parents were surveyed and this feedback has enabled us to look at other areas of concern, e.g. for parents who walk their children to school the high volume of traffic using the smaller roads where congestion can lead to vehicles mounting pavements, blocking accesses and parking badly.  Speeding vehicles as drivers try to get through before getting caught in traffic.  Many parents have highlighted a need for a “lollypop” person and this is being assessed currently.

On some of the twittens the condition of the paths and hazards left by some dog walkers are a reason given for parents not to walk to school.  This is a concern for all Steyning residents so please do keep the paths clean.

For those who have to drive to school such as parents, staff and older pupils, congestion leads to delays as cars try to park locally and frustration with the traffic behaviour can result in a stressful journey.

The working group is looking for your views as local residents - you do not have to have a child at one of the schools to let us know your thoughts.

Do you have a concern or comment you would like to share with the group or maybe you would be interested in becoming a “lollypop” person?

Steyning Schools Working Group contact; Pene.mather@westsussex.gov.uk

Great news that at long last the new crossing will be commissioned and all being well, left operational this Friday afternoon.

The position of the moved bus stop has yet, however, to be resolved. Traffic and pedestrian safety problems outside the Catholic Church mean that the temporary bus stop has had to be moved further north to the next lay-by in Bramber Road. The County Director involved will make the final decision on the permanent position for the bus stop on 21 December.

Following regular contact with the local Highways Office about the flooding in this part of Tanyard Lane, officers have agreed to install a new soak away which they hope will resolve the problem.

A road closure notice will be required to safely install the new soak away and an opening notice will be issued to book the road space. Consultation with residents, bus operator etc will be undertaken shortly by Highways.

I understand that during the work, which is not expected to take more than five working days, the diversion route will be via the High Street, Church Street and Church Lane.

I have been assured that busy shopping times leading up to Christmas and any New Year sales will be avoided which should help local shop keepers.

I have submitted my comments to West Sussex County and Horsham District Councils on the planning proposals to extend the life of the Concrete Crusher and the storage facilities at the Old Cement Works Site in Upper Beeding.

The temporary planning permissions should be for only three years so that the new South Downs National Park Authority can review the situation once it is up and running. In addition I have asked that consideration be given to requiring a planning development contribution towards the provision of a signal controlled crossing at Dacre Gardens. This would enable local residents to cross the high speed and heavily trafficked A283 safely to access the bus stop (especially for children going to school). This would also help users of the South Downs Way which crosses the A283 at this point.

Finally I have asked that any extended planning approval the storage facility should require it to be considerably tidied up as it is a complete eyesore at present. 

Following up on the Highway Works Programme provision for a gateway, signing and white lining at the entrances to Small Dole recently, I found that the budget of £2,500 (from planning development funds) had been removed and the money spent elsewhere in the County.

This had happened without any discussion with Upper Beeding Parish Council, nor the Chanctonbury County Local Committee or me! On further investigation I learned that the Parish Council had had a meeting in October to agree some possible designs for the new gateway.

As a consequence of my subsequent correspondence with the appropriate county officers the £2,500 has been restored and work is now continuing to complete the design for the gateway so hopefully the work will be carried out later this financial year.

I have been trying to get this bit of land maintained for a number of years now. The problem is that this land was left over from the housing development in the past and no one now owns it – so it has become overgrown and an eyesore in the neighbourhood.

Up until now both the County Council and Steyning Parish Council had refused to take any action, but following a recent review of these sort of problem areas by the County Executive Director concerned, I discussed the matter with him a few months ago. The Local Highway Manager has now informed me that the overgrowth will be removed just before or after Christmas. He will also look at replacing the bushes etc with a grassed area for easy future maintenance.

Both Bramber Council and I had questioned the lack of any proposal to remove some of the road humps as part of the 20 mph speed limit scheme.

The Local Traffic Engineer has said that he cannot remove any of the existing speed bumps if the 20 mph scheme is to be achieved. Traffic surveys have shown that the average speeds along The Street are very close to the upper limit of the County Council speed limit criteria, and removing any of the speed bumps will inevitably increase the average speeds causing the speed limit request to fall outside of the required criteria.

He has, however, carried out an assessment of all of the speed bumps within The Street with one of the Traffic Calming Engineers and is prepared to carry out some work to try and resolve some of the problems from three of the present road humps:

1.       Re-face the speed bump to the North of St Marys House

2.       Complete rebuild of the speed bump outside St Marys House

3.       Re-face the speed bump outside of the Gables.

He considers the remaining speed bumps are all fit for purpose and will remain unchanged at this time.

Although Bramber Parish Councillors and I wanted some of these road humps removed entirely, we feel that it is most important to achieve the 20 mph scheme. Since the proposed amendments to the worse road humps should address our concerns regarding the damage being caused to St Marys and the Gables, we have told the Local Traffic Engineer to proceed with his proposals so that he can progress the Speed Limit Traffic Regulation Order.

The idea is to merge CLC’s so that there would be just one for each District in the County (apart from Adur and Worthing where one CLC would cover both the District and Borough area). It is claimed that this would increase partnership working with the respective District Councils and also, of course, save money.

I contacted the Chairman of the Governance Committee before the meeting to express my complete opposition to this proposal. The Chanctonbury CLC has been particularly welcomed by local people and the parish councils in the area as a way for them to express their opinions and achieve action from the County Council on local issues. A merger with North Horsham CLC (which is twice the size of Chanctonbury) will mean possibly only one meeting each year in the south of the District, and since most people already only attend CLC meetings near to their own town/village, that one meeting may well be seen as too far away to attend (eg Pulborough for Henfield/Steyning people). In addition, of course, it would be likely that a Horsham CLC could be dominated by ‘Horsham Town‘ issues, as is already seen to be the case for Horsham District matters. Further more it is proposed to reduce the amount available per councillor for community grants allocated by CLCs’. This would mean the chances of grants for local community groups in the Chanctonbury area are likely to be considerably reduced. When I raised this proposal at the most recent Parish Council I have attended (Bramber) parish councillors fully agreed with my opposition to what is proposed.

The fight to retain our local CLCs now goes to the full Council meeting on 11 December. It is hoped that sufficient Conservative Councillors (it is known that some are opposed to the merger proposals) will help reject this attempt to reduce local input into County Council decisions.

A local resident has drawn my attention to the possible dangers from the temporary containers for the Bramber Road puffin crossing. The containers are parked in Goring Road right next to the junction with The Cresent, so that drivers exiting onto Goring Road from The Crescent have to go to the middle of Goring Road before they can see any traffic on Goring Road going towards Bramber Road.

I have asked the engineer supervising the Bramber Road scheme if the containers could be moved to a safer position, but she has told me that unfortunately it isn’t possible to relocate them as it is important to protect the main junction with Bramber Road from any obstruction. To relocate them to the other side of Goring Road would adversely impact the houses on that side, which are closer to the road. She said that the locked containers need to be as close to the working site as possible as they contain the heavy machinery required for construction.

She has, however, arranged for signs to be erected to the north of the containers to warn drivers of a concealed exit and these should now be in place

I approached the Local Traffic Engineer recently following local and Parish Council concerns about the speed of traffic on the 30 mph section of the Henfield Road from the Rising Sun.

Since the 30 mph signs are at the end of the Shoreham Road at the roundabout outside the Rising Sun it may not be clear that this limit continues to apply from the start of the Henfield Road when turning right from the Shoreham Road.

The Local traffic Engineer says that due to current legislation no 30 mph repeater signs can be erected in this area because it has a system of streetlights. He will investigate the possibilities of putting a 30 roundel down on the carriageway, which may have the desired effect. If such roundels are possible they may have to wait until the next financial year, as the road markings budget is severely limited. I have therefore asked Upper Beeding Parish Council Clerk if the Parish Council would be willing to meet the cost to enable the 30 mph roundels to be provided this year.

In response to concerns about dangers to school children from the backing-up of traffic from the Bramber roundabout in the morning peak to beyond this crossing point, the Local Traffic Engineer has had a look at the situation at my request but considers that no action is necessary.

In his view the advanced warning signs, which are yellow backed and are highly visible from both directions, together with the road markings, are more than sufficient. In addition he considers the crossing its self is easily visible due to the white bollards on either side of the carriageway and the white lines along each side of the carriageway. Furthermore the crossing is lit by a streetlight, so even in the dark is highly visible.

He stated that the road itself does not fit the required criteria to drop the speed limit to 40mph. To improve this crossing point it would need a central reservation or a controlled crossing, and in his opinion the number of people using the crossing does not justify these options.

I remain concerned at the dangers for children crossing in the morning peak. It is at this time when the traffic often backs up from the Bramber roundabout making it difficult for traffic speeding away from the roundabout towards Washington to see the children attempting to cross because of the queuing traffic. I have asked the Local Traffic Engineer if signs could be provided to direct children to use the safe route up De Braose Way and across the Bypass on the pedestrian bridge or the Kings Barn Lane Bridge.

The work will be undertaken by West Sussex County Council in association with May Gurney and Landbuild. Annette Harrison, the Senior Engineer- Traffic Signals, will supervise the works on site (Tel 01243-777577) together with Ian Booker (Tel 07717 812031), should there be any queries or concerns. The works, which will generally take place between 8am and 4pm, could take up to four weeks to complete depending on the weather.

The scheme is for the provision of a controlled crossing facility for pedestrians in Bramber Road near to Goring Road, and works will also be carried out on the footway.  This latter work includes installation of tactile paving, which has parallel rows of raised, flat-topped blisters to assist the blind and partially sighted.

Traffic management

During the course of the works, two-way temporary traffic lights will be erected on site and will remain in place as necessary. Every endeavour will be made to ensure that the signals are erected each morning and taken down at the end of the day to allow rush hour traffic to pass freely through the area, although there may be occasions when they remain in place whilst an excavation is open or surfacing materials are hardening.

This is great news for the many people in the community who have worked so hard and so long to achieve a safe crossing at this dangerous road junction. With the new crossing in operation it will also be safer for traffic emerging from Goring Road into/across the Bramber Road.

The completion of these works have been delayed until the Local Highway Manager returns from leave so that he can deal with any further issues should they arise.

Two provisional dates for the work have been suggested - 13th November and 15th November, but it does depend very much on what the weather does. If it is too wet it will be postponed to avoid churning the area up. The intention is to grub out the vegetation eastwards of the markers to the Bypass. Anything that remains will be removed by the tree fellers at a later date.

Although the works are more substantial than originally envisaged (see previous articles on this website), there should be a considerable improvement in visibility and safety for traffic emerging from Canons Way onto the Bypass in future. Most local people also want to see a reduction in the speed limit on the Bypass. Hopefully this will become a possibility when all speed limits in the County are reviewed (next year?) in connection with the Government consideration of a reduction in the national limit for single carriageways to 50 mph.

Last month the County Policy & Resources Select Committee considered a report from the Finance Director which highlighted the amount of borrowing the County Council is making to fund capital schemes. All members of the Committee, Conservative and Liberal Democrat, were concerned at current borrowing levels and urged the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources to reduce debt and borrowing levels as far as possible, so that only essential capital projects should be undertaken. It was recognised that this would mean that other planned projects would be delayed or cancelled as a result.

Barely one month later, the Council today considered a report by the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning & Transport in which it was announced that he would be considering a decision this month on revised planning applications and compulsory purchase orders for the A24 Ashington to Southwater Gap Closure and Junction Improvement Scheme.

I asked a question In Council, about why, in view of the previous report to Policy & Resources Committee, this Scheme was to proceed and should it not be deferred to better financial times. The answer from the Cabinet Member related to the element of funding expected from the Government for the Scheme and did not address my question on the £4m the County Council would have to borrow. I therefore attempted to pursue my point, but was stopped by the Council Chairman who clearly did not understand the point I was making.

The position is quite clear – how serious is the Conservative administration at County Hall going to be in tackling borrowing levels, when it is still planning to press ahead with a major, non-essential highway scheme such as the A24 ‘improvement’, (especially when that particular scheme is opposed by large numbers of local people)?

Much like the Conservative Party nationally, the local Conservatives seem quite willing to talk about the need to reduce public expenditure but are not willing to identify how they will make the substantial reductions necessary when it comes to the crunch.

Traffic on the Bypass at peak times, especially in the mornings is now causing concern.  I have been informed that the other morning there was so much traffic that it had backed up from the Bramber roundabout to the crossing point at Castle Lane. Several Grammar School children were trying to cross with no visibility of the fast cars travelling in a westerly direction – clearly a very dangerous thing to do.

It is not surprising that children try to use the quicker route at the Castle Lane crossing, but is so dangerous. I have asked the Local Traffic Engineer to review the traffic situation to see if a 40 mph limit could be introduced between the Kings Barn Lane bridge and the roundabout, but even if this was achieved it would still not be very safe for children to use the Castle Lane crossing.

The safest route to school is not to cross the Bypass at Castle Lane, but to go from the footpath/cycleway alongside the Bypass, up De Braose Way then across the pedestrian footbridge (or down Rosemary Avenue and along Kings Barn Lane). Parents should ensure that their children do use this safest route.

Concerns were raised at the Upper Beeding Parish Council last week about the speed of traffic exceeding the 30 mph limit on this part of Henfield Road from the Rising Sun.

Partly this might be due to the 30 mph sign at the roundabout being covered by vegetation, but it could  also be due to it not being clear that there is a 30 mph limit. This is because the sign is at the end of Shoreham Road at the roundabout rather than at the start of the Henfield Road.

I have suggested that a repeater 30 mph sign be provided in the Henfield Road just after the roundabout to remind drivers.

My report to Upper Beeding Parish Council on Tuesday evening included: -

 1. I have asked the Traffic Engineer to arrange for the design of the Upper Beeding to Small Dole footpath to be in three stages - Upper Beeding to Smugglers Lane, Smugglers Lane to Edburton  Road, Edburton Road to Small Dole.

 2. A request that consideration be given to approving the use of some of the Council’s planning development funds to assist in financing resurfacing work to South Downs Way/Downslink from St Botolphs corner to the footbridge. (I have already asked Bramber Parish Council to consider this.)

 3. A report that the County Council is heading for a £5m revenue overspend this year and so is taking action to find offsetting savings, and more to help ease position in 2010/11. The capital programme is also being reviewed to reduce the amount of borrowing required.

4. Reference to Compass Travel preparing a financial statement on the 106 bus service for a confidential discussion with the parish councils which had helped agree the use of planning development funds in the current year to help finance the first year of operation.

 5. Mention of that the County Council had formed a Minerals & Waste Development Framework Task Force to review the draft papers and proposals, but that the core strategy identifying strategic sites (such as possibly the Cement works site) is unlikely to be consulted on with the public until after the General Election.

 6. The proposals I would be making to the County Council at it’s meeting on Friday 16 October that the Council call on the Government to require commercial and industrial business to meet higher targets to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste. If such a policy was adopted by Government the requirement for landfill sites would be reduced and a zero waste to landfill target could be achieved.

Further to my post of 3 October I have spoken to a number of local residents and had subsequent extensive discussions with the Local Highway Engineer about the work proposed at this junction.

It has been explained to me that in researching the maintenance requirements for the junction it has been found that the area between the properties and the road had been initially set out as a forward visibility splay some 20 years ago, and should have been cut two or three time a year since then. It has been admitted that the County Council has failed to carry out its responsibility for this maintenance. With the change in the law, however, whereby the Police now treat all fatal accidents as a murder enquiry, should there be a fatal accident at the junction a safety audit would have to be carried out with the Police that would include a review of the maintenance standards. I have been told that in the circumstances the current level of limited maintenance has to be rectified to protect the County Council.

As a consequence of my discussions with the Local Highway Manager he has agreed to reduce the amount of work to be carried out to the minimum specified in the Roads and Bridges Design Guide.

The minimum visibility splay now fits within the earthworks around the ditch, so a lesser area than originally intended will be pegged out, and although the trees and bushes in and immediately behind the ditch have to be removed the trees at the property boundaries will left.

Much of the area already cut will not therefore be cut again in future, so the roots should regenerate and restore, albeit in a smaller area, the previous habitat for bird and small animals.

Finally I have expressed my concern about the lack of communication in advance of the works starting. Although it was not required under the county charter regarding consultation on maintenance I feel that the work is of such significance that we should had been informed on this occasion. Hopefully this will be taken into account for the future.

The road will be closed at 8am from its junction with Annington Road and Castle Lane Roundabout to allow for permanent essential repairs to be made to the badly damaged (deep potholes) carriageway surface.

This road has been dangerous to use for some time with many potholes, and although some temporary repairs have been recently carried out, these permanent works are very welcome. The works are expected to be completed by the end of the day.  

The alternative route for affected traffic will be via Castle Lane Roundabout, Clays Hill, Maudlin Lane and Vice Versa.

For further information regarding the effects of this closure on traffic please telephone West Sussex County Council on 01243 642105.  Any queries about the work to take place should be directed to May Gurney on 01243 642105.

I have long campaigned for the vegetation and young saplings in the ditch alongside the bypass at this junction towards Washington to be cut back to improve the visibility for traffic exiting Canons Way to go right towards Shoreham. The problem has been that the vegetation and young trees in the ditch have grown so high that it is often not possible to see fast traffic approaching from the Washington direction until the Canons Way traffic is half-way across the Bypass. As a consequence the more unreasonable Bypass traffic then drives right up to the rear of the emerging Canons Way traffic – a clear safety hazard.

Although some grass cutting along the verge has been done, no action to address the overgrown vegetation/young trees problem had taken place –until now! This morning I was contacted by a local resident to be informed that contractors had started work to not only clear the above-mentioned vegetation/trees, but also, she was told, to clear the whole area, both sides of the junction right back to the fence line with properties backing onto the Bypass in Canons Way, Henderson Walk and Farnefold Road. This is far more than is necessary, and way beyond what is required to improve the visibility at the junction. If this work is completed it will also remove the natural screening for these properties from the traffic noise and sight of the Bypass.

I understand that although work has now stopped the contactors will be back on Monday to start removing the trees and high vegetation. I have contacted the members hotline at County Hall and a message has been sent to the Highways Office at Clapham requesting that the work be stopped pending a meeting with me to discuss what is actually necessary (in my view just to clear the ditch to the culvert opposite the farm entrance). I have also left a message with the Executive Director concerned to ensure that the matter is dealt with urgently immediately on Monday morning.

If anyone sees work restarting over the weekend can they please contact me by telephone immediately.

Expected to be installed from Monday next week, I have now been informed that due to administrative procedures the work on this scheme has been delayed to 9 November.

The Engineer responsible has told me that standard advisory notices will be issued during the two weeks prior to this date, to include advance warning boards at the location and works information notices delivered to local residents.

Having thought that within a few days, at long last, local residents would be able to cross this dangerous junction safely in future, I was dismayed at this delay. I am assured, however, that it is solely due to administrative procedures, and come November we should have our crossing!

I have been informed today that temporary repairs have been carried out to the damaged carriageway in this Lane. The road closure has therefore been cancelled.

The Highways Officer has now informed me that the permanent repairs had to be delayed to avoid possible conflict with gas works. To prevent the defects deteriorating any further temporary repairs were carried out last week. The permanent repairs to the potholes have now been programmed to be carried out by the end of November.

The temporary closure has to take place to allow the extension of a vehicular passing place next to the carriageway, opposite the White House.

The road will be closed at 8am, but should be re-opened by the end of the day.

The alternative route for affected traffic will be via Bostal Road, Bramber Road, High Street, Sheep Pen Lane and Vice Versa. Access to properties will be maintained at all times.

For further information regarding the effects of this closure on traffic please telephone West Sussex County Council on 01243 642105.  Any queries about the work to take place should be directed to May Gurney on 01243 642105

Great news!

The Senior Engineer for the project has informed me that the scheme for a puffin crossing at the junction of Bramber Road/Goring Road/Bostal Road will start next month. Construction work to install the new crossing will commence on Monday 5th October 2009.

The standard advisory notices will be issued during the next two weeks, to include advance warning boards at the location and works information notices delivered to local residents.

County councils are paying out hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation to people who have tripped on pavements in the last five years, the Liberal Democrats have revealed.

Freedoms of Information responses from more than 90 councils show they have paid out more than £82m. This number is likely to grow as there are currently more than 10,000 cases outstanding.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said:

“With council and household budgets under more pressure than ever, the last thing the local taxpayer needs is to be paying massive compensation claims for injuries caused by dangerous pavements.

“This is money that could have been spent on improving pavements and preventing these problems in the first place.

“Although some councils are investing heavily to improve their footways, others seem content to almost ignore pedestrians entirely. Too many councils seem interested only in motorists and not those who walk, cycle or take the bus.

“It appears that some councils seem to be making the cynical calculation that they can afford to pay out compensation rather than invest in improving pavements. This could prove to be a costly mistake if pavements are allowed to deteriorate too far.”

Liberal Democrats on West Sussex County Council have been campaigning for better pavements for several years. They eventually persuaded the council to set up a Task Force to investigate the problem, which revealed a £19million backlog of pavement repairs.

The Task Force recommended increasing the budget for pavement maintenance and, except in conservation areas, replacing flagstones with tarmac, to make the council’s money go further.

Morwen Millson, Lib Dem leader on West Sussex County Council, says:

“The long-term effects of a fall on an elderly, frail person can be life changing. Having fallen badly, people’s confidence can be destroyed and fear of further falls stops them going out on their own. This reduces their mobility and general fitness and they may need help from professional carers as a result.

“Thanks to the Liberal Democrat campaign, the County Council has taken the first steps to improving the situation in West Sussex, but additional money from the Government for pavement maintenance would help the Council to improve pavements more quickly. This would encourage more people to walk more, improving their own fitness and reducing congestion on the roads.”

Certainly in the Bramber, Steyning, Upper Beeding and Small Dole area there is a considerable need for footpaths/cycleways to link our respective communities to enable walkers, cyclists and equestrians to travel safely without having to use the dangerous main roads.

A need for a safe link between Upper Beeding and Small Dole has now emerged as a consequence of the new skateboard site at Small Dole. The Henfield Road between the two Villages is a very fast route with no footpath beyond the built-up areas, and so young children cycling to/from Upper Beeding (and Steyning) to use the skateboard site are now at risk, especially from the heavy lorries going to/from the Horton Landfill Site at Small Dole. County Traffic officers have recently said that the cost of a new footpath along the road would not be justified, but this must now be re-considered in view of the new use of the road by young people.

The Regional Transport Board has given top priority to the study of the A27 Chichester to Brighton corridor in its programme from 2014. The Government Department for Transport have also accepted this as the top regional priority.

 
The outcome of this will be a local stakeholder group possibly chaired by the County Council Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning & Transport to oversee the RTB study. This should start in 2009 or early 2010 and the Cabinet Member has stressed that it should not be a study about what needs to be done along the A27 as that is already abundantly clear, but what can and should be delivered as a priority and within the funding available.

Whilst it is good that, despite the current financial climate, the Government has accepted that the A27 is a priority, it is clear that it will be many years before any improvement schemes are agreed for the Arundel and Worthing areas. The unacceptable growth in volume and noise from traffic using the A283 around Steyning and through Storrington as an unofficial bypass of Arundel and Worthing will continue for the foreseeable future.  

Following the approval of the Traffic Regulation Order for the Scheme the County Council has now placed an order with the Council’s contractor and the Senior Engineer responsible is actively pursuing them for the earliest start date possible.

This is great news and I will be continuing to press for an early start to the works.

At the County Council meeting last Friday, in addition to asking the Cabinet Member for the Environment & Economy a question about her views on the membership of the National Park Authority (NPA) for the new South Downs National Park, I took part in the debates on the Corporate Plan Annual Performance Review Report 2008/09 and the proposed County Strategy for West Sussex 2009/10.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment & Economy agreed that the local authority membership of the NPA should have some regard to the areas and population of each authority within the Park and that negotiations were taking place on this. She did not agree with me that the NPA ought to be directly elected if the NPA is to be democratic and its members properly accountable to the residents. She said that it would be democratic as the local authority representatives would have been elected. (Rather contradicts previous Conservative claims that the NPA would be undemocratic!)  She was personally sympathetic to one of the criteria for the local authority representatives on the NPA being that they live in the Park area, but could not commit the County Council to that view. (No surprise, as apart from her it unlikely that any of the leading Conservatives will live in the Park area.)   

During the debate on the Corporate Plan performance I regretted that in working to make traffic flow better round West Sussex there were no achievements  to reduce congestion, nor to provide new cycleways/footpaths, and that although there had been an increase in bus usage bus users satisfaction, levels had fallen. I also expressed disappointment that the County Council had apparently not contacted the District Councils to obtain the detailed figures on the increase in bus travelling from the free concessionary travel scheme for the over 60’s. Finally on the County performance on enabling children to travel to school in a sustainable way I suggested that statistics on the number of safe routes to school schemes introduced during the year would have been useful.

I welcomed the change to the draft County Strategy, which I had suggested when the Strategy had been considered at the Policy & Resources, to include in the Leader’s Foreword a focus on developing sustainable transport over the next four years. I also welcomed the positive comments (at last!) on the benefits from the South Downs National Park in helping to keep West Sussex working with particular regard to the vibrancy of market towns and rural communities. I also felt that although there was an acknowledgement of the need to improve public transport for rural areas, this was not linked to the concerns about lack of access to higher education for young people and adults from rural areas. Sadly in both these cases the aims in the Strategy made no mention of working with the National Park to help improve the vibrancy of our market towns and villages by way of, for example improved tourism, nor to improve public transport links to higher education facilities or work. Finally, under the section on keeping (or should it have been ‘making’?) West Sussex sustainable I hoped that the new corporate plan based on this Strategy would include specific targets for additional public transport in/from/to rural areas and more cycleways /footways between rural villages and their market town ‘hubs’.           

A local resident recently informed me about some of the street lights in Coombe Road Steyning being out for several weeks and then for the past month being on night and day.

I reported this to the Street lighting Team at County Hall and have been told that EDF had a problem with the overhead line (OHV) which dropped the supply to the lights. When this was repaired as emergency works they tapped the lights back onto the phase OHV and no longer maintained the 5th wire supply which carries the switching.  Effectively therefore the street lights are now on 24hrs a day.  Because these are old lanterns photocells for control cannot be fitted and therefore new lanterns have to be supplied.

I have been told that this work has been ordered, and should take place on the 29th July.

It was victory at last for the local community at yesterday’s Chanctonbury County Local Committee (CLC), when councillors agreed the recommendation to approve a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for a puffin crossing at the dangerous Bramber Road/Goring Road/Bostal Road junction.

Speaking at the start of a long debate at the Committee meeting, I referred to my many years of campaigning with the local community for a safe crossing at this junction and my manifesto commitment during the recent county council elections. I had worked with officers over the years and at previous CLC meetings considering various options, including better signs, a refuge, a zebra crossing and a mini roundabout – all of which had been ruled out on safety/cost grounds – before supporting the proposed puffin crossing.

There were many contributions to the debate at the Committee meeting, all of which, apart from those from the main objector who spoke at length, were supportive of the proposed TRO to varying degrees. In particular, Sue Rogers, Chairman of Steyning Parish Council, explained the Parish Council and personal support for the scheme and District Councillor George Cockman referred to his views on the pros and cons of the proposal, concluding that on balance the TRO should be approved.

Taking into account all the views expressed during the debate and the detailed report from the officers which explained the proposed scheme and responded to the points made in writing from two main objectors, the Committee decided the puffin crossing was the best way to improve safety at this dangerous junction and approved the recommendation for the TRO.

It was agreed at yesterday’s Chanctonbury County Local Committee meeting that the 20 mph speed limit scheme for The Street in Bramber should have top priority for work on preparing a Traffic Regulation Order during the current year, 2009/10. This was the conclusion of Councillors following a visit to all 18 sites for proposed (TRO’s) throughout the Chanctonbury area prior to last night’s meeting.

Well done to Bramber Parish Council which has promoted this scheme on behalf of local people over the last year or so and which I have been pleased to support. The Parish Chairman was at last night’s meeting to speak for the Scheme and explain that local residents had included it in the Parish Plan.

I also referred to local concern about the existing road humps. Although the humps help the road meet the criteria for a 20 mph speed limit there is no doubt that the heavy bus and occasional lorry traffic over some them is causing damage to the older properties such as St Mary’s House. The Committee agreed that one or two road humps might be considered for removal and others reshaped as part of the process for the TRO. 

I understand from the officer responsible for these works that they are now expected to last only 4 days with the bridge closed all day on Monday 27 July, then from 7am to 5pm each day. So from Tuesday evening all traffic, including buses will be able to use the bridge from about 5pm to 7am the next day.

The County Council is arranging to provide a half hourly shuttle bus between Upper Beeding, Bramber and Steyning for people to get to Steyning to catch the 2A, 100 and 106 bus services whilst the bridge is closed. For those Upper Beeding people who live near the Rising Sun the 100 and 106 bus services will also be accessible from a temporary bus stop in the Henfield Road near the Towers.

Various notices are being published by the County Council and leaflets delivered to local residents giving the latest information well in advance of the start of the work.

Will Green (Bridges) at County Hall is making all the arrangements and can be contacted on 01243 777224 for more information.

The meeting will be on Wednesday, 15 July and start at 7pm in the Steyning Centre, Fletchers Croft, Steyning

Go to the link below to see a copy of the agenda and access the committee reports: -
http://www2.westsussex.gov.uk/ds/clc/cby/cby150709age.pdf

The major local items on the agenda relate to the proposed puffin crossing of Bramber Road at the junction with Goring Road and Bostal Road, and the priority order for Traffic Regulation Order works in 2009/10 (there are eighteen schemes on the list including the 20 mph project for The Street, Bramber and parking restrictions for Newmans Close, Steyning and Hyde Lane/Pound Lane and Saltings Way, Upper Beeding).

The meeting starts at 7.30 pm in the Beeding & Bramber Village Hall and is open to the public with a public question time at the start of the meeting.

County and District Councillors will also be present to report on current activities and answer questions from parish councillors and the public.

My report will include reference to the next Chanctonbury County Local Committee meeting at 7pm in Steyning on 15 July when the Committee will be considering the priority order for the proposed Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) works for 2009/10. The three other County Councillors for the Chanctonbury area and I will be visiting the eighteen sites currently on the list this Friday evening (10 July) to review the various proposals in advance of the Committee meeting. There are two parking restrictions sites proposed in Upper Beeding: - Hyde Lane/Pound Lane and Saltings Way.

I will also be updating the Parish Council on the latest position regarding the proposed bus diversions to operate whilst the Beeding/Bramber Bridge is temporarily closed each day for up to two weeks from 27 July. Currently Compass Bus is planning a temporary bus stop in Henfield Road near the Rising Sun for the 100 and 106 services. Brighton & Hove Buses propose to bypass Upper Beeding and Bramber entirely, leaving local residents with no 2A service to/from Shoreham at all! I have contacted both bus companies with a possible alternative route which would maintain a bus service to at least the garage end of the High Street and await a response.

The Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for this 20 mph limit was discussed at the Parish Council meeting last night, and it was agreed that the County Council should press ahead with the current TRO proposal which is presently top of the priority list for such works in 2009/10.

It was, however, felt that as part of the detailed design for the TRO there is a need to review the state of the road humps some of which need maintenance, and to consider the removal of one or two - especially the one near St Mary’s House. It is hoped these remedial works can be taken into account once the TRO works for this year have been confirmed by the CLC.  

The next Parish Council meeting takes place tomorrow evening, starting at 7.30pm in the Bramber & Beeding Village Hall.

Items on the agenda include a presentation from Alex Gander of Horsham District Council on the new waste collection service which will start next week in the Bramber, Small Dole, Steyning and Upper Beeding area.

My County Councillor’s report to the Parish Council will refer to the next meeting of the Chanctonbury County Local Committee (CLC), which will be on 15 July in Steyning. The CLC will be considering the officers recommendation to approve a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for the new Bramber Road puffin crossing at the Goring Road/Bostal Road junction.

The CLC will also be considering the priority order for other TROs’ to be carried out during 2009/10. Currently the top three on the officers list are all in the Bramber Castle Division (20 mph limit for The Street, Bramber, parking restrictions in the narrow part of Newham Close near junction with Newham Lane, Steyning, and parking restrictions in Hyde Lane/Pound Lane, Upper Beeding). I and the other three Chanctonbury County Councillors will be visiting all the possible TRO sites on 10 July to enable us to decide the priority order for works in 2009/10.

I will also be updating the Parish Council on the latest information regarding the temporary closure of the Bramber & Beeding Bridge for up to two weeks from 27 July. This has been reported previously on this website but I hope to have further information about the bus companies proposals to continue a bus service for local residents whilst the Bridge is closed.

The Parish Council will also be considering whether it wishes to see any of the existing road humps in The Street removed as part of the 20 mph TRO scheme. This would increase costs and might involve the introduction of other traffic management measures to ensure the criteria for a 20 mph limit continues to be met.

Upper Beeding/Bramber Bridge is to undergo repairs to the brickwork to the parapets and trial holes will be dug to identify the fill material to the Bridge as part of the ongoing assessment programme.

The Scheme is currently scheduled to run for up to 2 weeks.  Following discussions between me and Andrew Purches (Chairman of Upper Beeding Parish Council Planning Committee) and with the county officers involved, the work has been delayed from early July and is now planned to start from week commencing 27th July 2009.

To allow the works to be undertaken in the safest possible manner for the workforce and motorists, the road will need to be closed for the duration of the works.  The closure will be in place at either end of the Bridge. To ensure minimum disruption, after works are finished each day from around 5pm through to 7am the following day, the carriageway over the bridge will be open to all users. The bridge will remain closed, however, for 24 hours upon completion of the trial holes to allow the surfacing reinstatement to set. This work is currently planned for the 27^th July. I have also been assured, that pedestrian traffic is to be maintained at all times via the footbridge adjacent to the road bridge

The delay means that the work will now start during the school holidays, and so avoid the problems which would have been created from the diversion of school buses. I am still awaiting to hear from the bus companies about the arrangements they will be making to ensure the least inconvenience to bus users living in Upper Beeding and Bramber.  

Work will generally take place from 7.30 am to 5pm, Monday to Friday only and during the time the road is closed a signed diversion will be in place.  The diversion route for affected eastbound traffic will be via A283 Steyning By-pass and A2037 Shoreham Road and vice-versa for westbound traffic.

The work will be undertaken by West Sussex Highways on behalf of West Sussex County Council. Kieran Dodds, a Senior Engineer, will supervise the works on site, so should you need to contact him during the course of the works please call 01243 642105. He should also be contacted now if people feel the work is likely to cause a problem for members of their household which could be helped by special arrangements, e.g. for wheelchair users, less mobile or visually impaired people, or for special deliveries which might be expected during the period of the works.

Last year Bramber Parish Council instigated a review of the current 30 mph limit along The Street, and, following a consultation with local residents asked the County Council to reduce the speed limit to 20 mph.

As I support 20 mph limits in residential roads and town/village centres, where backed by local people, I supported this Parish Council request. (As I have also done for Steyning High Street and surrounding residential roads and, earlier this year, a call for a 20 mph zone in the whole of the residential area of Upper Beeding.)

In addition to the request for a 20 mph limit through The Street in Bramber the Parish Council has discussed whether the road humps should be removed as part of any new speed limit scheme. There is much concern that the vibrations caused by some vehicles travelling along The Street and over the humps is damaging nearby properties, especially the historic buildings such as St Marys House.  I asked the Local Traffic Engineer to investigate the situation.

The Local Traffic Engineer has told me that at the present time the speed data that he has collected supports a 20mph limit. If the speed humps are removed and replaced with new traffic calming features then speed data would have to be re-assessed to ensure that speeds have not increased. Without road humps speeds could increase to a level that will not support the 20mph limit.

Furthermore his over riding concern with the removal of the humps is the costs that would be involved. He has recently had a quote to move a mini roundabout and in that light the potential cost of removing all of the road humps and installing alternate calming methods is likely to be considerable.

I have asked the Clerk to Bramber Parish Council to include this matter on the Parish Council agenda for the meeting on 1 July for consideration. Clearly the road humps are of concern to many local residents and if the Parish Council wishes to have them removed then the Local Traffic Engineer will carry out the necessary further investigations to design and cost an appropriate scheme.

Upper Beeding/Bramber Bridge is to undergo repairs to the brickwork to the parapets and trial holes will be dug to identify the fill material to the Bridge as part of the ongoing assessment programme.

The Scheme is currently scheduled to run for up to 2 weeks.  Following discussions between me and Andrew Purches (Chairman of Upper Beeding Parish Council Planning Committee) and with the county officers involved, the work has been delayed from early July and is now planned to start from week commencing 27th July 2009.

To allow the works to be undertaken in the safest possible manner for the workforce and motorists, the road will need to be closed for the duration of the works.  The closure will be in place at either end of the Bridge. I have been assured, however, that pedestrian traffic is to be maintained at all times via the footbridge adjacent to the road bridge

The delay means that the work will now start during the school holidays, and so avoid the problems which would have been created from the diversion of school buses. I am contacting the bus companies to see what arrangements they are making to ensure the least inconvenience to bus users living in Upper Beeding and Bramber.  

Work will generally take place from 7.30 am to 5pm, Monday to Friday only and during the time the road is closed a signed diversion will be in place.  The diversion route for affected eastbound traffic will be via A283 Steyning By-pass and A2037 Shoreham Road and vice-versa for westbound traffic.

The work will be undertaken by West Sussex Highways on behalf of West Sussex County Council. Kieran Dodds, a Senior Engineer, will supervise the works on site, so should you need to contact him during the course of the works please call 01243 642105. He should also be contacted now if people feel the work is likely to cause a problem for members of their household which could be helped by special arrangements, e.g. for wheelchair users, less mobile or visually impaired people, or for special deliveries which might be expected during the period of the works.

Following concerns expressed by local residents at the dangers of exiting from Manor Road into Henfield  Road, I raised this matter with the Local Traffic Engineer. Following a site visit to assess the situation he fully agrees that the junction is very difficult to negotiate, and in the short term has agreed that the verges should be trimmed back as much as possible to try and improve the situation.

I have asked him to let me know when this work will be carried out as the sooner some improvement work is carried out at this dangerous junction the better.

For a long term solution the Local Traffic Engineer is looking to see if the visibility splays can be improved, and has passed this to the construction engineers so that they can do a site inspection. He has warned me, however, that if the purchasing of land is required to improve visibility then it could take some years for this to be progressed.

I have been promised that once the assessment has been made by the engineers a course of action will be agreed.

My report to the Parish Council included references to :-

1. the County Council accounts for 2008/09 where net revenue expenditure was £871m (an underspending of £7m - 0.8%)  and capital spending in the year totalled £121m an underspending of £25m - 17%). Clearly a key priority for the new Council will be to gain better control over the capital programme.

2. the Chanctonbury Flooding Group which has prepared a draft leaflet to go to landowners with drainage ditches going through their property explaining their responsibilities to maintain such ditches. Too many new owners moving from urban areas have filled in these ditches to make bigger gardens, provide tennis courts etc and then when the rain comes are surprised to find they are flooded! The Group will be reporting to the Chanctonbury County Local Committee on 15 July on proposals to establish a countywide group to deal with flooding prevention strategy whilst continuing to maintain a Chanctonbury Group to deal with local flooding problems.

3. consultations currently being carried out on the additional areas for the South Downs National Park and the number of members on of the National Park Authority. Although parts of the Bramber Castle Division will be in the new National Park neither the local parish councils nor I have been consulted as yet. I am chasing this up.

4. the next meeting of the Steyning Primary School/Grammar School Travel Plan Group investigating what actions can be carried out to improve the safety of the Shooting Field access to those schools was to take place tomorrow, Wednesday, 10 June.

5. finally, the first meeting of the new West Sussex County Council will take place on Tuesday, 16 June at County Hall. as previously it is likely to be webcast with viewers able to see all the action via the County Council website.

Following public concerns about parked cars in Upper Beeding High Street making it difficult at times for buses and other large vehicles to pass along the road I have been assured by the Local Traffic Engineer that he will now be investigating the problem in the next week or so. He will then consider what, if anything, can be done to improve the situation..

He will then report back to me with some ideas and proposals that can be discussed  with the Parish Council and local people.

Although most of this Twitten has been upgraded as part of a safe route to school, the section through the Monks Walk garage compound remains in a poor state.

I have continued to press for work to be carried out on this part of the route and have now been told that the highways engineering section are investigating the work required for possible inclusion in a forward highway works programme.

I will continue to press for a suitable improvement scheme to be included soon in the Works Programme.  

Following concerns about the height of the grass on the Adur Flyover roundabout, making it difficult to see approaching traffic, I have brought this to the attention of the local Highways Office.

I have asked to be informed when the grass is programmed to be cut and how often it is scheduled to be cut during the summer.

Now cut!

The grass cutting schedule on residential roads for the year in the Chanctonbury area is as follows: -

Cuts 1 to 3 shoul d have already taken place.

Cut 4 - 19 May, cut 5 - 11 June, cut 6 - 3 July, cut 7 - 27 July, cut 8 - 24 August, cut 9 - 16 September, cut 10 - 9 October, cut 11 - 2 November.

On the rural roads the first cut should be carried out by 11 May. The dates for the other two cuts this year have yet to be agreed.

These are the expected cut dates, variable factors such as long periods of rain (with consequental increased growth rates and soft ground conditions) or equipment breakdown can cause slippage to the programme.

Taking account of the above reasons for possible delays in the grass cutting programme, if the grass in your area is not cut on or within a few days of the programmed dates please contact the Highways Office on 01243 642105 to report the matter.

The grass is cut by a contractor who is paid to carry out eleven cuts during the year and the Council needs to know if the contract is not being carried out properly.

The County Council first attended this column back in October last year as an emergency.  At that point it had two options- remove the cable from the column or ideally, if the security of the cable could be retained, ’stump’ it, that is retain the cable in the lower half of the column.  By doing this around £500 is saved in connection fees when the new column is eventually reconnected.

Because of the decorative nature of the columns in the high street, this has led to some delay in getting the new column ready for connection.  In view of this, before Easter, the Street Lighting Officer instructed the contractor to install standard equipment for the time being and to get the column connected again. The contractor will then be instructed to go back and fit the decorative kits and correct lantern when the Council has a connection date from EDF .  

Clearly the action taken was correct, but because neither the Parish Council nor I were kept informed, this has upset local residents who think the Council is taking away their decorative equipment. I have stressed to the officers that in similar instances in future they should keep me up-to date with what is going on so that I can keep local people informed via this website. 

Drainage problems at the green triangle have been reported to me and I asked the Highway Officer to investigate the situation.

He has now inspected the carriageway gullies and noted that the side-inlet gully adjacent to No 12 Shooting Field has been damaged by over-run by a heavy vehicle and is now flush with the c/way surface and ineffective.

An order has been placed with the County contractor to reconstruct the gully at the correct level and raise the kerbs either side of the gully.

There has been some publicity in the media recently about Government proposals to have a blanket reduction in the national speed limit for single carriageways from 60 to 50 mph.

A number of parish councillors have asked me what the implications will be for the many rural roads in my area.

I have spoken to the Cabinet member for Strategic Planning & Transport about the proposal, and he told me that although it has been hyped in the media, to date the County Council has not received anything by way of consultation document. This does not mean that there’s not one on the way and he has confirmed that he will keep me informed should any such consultation document arrive at County Hall.

This big yellow sign, advertising the introduction of CPE in the Adur District this month, has been planted in the middle of the Maudlyn area of Bramber. Clearly this sign is in the wrong place to inform people on their way to the Adur District about the new scheme. The majority of people who see the sign live in the Maudlyn area, object strongly to it being in the middle of their residential area, and are certainly not on their way to Adur! I have asked the County staff in charge of the new Adur CPE to move the sign in the near future – if it must be a warning to those about to drive into the Adur District it should be on the road from Annington to Lancing

Further to this article I have now been informed by a member of the Council staff concerned that: - 

“Unfortunately we have to erect these signs by law. The sign is in the current location because it was the safest spot available on the approach to the Adur District boundary further up the road. We didn’t want to be incurring the expense of putting in a new temporary post and so choose to use the location to which you refer. “I have received a couple of telephone calls about this particular sign, including a resident who said they lived right next to it, and once I explained the above they were quite content.

At the Multi-agency Flooding Working Group yesterday it was agreed that a joint officers team with staff from each of the agencies involved (County Highways, Horsham District, Environment Agency and Souther Water) should meet soon to discuss and recommend action back to the Working Group on  about five priority schemes within the Chanctonbury area.

My suggestion that full commitment should be given at senior level to this work by all of the agencies involved was agreed. Once again, however, both the Environment Agency and Southern Water were not represented by senior staff at yesterday’s meeting, and the representatives present will have to go back to their bosses to agree this commitment.

Hopefully one of the priority areas will be in the Bramber Castle Division and a number of possible sites (including Mouse Lane/Horsham Road) were identified at yesterday’s meeting. Action at another site in the Woodmancote area has already been agreed.

The next meeting of the full Multi-agency Flooding Working Group will take place on 19 March to consider the progress being made by the joint officers team.

I have been sent the design for this long and hard fought for crossing at this dangerous junction in Steyning. With so much support over the years, and more recent emails of support following the article in the Winter edition of Focus, I was able to welcome the detailed scheme on behalf of local people.   

The Traffic Signal Engineer at County Hall has now arranged for public notices to be erected at the junction to advertise the crossing as part of the public consultation process.  

The design of the crossing means that an application has had to be made to move the bus stop outside Goring Court to a position slightly further north of the crossing.

Hopefully the new crossing will soon be in place.

Many people in Ashurst & Steyning will now have read the latest edition of ‘Focus’, with an article on the back page about Steyning Parish Council’s bid for the introduction of a 20 mph speed limit zone in the High Street and neighbouring roads.

Former Parish Council Chairman, Mike Reed has another view: -

“On the 20 mph speed limit proposal I would be very surprised if the County Council support it for
the following reasons.

- I am not aware of any accidents in the area concerned.

- There are already two well placed pedestrian crossings for people to use. Maybe they will be removed if a 20MPH limit is introduced?

- The suggestion that the shopping experience will improve is a jokesince with the parking on Truffles side of the street, much of which is disabled blue badge holders, the speed of traffic during the day is unlikely to change.

- The speed in the evening is also restricted by parking except by those who ignore the dangers and who will also ignore the 20MPH.

- I would not expect the police to be supportive of this restriction and if it is applied maybe we will see and hear an increase in the use of their blue lights and accompanying siren?

In conclusion the 20MPH will not be enforced, it will add numerous 20MPH signs to the street scene in contradiction to all the efforts put in by the Steyning & District Community Partnership and Steyning Parish Council to de-clutter the town centre.”

Clearly Mike makes some valid points about the possible consequences of the proposed 20 mph zone which will have to be addressed if they turn out to be correct. For example, whilst, as I say in ‘Focus’ I am in favour of a 20 mph limit in all residential and town centre areas where supported by local people, I would be against the removal of the pedestrian crossings in the High Street if that was required as part of a 20 mph zone.

A constituent contacted me yesterday about the dangerous state of the footpath to the Steyning Health Centre from the ice and snow on the pavement. Clearly this is very dangerous, especially for the elderly visiting the Health Centre, and this pavement should have a high priority for gritting as soon as there is a heavy frost and/or snowfall.

The Highways Office had been contacted by my constituent and had been assured that arrangements would be made to clear the pavement.

For the future there appears to be two options. One, to provide a grit bin so that Health Centre staff could spread some on the pavement up the hill from Tanyard Lane when they clear the paths in the front of the Health Centre building, or two, to agree delegated powers to the Parish Council, now the Clerk has passed her exams so enabling the Council to become a Quality Council (similar to Burgess Hill) able to take on such minor powers from the County (and District re the car park for instance). I have asked the Local Highway Manager to consider these options, and also informed the local District Councillors and the Parish Council of my suggestion regarding a Quality Council.

Following my initiative on this, local Independent District Councillor, George Cockman, has also taken this up with Horsham District Council.

Hopefully, with WSCC, HDC and Parish working together on developing the Quality Council role, the Parish will be able to deal with all minor highway (County & District) works in future.

With the current weather of cold nights often freezing the ground, followed by heavy rainfall, there are very many potholes appearing throughout the County.

I am assured by the Local Highway Manager that each pothole is dealt with as soon as possible, probably depending on size. Of course with the large number of these at present this may take a little while before they are all filled in..

If you are aware of a large pothole which has recently appeared in a road near you, please contact the Southern Highways Office at highways.southern@westsussex.gov.uk

Kings Barn Lane & Rosemary Avenue

Further to my recent website article on this problem, the Local Highway Engineer is arranging for both locations identified to be investigated, although the flooding history of Kings Barn Lane and its’ location in the middle of a flood plain is well known. He said that there might not be much that can be done there apart from providing some signs.

Rosemary Avenue is a new one and he has agreed to see if there is something that can be done to overcome the problem.

Flooding outside St Michaels Cottages, Tanyard Lane

I first raised this on behalf of a local resident about a year ago. Last April I learned it had been found that there was a blockage in the drainage pipe and a camera search would be carried out to investigate further.

Six months later, after a number of reminders from me, I was told that the camera search had revealed that damage to the highway drainage pipe could not be repaired and the outlet would have to be relocated into a sewer manhole.

Now, a further three months later (with further reminders), I have just been told that Highways are still awaiting a response from Southern Water to the request to connect the highway drain into the sewer.

I will continue to chase these matters for the flooding problems to be resolved.

There has been more flooding in Steyning, this time from the latest heavy rainfall over the last few days.

Kings Barn Lane (yet again), and Rosemary Avenue were the particular spots reported to the Parish Council this time which the Clerk has passed to the Local Highway Engineer for action.

In addition I will ensure that these sites are added to those already identified to be raised as flooding ‘hotspots’ to be addressed at the first Flooding Working Group meeting on 23 February.

Please let me know where other roads have been flooded in the area so that they can be added to the list to be considered by the Flooding Working Group.

I have asked the Local Highway Manager to investigate further safety problems regarding the construction of the new houses at 99-101 High Street Steyning which have been drawn to my attention by a local resident.

There have been previous safety problems with this construction site which I had taken up with the various authorities concerned, and following action by them had been assured that they should not happen again.

Clearly the contractor’s operations on the site are again causing safety concerns. Although it appears most of the matters should be dealt with by Horsham District Council, the Local Highway Manager has agreed to look at the things relating to the highway and make sure they are being dealt with correctly.

The Local Highway Manager has now written to the user of the land concerned about the mud they are depositing on the footpath and highway immediately outside the gateway to the field which contains his horses.

He has reminded the user that this is an offence under section 148 of the Highways Act 1980 and that should a person slip and injure themselves as a result of the mud, he, the field user will be expected to meet any claim made.

The land user was also sent a copy of the decision of a court case resulting from an accident caused by mud on the road, where those responsible for that mud being on the road were fined £37,000.

The appropriate action to clear the mud and to ensure no recurrence is now expected, and the County Legal Services have been informed in case further action from the County Council becomes necessary.

I have been working with Andrew Purches, Chairman of the Parish Council Planning Committee to make this footpath safe for walkers to/from the Shoreham Road and Dacre Gardens properties and hopefully there will be no further problems at this spot.

The heavy traffic of pupils and parents prevented this work being carried out before the Christmas holidays, whilst the extremely cold weather stopped the work being done during the holidays.

I have been promised that the resurfacing of this very rough footpath next to the Steyning Football ground should now take place during the February half-term.

The Local Traffic Engineer has confirmed that the review of the A281Road Safety Scheme will be carried out in the next few months. A report by the Accident Investigation and Prevention Team will then be available towards the end of the Summer. I will post a summary of the report when received.

Following a further complaint from me before Christmas to the Local Highway Manager about the mud on this path where it goes in front of the field access beside the Rising Sun Public House, he has arranged for highways staff to chase the resolution of the problem.

The Local Highway Manager agrees that the mud on the path is pretty grim. He has said that if the culprit cannot be traced to get them to clean it up, and keep it clear, the Highway Contractor will be requested to do it as a matter of urgency and the cost recharged when they find out who is responsible.

A long section of lighting in Horsham Rd, Steyning is not working due to a cable fault.

Approximately 10 lights leading to the Grammar School and Steyning Leisure Centre are affected and I have been informed that the County Council is currently working with the street lighting contractors toward a temporary solution to bring them back into operation

I understand that I will be informed as soon as a plan of action is in place to carry out a permanent solution to the problem. These works would then be carried out in the New Year.

Steyning Parish Council agreed at its November Highways and Lighting Committee to pursue a 20 mph zone through the town to include the High Street and Bramber Road and through Church Street past the Church and possibly other streets, still to be decided.

Parish Councillors consider that whilst a healthily number in the town observe existing speed limits, recent surveys show some motorists exceed 45 mph in the High Street. And the Local traffic Engineer has agreed to carry out traffic surveys to assess the situation in the area.

It is Liberal Democrat policy to support 20 mph limit proposals where they are supported by local people, and I agree that such a restriction in the High Street and Church Street would help make our roads safer for pedestrians, particularly mums with prams and elderly people who are nervous about crossing the road.

I am not convinced of the need for a 20 mph limit on Bramber Road, as with the Bramber Road pelican crossing now in the Draft Highway Works Programme for next year (2009/10), this will bring about a reduction anyway in the speed of approaching traffic from Clays Hill and the High Street. Also consideration of such a speed limit could cause the pelican crossing scheme to be delayed or even removed – disaster after such a long campaign to gain approval for the scheme!

The views of local people on these suggestions would be most appreciated, please let me know your comments. Many thanks.

Concern has been expressed about the dangers for pedestrians crossing the road at this junction.

The Local Highway Engineer agrees that there is a broad expanse of road at the junction, but considers that people are not necessarily obliged to cross at that point. He said that if people are concerned about crossing the road at this point they can always walk a few yards along each of the roads and cross with more confidence there. He feels that with the absence of any accident data that would indicate any dangers the local view is more of a perception than a reality and trying to improve the lot for pedestrians could make the situation worse and cause some degree of confusion.

Is he right? Do people consider that making a crossing point from the entrance to the Church at this junction would improve safety for pedestrians?

These resurfacing works between Coxham Lane and the entrance to the Grammar and Primary Schools in Steyning, originally planned for the end of November, are now expected to be carried out next week, starting on Monday (15th).

Highways have assured me that the contractor will not work during the peak going to/from school times each day so that the very many pupils and parents using the route should not be affected.

The Chanctonbury County Local Committee (CLC) last week noted the Draft Highway Works Programme which is to be circulated to District and Parish Councils for their comments during January/February 2009.

The schemes in the Bramber Castle include: -

Steyning

Bramber Road pelican crossing facilities (funded from planning development contributions), and

Charlton Street lighting columns.

Upper Beeding

School safety zone outside Upper Beeding Primary School (including advisory 20mph limit signs), and

Henfield Road, Edburton Lane to Tottington Drive Small Dole carriageway surface dressing.

Having worked hard for the provision of the Bramber Road crossing  and to improve safety for children going to school throughout the Bramber Castle Division, it is great news about the first schemes planned for 2009 in Steyning and Upper Beeding.

The proposed provision of the Bramber Road pelican crossing next year will be greeted with relief by all those who have campaigned over many years for a safe crossing at the dangerous Bostal Road/Bramber Road/Goring Road junction.

The planned school safety zone outside Upper Beeding Primary School (with work likely during next April) will be the latest stage in improving safety for the children going to School. Renewing the red road surfacing, with ’slow’ signs painted on the road, together with flashing 20 mph signs (during school dropping off and collecting times), should make the school entrance very much safer in future.

As a result of the discussion on this matter at the Chanctonbury County Local Committee on Tuesday evening the County Councillor for Henfield has agreed to establish a working party with representatives from Horsham District Council, the Environment Agency and County Council Highways, plus, hopefully Southern Water. I have asked that this working party’s terms of reference include the need to ensure better co-ordinated working throughout the Chanctonbury area so that this may resolve the public perception of ‘buck-passing’ whenever flooding concerns are raised.

Also of interest is that the government intends to publish a draft Floods and Water Bill for consultation next year that will, according to Defra’s website, create a single unifying Act of Parliament that amongst other things addresses all sources of flooding and clarifies responsibility to facilitate flood risk management.  More information can be found on the website: -
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/floodsandwaterbill.htm

The CLC meeting will start at 7 pm in Partridge Green Village Hall and there will be discussions on: -

*Flooding in our local area

*Waste Management update (the new facility to deal with all County household waste at Warnham near Horsham Town)

*Highways and Transport Schemes to be funded by developer contributions

*Highway Works Schedule 2009/10

*Community Initiative and Village Shops Programme funding.

Everybody is welcome to attend and there will be a public forum during the evening when people can make their views known on local issues and ask questions. Hopefully all those concerned about possible flooding in their area will attend, comment and ask the appropriate authorites how they are working together to reduce the risk of flooding. In addition, under the developer contribution debate I will be asking the CLC to approve, in principle, support for the proposed new daily, two hourly 106 bus service between Henfield and Worthing from Easter next year - support from local people at the meeting would be appreciated.

A local Steyning resident has called for Church Street to be included with the Parish Council campaign for a 20 mph speed limit for the High Street.

Although they had a mixed response to the ‘Steyning News’ article, the Parish Council is pressing ahead to discuss the 20 mph proposal with the Traffic Engineers.

I certainly support a 20 mph limit throughout all residential areas where people want them, and agree there would be a very good case for Church Street to be added to the High Street scheme. I have passed the resident’s request to the Parish Clerk for the Council to consider his suggestion.

At the Steyning Parish Council meeting on Monday, 10 November it was reported that this suggestion will be considered by the Parish Highways & Lighting Committee.

The Parish Council at last night’s meeting agreed to my suggestion that the Chanctonbury County local Committee should be recommended to use some planning development contributions related to transport schemes for the possible cycle route from Small Dole to Henfield.

Although the possible route is entirely in Henfield Parish the cycle route would be of particular benefit to Small Dole residents who live in Upper Beeding Parish.

It was also good news in this regard to learn at the Countryside Access Forum for West Sussex last week that the County Council’s Corporate Plan for 2009/10 provides for an increase in the number of Rights of Way for walkers and cyclists.

I will be supporting the Parish Council’s recommendation at the next meeting of the Chanctonbury County Local Committee on 2 December in Partridge Green.

I recently had to complain yet again about some poor aspects of this year’s grass cutting of highway verges and that some verges continue to be ignored.

From colleagues on the County Council I know this is a problem throughout the County so I welcome the news that a new contract for grass cutting is being issued for next year. I understand that this will provide contractors with electronic maps of all urban grass, so hopefully this will ensure that no areas are missed in future.

We will still have to on our guard for poor standards and to report them to the County Council whenever they occur! I will post the work schedule for grass cutting as soon as I am informed.

I have recently referred an example of poor grass cutting of a verge in Upper Beeding and the continued lack of grass cutting of a verge in Steyning, to the County Council’s Grass Cutting Contract Manager.

I am awaiting his response on the situation but in the meantime I raised the problem of general poor grass cutting standards throughout the County at the Policy & Resources Select Committee meeting yesterday at County Hall.

A report proposing improved customer service on dealing with complaints was being discussed at the time, and the officer was reporting, as an example, how a grass cutting problem in the west of the County was being resolved. I and a number of other County Councillors brought the officer’s attention to the fact that the grass cutting contract standards and conditions are not, in our view, being fully enforced.

I said that it would be better if the number of contracted cuts in a year (eleven) was reduced to say, ten, with the money saved to be used for a higher standard of enforcing contract compliance.

The path closure is necessary to protect public safety whilst improvement works are being undertaken on the bridleway.

Unfortunately this link route using the South Downs Way east of the River Adur, from St Botolph’s bridge using bridleway 3209 to the A283 will continue to be unavailable for another 21 days from the 28TH OCTOBER 2008. The footpath and bridleway along either side of the River Adur and St Botolphs bridge will remain open for pedestrians and equestrians.

Should you have any queries regarding the closure please contact Becky Lawton, Rights of way Officer  on 01273 777928 or if you have a query about the effect of the notice on persons using the highway, to Jon Perks on 01243 777621.

Drainage Improvements in the Henfield Road, Upper Beeding are due to start in the week commencing 27^th October 2008 and last for up to two weeks.

The scheme is to carry out drainage repairs to assist drainage of excess water from the carriageway and alleviate further flooding problems in the area.

During the course of the works, 2 way traffic lights will be erected on site and will remain in place until the materials have hardened. Generally, these will be erected each morning and taken down at the end of the day to allow rush hour traffic to pass through freely, though there may be occasions when they remain in place whist materials are hardening.

The Highways Agency have announced that there will be no more weekend closures of the A27 at Arundel to complete the work at the railway bridge. Although further road closures had been allowed for the work was carried out in 3 weekends. There is some finishing off work but that will not require road closures.

Great news for travellers using the A27 through Arundel, and for the people of Littlehampton which faced gridlock when the A27 was closed.

Under the title “Working together for a better future” West Sussex County Council adopted its Sustainable Community Strategy for West Sussex 2008 – 2020 at its meeting on October 10^th.

Deputy Leader Dr James Walsh said “ This paper is purely aspirational; it is all words with no promises of specific actions especially on solar heating, energy conservation, and water recycling.  We have had 20-30 years of plans and more plans.  What we need is real action”

Dr Nigel Dennis, Lib Dem spokesman for Highways and Transport, commented: “Cycle expenditure by West Sussex County Council is half the national average and the cycle network is little more than a series of short, disconnected routes, poorly used.”

He added:

“if we are to get people to cut down on car use we must have better integration of public transport services.  Bus timings must link up with trains and we need better through ticketing and more Travelcard schemes.”

We have had strategies for footpaths, cycleways and public transport - and no action. There is a particular need for these extra services in the Bramber Castle area and it is about time we saw some action on this from the County Council!

At a meeting to discuss the B2116 from Woodmancote to Albourne on 2 October, Highways staff rejected a petition from Albourne residents calling a speed limit for the length between Albourne and Woodmancote (speeds had been measured and the Accident and Investigation Branch had also been consulted). Instead proposals were made of a plan to deal specifically with the dangerous parts of the road by signs, surfaces and the cutting back of hedges etc. During the discussion it was, however, agreed that advisory speed limit signs could also be provided where appropriate.

Local Woodmancote Parish Councillor, Crispin Blazeby, had studied that part of the road with the Local Traffic Engineer the day before the meeting, and considered that from Woodmancote residents point of view the Highways staff proposals would be the correct approach.

Crispin and I also learned that resurfacing of the surface is being done outside of the plan and the section on the corner beyond Paynesfield will be done in the near future.

The part of the plan affecting Woodmancote is on the corner immediately beyond the top of Blackstone Lane and involves: -

*Installation of new chevrons of a more striking design,

*A further corner sign to the East with a speed note,

*The corner sign to the North to have a speed note,

*New surface of a red warning nature with “Slow” on it, and,

*Cutting back of woodland/hedge on the inside of the corner.

Consideration of a pathway/bridlepath on the ground was discussed sympathetically and will be looked at separately – it was recognised that equestrians were in particular danger on that corner.

The Woodmancote Parish Action Plan recommends attention to the Twineham Lane junction by “Balloos” – Crispin had looked closely at this and with the Local Traffic Engineer considered the visibility at that point to be OK.

The overall cost of the work would be £23,000 and needed to take place before the end of this financial year.  After 12 months a review would take place to judge the effect of the changes.

It was agreed that the “Woodmancote“ sign by the “Paynesfield” corner would be removed to reduce confusion.  (Postal addresses in this area of Woodmancote are of course “Albourne”).

Steyning Parish Council Highways & Lighting Committee last night agreed that the disadvantages from closing the Lane to vehicular traffic near the Chalk Pit far outweighed the possible safety improvements for pedestrians using the Lane. They could not, therefore, support any request to the County Council to close the Lane.

I had asked the Committee (which had previously expressed concern about the safety of walkers using the Lane) to consider supporting the possible closure of the Lane on behalf of local residents who felt unsafe walking on this narrow road. However other residents had pointed out to me the increased risks for even more people from the increased traffic which would result on other local roads, and at the dangerous Bostal Road/Bramber Road junction where traffic would have to gain access to the alternative Bostal Road to go over the Downs

Steyning Parish Council Highways & Lighting Committee last night agreed to support my campaign on behalf of local residents for urgent action by the County Council to improve pedestrian safety on this access road. The action to install bollards on the exit side of the road is necessary to prevent vehicles using the pavement and putting children at risk when there is traffic congestion.

There was also a suggestion that in the longer term, parking on both sides of the road could be restricted, with parking banned between say 8 and 9am and 3 and 4pm so that the full width of the road would be available at peak times (my only concern about this is that it might lead to higher traffic speeds, but may be road humps could be introduced to stop that). Clearly if a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for this idea was supported by the County and local residents it would then make it possible to remove the proposed bollards on the exit  side of the road if a TRO was implemented.

Work to refurbish the bridge carrying the A27 over Arundel railway station will start later today, Friday 12     September. The work will include resurfacing the road, renewing the waterproofing of the bridge and carrying out brickwork repairs where necessary. The work will take place over 3-5 non-consecutive weekends, during which time the bridge will be closed to traffic.

These weekends are:

8pm Friday 12 September until 6am Monday 15 September

8pm Friday 26 September until 6am Monday 29 September

8pm Friday 10 October until 6am Monday 13 October

8pm Friday 17 October until 6am Monday 20 October

8pm Friday 31 October until 6am Monday 03 November

During these times the A27 will be closed from the Causeway roundabout to the junction with Crossbush Lane. Access to Arundel Railway Station, homes, businesses and local roads will be maintained from each end of this section, but the bridge itself will be closed to traffic.

There will be pedestrian access to the station from the bridge by means of the footbridge, and pedestrians will be able to access the station platforms from the station. For wheelchair users, there will be arrangements to allow escorted passage over the bridge while it is closed. There are also provisions to allow emergency services across the bridge in the event of an emergency.

A fully signed diversion route will be in place during each closure. Westbound traffic on the A27 will be directed off the A27 at the Crossbush interchange onto the A284 heading southbound to join the A259 heading westbound. Traffic will continue along the A259 through Bognor Regis to join the A29 Shripney Road northbound. Traffic will continue northbound on the A29 until the junction with the A27 at Fontwell to continue westbound.Eastbound traffic along the A27 will use the same route in the opposite direction.

I understand that these essential safety works will help keep the bridge in a safe and serviceable condition for the future. The work has been carefully planned to limit delays, and the Highway Agency (which is responsible for the A27) is confident that they will be completed in the allotted time.

Whilst the diversion route has been agreed with the police and the local authority, and has been chosen as it is uses roads which are suitable for the type and volume of traffic that uses the A27, there will clearly be considerable traffic congestion and delays. The Highway Agency is advising drivers to plan their journeys before setting out, and to allow some extra time while the closures are in place. However people should also consider using the railways (unless engineering works are being carried out!).   

Following a request from a resident of Newham Close for action regarding the large number of cars parking in the Close, causing concern about access for Emergency vehicles, I asked the Local Traffic Engineer to review the situation.

He has now done this and agrees that it is quite congested with parked vehicles. However he considered that at the time of his site visit access to all parts of the Close was easily achievable and would have been for any sized vehicle needing to gain access.

In his view if a Traffic Regulation Order was agreed to restrict parking within the Close, this would also impact upon the residents unless a Residents Parking Scheme was introduced. Residents would then have to purchase permits for parking. In addition he considered that if this system was to be used then every resident within Steyning might want the same system for his or her road.

What do people think? If a Resident Parking Scheme for Newham Close is considered as the right way forward to overcome excessive car parking, it may come down to a full review of all parking within Steyning, and the adoption of a Controlled Parking Zone for the area.

Earlier in the year I was told that a scheme for bollards or railings, to stop vehicles mounting the pavement to avoid waiting their turn to exit the schools, had been included in the 2008/09 minor scheme programme. I was assured that I would be contacted when the final designs for the scheme had been prepared.

The officers in charge of school travel plans have now said that whilst both the Grammar and Primary School Plans mention traffic congestion in the area, they do not mention any need for bollards or restrictions on the spur road.

I have now reminded the County Council about the promised provision of bollards or railings along the Shooting Field spur road to the school entrances

As will have been seen from the local press, major Maintenance Works to Bramber A283 Court Bridge are due to start next week and could last for some eleven weeks. Work will generally take place from 7am to 7pm, though there may be occasions when works finish earlier or begin later in the day, depending on the type of work carried out.

The work will take place on one lane at a time, with the north and south sides across the bridge being closed to traffic in turn to assist the flow of traffic during the course of the works, with 2 way traffic lights. These will remain in place until the works have been completed.

Permission has also been given to use part of High Trees Car Park at the Beeding roundabout situated opposite the bridge for storage of materials that are to be used for the works. Every effort will be given to keep disruption to car park users to a minimum. The van that parks in the car park will still be able to provide a service to walkers during this time.

Focus readers will recall that these works were expected to have been carried out during the summer months and that the stretch of road concerned, between the Beeding and Bramber Castle roundabouts, would be subject to a temporary 40 mph speed limit. There is no mention of such a speed limit in the latest publications about these works and I have asked whether this will not now take place.

It is also a great pity that these works have delayed, as previously they would have taken place with over the summer holidays. Now there will be much greater traffic problem at peak hours with all the school traffic on the roads.

I have been contacted about what action can be taken to reduce the danger to pedestrians using the narrow part of the Lane from it’s junction with Laines Road to the chalk pit.

Previously the Steyning Parish Council suggestion to provide a pavement was rejected by County Highways. This time it has been suggested that the above mentioned closure of the Lane would make the road much safer for pedestrians whilst not stopping the small amount of traffic going to/from the chalk pit. Through traffic going over the Downs would use the more suitable Bostal Road.

I have also been contacted by another local resident, who drives and walks this section of road regularly, who can see why the closure suggestion has been made, but believes that it is not a practical way forward. 

He believes the perceived safety of walkers would be the only benefit from the proposal.

He considers that with the route currently being used by many residents of Newham Lane, Laines Road, Hills Road and the surrounding estate when entering or leaving Steyning, forcing these vehicles to use the Bostal Road route would cause more problems. Additional traffic would go through the village centre and/or use Ingram Road as a ‘rat run’. In addition there would be extra traffic at the Bostal Road junction which is already probably the most hazardous location for traffic and pedestrians in the village. The proposal would also lead to longer journey times and increased fuel consumption for a significant number of Steyning residents and visitors.

He has never felt unsafe walking the section of Newham Lane in question, and considers the narrowness of the road works to the walker’s advantage by forcing traffic to slow significantly. If it is felt that steps need to be taken to make the Lane safer for walkers, he suggests warning signs, ‘Walkers in Road’ or similar, perhaps combined with extending the 30 mph limit up to the chalk pit.

I have asked the Parish Council for views on the possible closure of this Lane at the entrance to the chalk pit, taking into account these alternative views, and this will be considered at the Highways & Lighting Committee meeting on 30 September.

George Cockman, Steyning’s Independent District Councillor, has just passed me a complaint from a local resident in Newham Close who reports that she was unable to get her car out of the Close recently, because of parking on both sides of the road.She writes that this has been getting worse for some time with residents from other roads using the Close for parking; it would not be possible for emergency vehicles to access houses in the Close.

Since this is a County Council and Police matter, George has asked the Police to have a look at the situation, and I have asked the Local Traffic Engineer to investigate whether a Traffic Regulation Order, restricting parking in the area, should be considered.

Local Lib Dem Focus Team member, Andrew Purches, has informed me that Highways staff have been out in Upper Beeding today surveying what action can be taken to improve the traffic situation in these roads.

These surveys relate to the possible Traffic Regulation Orders for parking restrictions in these two roads, reported in the Summer edition of Focus as having been planned for 2009/11.

It is understood that Upper Beeding Parish Council asked for some action to overcome the problems for traffic caused by the parked cars on these narrow roads. It is not clear, however, what action was suggested by the Parish Council as the records currently cannot be found. Andrew, who is also an Upper Beeding Parish Councillor, will be pursuing the matter with the new Parish Clerk.

In the meantime, whatever scheme is eventually proposed by the County Council for each of these roads, there will be full consultation with the public on the details of any scheme before they are approved by the Chanctonbury County Committee for work to take place within the next two years.

West Sussex Liberal Democrats have welcomed the announcement that the County Council is to consult residents on spending more money on footway maintenance.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Morwen Millson says, “The Liberal Democrats have consistently pressed the Conservative led council to spend more on pavements in order to improve residents’ safety.

“Last July we called on the County Council to improve access to services, in particular by provision of safe crossing points, well maintained footways and reliable transport to enable vulnerable people to access vital services safely and easily.* This proposal led directly to the formation of Footways Task Force (referred to in the Council Press Release), which is looking at the issues around pavement maintenance.

More recently, our budget amendment in February this year called on the Council to put an additional £400,000 into additional maintenance of roads and pavements. Although the Conservatives voted this down as unnecessary and unaffordable, they have since put an extra £300,000 into repairing pot holes and have now announced this consultation on footway maintenance to address a back log of nearly £20 million on faulty pavements. We are delighted that the Conservative Council is responding to the Liberal Democrat agenda of providing pavements the people of West Sussex want to walk on.”

The state of pavements and twittens in my area is on constant concern to many local people, especially the elderly,  and so an improved level of maintenance from this u-turn by the Tories can only be welcomed. 

County officers have now analysed the speed monitoring results of traffic through the Street and confirmed that it does qualify for a 20mph speed limit.

The request for the introduction of a 20mph scheme has been assessed against the County Traffic Regulation criteria. The assessed score of 28 puts it 5th on the Chanctonbury County Local Committee priority list, and means that the request could be implemented in the next financial year. 2009 - 2010.

Congratulations must go the Bramber Parish Councillors who have worked hard to achieve this outcome, and I will be supporting an early introduction of the 20 MPH limit.

The County Road Safety Team have told me that this review will be carried out later this year to assess the impact of the speed management scheme introduced early last year on the A281 through Woodmancote.

It has been confirmed that once the review is carried out I will be given the details of the outcome.

Parking along this section of the Lane causes access problems for larger vehicles such as refuse lorries or emergency vehicles. I have requested on behalf of local residents that parking is removed from this area to allow larger vehicles unimpeded access and to remove congestion caused by parked vehicles.

The County Council proposal, which is designed to facilitate the passage on the road or any other road of any class of traffic (including pedestrians), is:-

*To extend the double yellow lines on the North East side of Castle Lane from the end of the existing double yellow lines to the driveway access of Edgehill, and

*To extend the double yellow lines on the South West side of Castle Lane from the end of the existing double yellow lines to rear access of Hillside Terrace.

Hopefully this will be approved by the Chanctonbury County Local Committee and the works carried out later this year.

The weed growth in this footpath has now been treated and the evidence of this should shortly become visible. The Local Highway Manager has assured me that Highways staff will keep an eye on it in future and if it needs more than one spray a year it will be organised.

Concern has also been expressed about the overhang growth problems, but these are totally the responsibility of the landowners. Woodmancote Parish Council will be writing to all the relevant landowners asking them to deal with the problem, as such personal letters have been shown to be far more effective ( 95% success rate ) than the County Council sending impersonal letters which tend to be ignored. If no action results from the Parish Council letters within a reasonable timescale, then the County Council will be willing to follow-up more formally in due course.

I have asked the Parish Council to obtain more statistics of use of the footpath so that a case may be made to complete the final part into Henfield. Clearly such a scheme will have a higher priority in the Highway Works Programme if an increasing number of people are using the footpath.

At the special meeting held yesterday morning at my suggestion, with Parish and District Councillors, the local Highway Manager revealed the results of the traffic survey carried out north and south of Blackstone during a week last month.

It was found that at the checkpoint south of the Village that 266 vehicles per day passed at an average of 33/34 mph, with between 86 and 91% travelling at less than 41 mph. At the northern checkpoint, near Rose Cottage, the daily figure was 247 vehicles at an average speed of 39mph with some 66% travelling at less than 41 mph.

In view of the low traffic speeds, the meeting agreed that the introduction of a 40 mph limit, although justified by the existing speeds, would probably, based on experience elsewhere, lead to an increase in average speed up to near the 40 mph. In addition it was noted that the daily traffic numbers were much lower than on other ‘c’ classed roads.

The provision of road humps was suggested to reduce current speeds, but since this would require street lights and road markings and signs this was ruled out on environmental grounds.

Concern was expressed that the County Council was not doing enough to implement the County Highway Plan with regard to reducing lorry traffic along Blackstone Lane, and the Local Highway Manager agreed to discuss this with the officers at County Hall responsible for the implementation of the Plan.

It was suggested that individual action to report speeding lorries to their owners or to the Police via the Operation Crackdown number/website (see the link on this website) would help tackle the problem of lorry and speeding traffic.

Overall the meeting had to agree that in view of the low number of vehicles using the Lane and the low speed of that traffic, there was little that could be done to address local concerns about the use of the road. Woodmancote Parish Council will be reporting back to local residents in more detail about the meeting.

I have agreed to investigate further the possibility of advisory traffic signs re-directing lorry traffic from Blackstone Lane to other routes. In addition, at my request, the District Councillor present at the meeting agreed to investigate whether Horsham District Council could implement improvements to the centre of Blackstone since it is an official Conservation Area. Such works would enhance the local environment and might also deter through traffic using the Lane.

This footpath is currently being temporarily closed for emergency electrical work.

It has been agreed, however, that once the work is finished, the contractors will re-instate the path to the full width available. This would make it possible to consider making the route from Breach Close to the Grammar and Primary Schools entrance usable for cycling as well as the very many pedestrians who use it every day.

I will ask for this to be taken into account in the the school travel plans currently being revised.

The Priority List for the next few years for the Chanctonbury area was approved by the County Local Committee on Tuesday.

Apart from the waiting restriction scheme for the Charlton Street area already mentioned on this website and due to be carried out later this year, the schemes for the Bramber Castle area are: -

2008/09

Extension to the existing waiting restrictions at the Castle Lane/Jarvis Lane junction, Steyning

2009/10

Waiting restrictions in Hyde Lane/Pound Lane, Upper Beeding

2010/11

Waiting restrictions in Saltings Way, Upper Beeding

There will, of course, be full public consultation on the detailed proposals for the above schemes, before they are considered by the Chanctonbury County Local Committee for approval.

West Sussex County Council are to impose a 40 mph temporary speed limit on the A283 from the Upper Beeding roundabout to the Bramber Castle roundabout.

The new speed limit is due to operate from 14 July 2008 to enable maintenance works on the bridge over the river Adur to be carried out safely.

The works will last for approximately 11 weeks or until the proposed works are completed, whichever is earlier.

Any queries about the effect of the Order on traffic using the highway should be directed to the West Sussex County Council Contact Centre, telephone number 01243 642105.

I have informed the officers that it is a pity that the limit will not be permanent, especially if there are no problems whilst it is in operation. It will make the Downs Link crossing of the A283, which is between those two roundabouts, much safer.

The Local Highway Manager has just updated me on the grass cutting situation.

He confirmed that the reason why the grass cutting had fallen behind by early June was because of the bad weather earlier in the season which delayed the operatives, and the slow growth in the early months for the same reason when normally vigorous growth is expected. The weather has turned warmer of course which combined with the wet conditions has led to the grass being very difficult to cut.

The delay in cutting was two weeks at the most, but this has been pulled back to just one week now, so the situation is improving. The cut which should have taken place in Steyning on 2nd June actually took place on the 10th which was one week and a day late. The next cut in this area is due to commence 26th June and will begin in Upper Beeding to make sure it is completed before Beeding in Bloom.

He regrets that the schedule did fall behind but every effort is being made to catch up and hopefully the County should be back on programme very soon.

He stated that it is unfortunate that the County was not in a position to collect the cut grass, even under these circumstances, as the expense in doing so would be prohibitive.

The Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport confirmed to me at the County Council meeting on 6 June that the full eleven cuts planned for the year would take place.

Hopefully the programme of cuts will now proceed according to the published schedule and the area will look attractive once again.

The next meeting will be tomorrow on 17 June at Henfield Leisure Centre.

Starting at 3.30pm with a Speed Watch & Road Safety ‘talk to us’ Event and followed by a full CLC meeting starting at 6pm. The meeting will establish priorities for Traffic Regulation Orders and feature a West Sussex Fire & rescue Presentation.

All are invited to both events with free tea and cake.

Derek Deedman will be present for both events.

For more details go to the link on this website to the Chanctonbury CLC.

I have complained about the dangers of the Horsham Road/Steyning Bypass junction for a number of years. It is particularly bad at night; but the County Council does not support improved street lighting because such a ‘pool’ of light, with darkness either side on a fast road, is considered to be even more dangerous. 

Earlier this year I suggested to the Local Highway Manager that consideration be given to the provision of reflective road studs on the A283 westbound approach to the Horsham Road junction. The exit is a sharp bend off the Bypass which is not really clear in the dark and such indicative studs would improve the situation.

A new Traffic Officer is now in post and will be investigating such a safety improvement.

The Order for this temporary closure, to carry out electrical works, will come into effect on 30 June and will last for 6 months or until the proposed works are completed. It is anticipated however that the works will start on or soon after that date and will take 2 weeks to complete.

The published alternative route available for pedestrians will be via the footpath that runs behind 22 Breach Close and the exit adjacent to 14 Coxham Lane. Another option is the footpath from Tanyard Lane to Thornscroft and then the footpath from Thornscroft to Coxham Lane.

Any queries about the works to take place should be directed to Emma Osbourne, Amber Langis, telephone number (01474) 573831. Any queries about the effect of the closure on pedestrians using the footpath should be directed to Emily Delicata, WSCC, telephone number (01243) 753599.

Concern has been expressed to me about the present state of the footpath and so this is a good opportunity for a full width reinstatement of path to be carried out. I am informed that the County Council is in discussions with EDF at the moment to achieve this on completion of their work.

Following the reinstatement work hopefully more parents will use the Newmans Gardens Car Park to drop off their children to walk to school or to then walk with them to school. This would then reduce the traffic congestion at the Shooting Field entrance to the Grammar and Primary Schools.

As the local County Councillor, I have agreed that the proposed Traffic Regulation Order containing additional yellow lines for White Horse Square, Charlton Street and at the junction of Sir Georges Place and the High Street, can be published for public consultation.

The parking of cars in the very narrow White Horse Square has been a contentious issue for many years. Damage has been caused to front walls by vehicles trying to pass the cars parked opposite the houses concerned. The small proposed extension of the yellow lines, although not welcomed by all local residents, is a compromise to protect property whilst not making a significant reduction in the limited number of parking spaces in the area.

Following my recent meeting with the Local Highways Manager he has agreed to take the following action: -

*will investigate the provision of another ‘unsuitable for heavy vehicles’ sign, this time at the Cripps Lane end of Jarvis Lane. Hopefully this will considerably reduce the damage to parked cars and the traffic congestion caused by of such vehicles using this very narrow Lane.

*will pursue the provision of ‘gateways’ at either end of Small Dole and in Bramlands Lane in Woodmancote. The Small Dole ‘gateways’ are included in the Highway Works programme for 2008/09 to be funded by planning contributions fron developers. The Bramlands Lane ‘gateways’ were agreed when it was decided not to continue with an official 30 mph limit.

*chase the removal of the trees growing in the ditch at the Canons Way junction with the A283 Steyning Bypass. The trees considerably reduce the visibility for traffic wishing to turn right from Canons Way of fast approaching traffic along the A283 from the west.

*arrange for permanent traffic signing for the new Health Centre in Newmans Gardens, Steyning, in time for it’s opening in late August/early September.

*chase work on footway defects in Shooting Field and potholes at junction of Tanyard Lane and Beach Close (both in Steyning) I had previously reported to him.

*arrange for traffic/speed counting in Blackstone Lane , Woodmancote, to obtain data on which to base proposals to improve the traffic situation along the Lane.

*take action to require the restoration of the grass verges along the Steyning Bypass damaged by contractors vehicles attending to utility work. (The obstruction caused by one of these vehicles parking on the Castle Lane bypass foot/cycleway are being addressed by the Police.)

The Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning & Transport confirmed to Derek Deedman at the County Council meeting on 6 June that the full programme of grass verge cuts would take place this year.

Derek asked the question in view of the number of planned earlier grass cuts which do not appear to have taken place, leaving the grass sky high in many areas.

The Cabinet Member admitted that the bad weather had delayed some of the grass cutting, but that the full number of eleven cuts programmed for the year would take place by the Autumn.

A number of residents have contacted me about the lack of grass cutting of highway verges leading to ever taller grass - and just when the judges will soon be around for the annual ‘In Bloom’ contest.

It appears that it was all that rain last month which caused the May grass cut to be cancelled, but the Local Highway Manager has responded to the concerns by organising an earlier cut this month than planned.  The verges should now be cut in Upper Beeding, and hopefully Steyning as well, on 23 June. This should enable the cuttings to be dispersed before the ‘In Bloom’ judging takes place.

The consultation period will be from May to July 2008.

The County Policy & Resources Select Committee on Wednesday (7th) at County Hall will be considering the methods used in preparing the draft Strategy, whether additional groups might be engaged in the preparation of the Strategy work and how to promote the consultation in local communities.

The Strategy will be for all the population, not just those who have been traditionally been supported because they have been seen to have the highest needs. It should: -

aim to build strong and cohesive communities where individuals feel included and recognise their responsibilities;

assist individuals and communities to access services and opportunities with minimal intervention; and

encourage service providers to work as partners in focusing needs and aspirations of people, ensuring that there are high quality affordable services, and improving information provision from a variety of sources including through the web, so people can identify, and take, opportunities and choices.

I will be suggesting that Parish Councils should be included in the consultation, and will be reporting on this the Upper Beeding and Bramber Parish Council meetings this week.

A summary of the Framework document is available from the County Council at:

www.westsussex.gov.uk/scs

Please read the Framework, consider the information it presents, and then respond to the questions at the end of the document.

A number of people at the Upper Beeding Annual Parish Meeting asked when the High Trees Roundabout would be resurfaced.

Highways officers have confirmed that the work is programmed for the 23^rd and 24^th June, although this date may vary slightly either way as a result of the contractor’s quicker progress on his programme of works or delays due to weather or plant breakdown.

A few local residents have expressed concerns about the safety of the Bramber roundabout to Roman Road section of Castle Lane.

This section of Castle Lane is very narrow with bends and few passing places. The current building works along the Lane have not helped, making the route even narrower in places, although these works should be completed soon.

There have been calls to make the Lane one way, or for better passing places to be provided with safer refuges for pedestrians using the Lane for access to properties. People walking or cycling between the roundabout and Roman Road are able to use the Castle Lane bypass pathway, provided a few years ago to be a safe alternative to the dangerous narrow section of Castle Lane.

When residents of the area were surveyed many years ago on possibly making the route one way there were very many objections. Has this view changed? Comments please to Derek Deedman via this website.

County staff are continuing to work with the School to reach travel mark level two (TML2).

Once the school achieve this Level consideration will be given to completing the path between Pound Lane and Monks Walk as a minor scheme. However it appears that there are currently many schools on the county list, so the work is unlikely to be done within the next year or two. Being at TML2 will put the School in a better position to have the footpath completed.

The red surfacing works outside Upper Beeding Primary School, to complete the Safer Routes Scheme for the School, due to have been carried out this month, have been delayed.

The work is now scheduled to be done during June/July so hopefully by then the works should be complete.

The final improvements to the footpath from Pound Lane to Monks Walk, with work to the part through the Monks Walk garage compound are still, however, outstanding, and action on this is being pursued.

West Sussex County Council intend to make an Order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect of which will be to temporarily prohibit any vehicle from proceeding along Elm Grove Lane, Steyning. Pedestrian access will be maintained.

The Order is necessary to allow works to lay a new electric cable to be carried out in safety.

The alternative route for vehicles will be via Tanyard Lane, Church Lane and Church Street.

The Order will come into operation on the 28th of April 2008 and will continue for eighteen months, or until the proposed works are completed, whichever is earlier. It is anticipated that the works will be completed in two weeks.

Any queries about the works to take place should be directed to Murphy Ltd, telephone number 0800 0835234.  Any queries about the effect of the Order on traffic using the highway should be directed to West Sussex County Council Contact Centre, telephone number 01243 642105.

The County Council has published  its intention to make a temporary closure Order for part of Bridleway 1872 in the Parish of Ashurst

The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any person from proceeding along a length of Public Bridleway No. 1872, Ashurst, from its junction with Public Footpath No. 2511 (GR16481611) southwards to its junction with Spithandle Lane (GR16841533).

The Order is necessary to protect public safety whilst resurfacing works are undertaken.

Unfortunately there is no alternative route available using the Public Rights of Way network.

The Order will come into effect on 6^th May 2008 and will last for 6 months or until the proposed works are completed, whichever is earlier.

Any queries about the effect of the Order on persons using the bridleway should be directed to Emily Delicata, WSCC, telephone number (01243) 753599.