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.

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.

Residents are rightly concerned that much of this illegal parking is hazardous and could result in accidents if such parking is not prevented.

Upper Beeding Parish Council meets on Tuesday at 7.30pm at Small Dole Village Hall.

Ashurst Parish Council meets on Thursday at 8pm at the Village Hall.

Both meetings are open to the public with District and Parish Councillors present to answer questions. I will be on holiday.

In an article today in many national newspapers I understand that the Tories will be launching a drive to encourage healthier lifestyle and insisting that people claiming biological or environmental causes for their obesity are simply making excuses.

Well they obviously have no idea why most people get into this condition. Just one example from the whole variety of possible causes - for those on low incomes, is to compare the price of junk food/sweets etc with good nutritional meals/fruit etc – no prizes for guessing which is the cheapest. They are really launching a persecution of such people by encouraging bullying in the playground, at work and in the community. The outcome will certainly not reduce obesity but might increase the number of suicides.

Only a few Small Dole residents are interested in the possibility of such a bus service suggested by Compass Travel and advertised in the Summer edition of Focus. Just eight people said they would use this bus service. In view of the low number I am sad but not surprised that the Manager does not wish to pursue the matter at the present time.

I will include a report on this in the next edition of Focus and this may provoke further support for such a bus service. If so it might be possible to convince Compass to at least trial a service before Christmas.

LIBERAL Democrats in Arundel & South Downs are making their final preparations to attend the party’s conference in Bournemouth in September.

A number of members from the Chanctonbury area will be heading for the conference which will be held from Saturday 13^th to Wednesday 17^th September.

Debates taking place will include pensions, crime, eco-towns, the housing and mortgage crisis, transport and health.

“We are looking forward to a good conference and some lively debates,” said Councillor Derek Deedman, Local Party Chairman.   “We are also looking forward to speeches from leading figures in the Liberal Democrats, particularly Nick Clegg’s Leader’s speech on the final day.

“People in this area are feeling the pinch with rising unemployment, rising prices for food and energy and a collapsing housing market. So there will be a great deal of interest in the debate about the housing and mortgage crisis and in the speech of Vince Cable MP, our Shadow Chancellor.

“I am also particularly interested in the debate on our visions and values paper, Making it Happen, and on two of our proposed policies - Building a Transport System for the 21^st Century and Shaping Our World Through a Strong Europe. On Making it Happen I especially support the priorities to deliver big tax cuts for those who are struggling and to end the unfair Council Tax, to invest in clean energy instead of nuclear, and getting people out of their cars and into quality public transport. I want to see how our Transport policy will lead to improved public transport for our area, and the way Lib Dem policies will lead to the UK playing a constructive part in Europe to protect and promote our national interests, protect our citizens and further our influence in the world.

“It should be a great few days in Bournemouth which will enable the Liberal Democrats to set out our vision for Britain.”

LIBERAL Democrats in Arundel & South Downs have given their strong backing to ambitious calls by Nick Clegg MP for Britain to become self-sufficient in energy.

The Liberal Democrat Leader has called for a major programme to build up Britain’s own energy supplies through wind, tidal, wave and biomass technologies.

Mr Clegg said, “We have an enormous opportunity to create real energy independence for the UK, freeing ourselves from the shackles of foreign oil, coal and gas. This will require the kind of ambition and political will that succeeded in putting man on the moon.”

County Councillor Derek Deedman said, “I am delighted that Nick Clegg is calling for a green revolution in the way we produce power.

“The recent Russian invasion of Georgia and the ongoing troubles in Iraq and Iran show just how dangerously reliant Britain is on energy from unstable parts of the world.

“We have to build up our own energy supplies and as an island nation, we have an abundance of natural and clean energy sources that both Labour and Conservative governments have failed to develop.

“Whilst Labour and the Conservatives joined together earlier this year to agree Britain should have a new generation of nuclear power stations, Liberal Democrats believe this will leave a legacy of radioactive waste for future generations. It will also leave us dependent on foreign supplies of uranium.

“Liberal Democrats in Arundel & South Downs welcome Nick Clegg’s call for Britain to develop clean energy supplies and become self-sufficient in them by 2050. This is an industry in which we as a nation should aim to be world beaters“.