Bring back the warden

These were two of the points made at an exhibition last week put on by East Sussex County Council to show transport improvements planned for the town.

Transport strategist for the council Chris Tree was surprised by both ideas and at the strength of feeling about inconsiderate parking going on at the moment. The points will be included in a report based on the results of a questionnaire being distributed by the county council.

The exhibition was held at the Civic Centre on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and about 1,400 people went along to look at the plans.

The majority liked what they saw, said Mr Tree. They were interested in improvements proposed for the Framfield Road junction and new safer pedestrian crossings there. They also welcomed linkage of the traffic lights with those at the junction of Bell Lane and with the pedestrian crossing in Bell Lane, near Tesco.

People were pleased with the upgrading of pedestrian crossings from pelican to puffin which would allow for safer crossing in one go without a central island.

Buildings

There was a lot of concern about the Church Street junction, said Mr Tree. But it was very difficult to improve that because of the buildings close to the road. Suggestions had been made about re-phasing the lights, possibly combined with closure of Hempstead Lane and that would be investigated.

Plans to provide cycle only sections of road at traffic lights and feeder lanes to those were not particularly well received, said Mr Tree. There was concern about the safety of cyclists in the High Street.

Results of the consultation will be reported back to the public in the spring and it is hoped that work can start on the improvements by the end of the year, subject to funding.

Full details of the changes planned can be seen on a county council web site, www.eastsussexcc.gov.uk/road/uckfield/ and there is still time for people to respond to a questionnaire with their views on the proposals which has to be returned to the council by February 7.