Councillor inspects repairs to Home Zone

The work around the Home Zone pedestrian safety area involved replacing damaged surfacing and solving flooding.

Both problems have been corrected in a 70,000 scheme which was inspected last week by senior county councillor Lt Col Tex Pemberton.

He toured the Home Zone in Gravits Lane and Ivydale Road to fulfil a promise he made last winter when residents complained about the shortcomings.

Lt Col Pemberton, in charge of the county's highways and transport duties, said: 'We were not happy with the work either.

'I said at the time when I visited to see the problems that I would come back when the repairs were finished.

'We had to put the situation right and I'm very pleased with what I've looked at today. The chairman of the residents' group is also happy with the outcome.'

The initial sandy-coloured surfacing has been taken off after it cracked and blistered and was replaced with a traditional black footway-style surfacing. Drainage strips were laid to get the water to flow into the gullies.

The cost of the repairs is in addition to the 900,000 expense of the scheme. The county council has paid the extra amount and is in legal talks with the contractor about reclaiming it.

The Home Zone was opened in December 2004, with substantial government backing, in response to the area's unwanted status in having the highest child road casualty rate in West Sussex.

'It has worked,' said Lt Col Pemberton. 'It has brought that accident rate right down. In fact, I don't think there's been an injury accident with a child here since it opened.'

'This is the first Home Zone in the county,' stated Lt Col Pemberton.

'It may not be the last. If money becomes available, we will consider doing more of these around the county in areas which need it.'

Pevensey Road resident Kelly Hurst (27) said she took a detour to go through the Home Zone when she was walking.

'It's good because I have a daughter who's aged nearly two. I feel safer walking along here than I do in a normal road and I like the look of it. It's just a shame that the cars don't slow down too much,' she added.

The zone is surrounded by a 20mph low speed zone in 42 streets to reinforce the safer streets message.