County tackles Sidley's traffic problem

Julian Thomas, team leader transport strategy, for the county council, will present a paper answering points raised at the March forum.

Mr Thomas says that the developers of both the new Sixth Form College at Penland Road and of the nearby Nazareth House site were required to produce travel plans as part of their planning applications. "Measures to reduce travel by car wherever possible, and better pedestrian crossings and junction management facilities e.g. at the Wrestwood Road/Hastings Road junction, are being provided."

He says the Highways Agency, not the county, is responsible for the A259 trunk road through Bexhill and had been "key in determining transport improvements whidh are required to be implemented as part of the planning consent process" for the extension of Ravenside.

"New signals at Brett Way and an additional turning movement at the roundabout are to be installed.

"The measures have arisen from the developers' transports assessments and the agency would be able to explain the effect of these measures and how they will deal with traffic arising from the developments.

"The Bexhill and Hastings Taskforce, which includes all the relevant councils, is working to try to secure commitment and finance in conjunction with the Strategic Rail Authority, Network Rail and the train operating companies, to enable the intended railway station at Glyne Gap to be taken forward for implementation.

"This could help to reduce traffic at Glyne Gap and also form part of the action plan for the air quality management area in Bexhill road, but no timetable has yet been established."

The forum had discussed making De La Warr a dual-carriageway.

"If asked, the (Highways) Agency could probably provide commentary on the idea of a dual carriageway from King Offa Way to Glyne Gap and the effect such a scheme would have on property along that stretch of road, as well as how effective such a proposal would be..."

Mr Thomas says the county has just started to examie options for easing flow in Sidley. The problems include congestion, lack of facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and bus users, indiscriminate parking and lack of enforcement, poor access for business deliveries and "poor streetscape."

"The intention is that public consultatin on possible options will be carried out later this year, after which it will be necessary to secure Government funding to progress any agreed proposals."

The county would be making its bid this summer to the Government to move to the next stage in developing the preferred (Blue) route for the Bexhill-Hastings Link Road.