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Report to: |
Lead Member for Transport and Environment
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Date of meeting:
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13 March 2023 |
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By: |
Director of Communities, Economy, and Transport
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Title: |
Petition to create a safe crossing on Sutton Avenue, Peacehaven to access South Coast Road and Dell Park.
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Purpose: |
To consider whether formal crossings should be provided to improve crossing facilities and access for pedestrians to Dell Park and shops on South Coast Road, Peacehaven.
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RECOMMENDATIONS: The Lead Member is recommended to advise petitioners that:
(1) A potential scheme for improved pedestrian crossing facilities has been assessed through the approved High Level Sift process and is not a priority for the County Council at the present time; and
(2) Petitioners may wish to consider taking a potential scheme forward through the Community Match Process. A Feasibility Study (at a cost of £500) and Speed data (at a cost of £422 per site) would be required prior to a Community Match application.
1.2 A copy of the petition is available in the Members’ Room. Standing Orders provide that where the Chairman considers it appropriate, petitions are considered by the relevant Committee or Lead Member and a spokesperson for the petitioners is invited to address the Committee or Lead Member. The Chairman has referred this petition to the Lead Member for Transport and Environment.
2.2 The petitioners have not indicated where they feel a crossing would be of most benefit. On request the lead petitioner provided the following. 'The intention is for safer crossings in the vicinity of Sutton Avenue and the South Coast Road. We are asking ESCC to investigate and agree optimal locations for crossings to allow access to the shops of the South Coast Road and the park. The area concerned is Lincoln Avenue to Dorothy Avenue in which Sutton Avenue is in the middle. We are open to crossings East to West or North to South as long as there are adequate crossings in total to all these areas i.e., a new crossing across Sutton Avenue which allowed access to the shops as long as there are adequate crossings from the North side of the road to the South and therefore to the park’
2.3 There are five pedestrian crossing points located in the area. These are in the form of four central islands, three of which have tactile paving in the centre and on the footway either side. A signal-controlled crossing is provided on the A259, just to the east of the junction with Roderick Avenue. The position of these crossing points is shown in Appendix 1.
2.4 In recognition of the fact that pedestrians are less likely to use facilities that fall beyond a short walking distance, the sites considered for potential crossing facilities are shown on the plan in Appendix 3.
2.5 Crash data supplied by Sussex Police for the latest three-year period up to 31 December 2022 shows that there have been two crashes resulting in slight personal injuries on the A259 between Roderick Avenue and Hoddern Avenue. These incidents did not involve pedestrians. The positions of these crashes are shown in Appendix 2.
2.6 The County Council has a limited amount of funding to develop local transport improvements and needs to ensure resources are targeted to those schemes which will be of greatest benefit to local communities. To help prioritise the numerous requests received for improvements, a process was developed to determine which schemes should be funded through the Integrated Transport Program.
2.7 The request for a pedestrian crossing on Sutton Avenue, just to the north of the newly constructed retirement apartments, has been assessed to determine if it might be a priority for future consideration; however, it did not achieve the benchmark score to be taken forward at this time.
2.8 A further request for a pedestrian crossing on the A259 between the roundabout junction with Sutton Avenue and Roderick Avenue has also been assessed to determine if it might be a priority for future consideration; however, it also did not achieve the benchmark score to be taken forward at this time.
2.9 Although the provision of a formal pedestrian crossing at either location is not currently a priority for the County Council, the petitioners may wish to contact Peacehaven Town Council to determine their interest in a community funded scheme through the Community Match Initiative. A feasibility study at a cost of £500 and speed data at a cost of £422 per site would be required prior to a Community Match application. The lead petitioner has informed East Sussex County Council that Peacehaven Town Council are conducting a consultation relating to this part of the A259 which includes access to the shops. A feasibility study through Community Match may therefore assist the Town Council develop its proposals.
Director of Communities, Economy, and Transport
Contact Officer:
Kelly Burr
Tel. No. 01273 482824
Email: Kelly.burr@eastsussex.gov.uk
LOCAL MEMBERS
Councillor Chris Collier
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
None