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Report to:
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Lead Member for
Transport and Environment
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Date of
meeting:
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14 October
2024
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By:
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Director of
Communities, Economy and Transport
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Title:
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Petition to improve
safety for cyclists and pedestrians – Keymer Road,
Ditchling.
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Purpose:
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To consider a petition
calling on the County Council to improve safety for cyclists and
pedestrians on Keymer Road, Ditchling
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RECOMMENDATIONS: The
Lead Member is recommended to advise petitioners that:
(1)
A potential scheme
to improve the footway, provide an alternative cycle route and
install traffic calming on Keymer Road 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)
The section of
Keymer Road between the Ditchling Parish Council Car Park and the
County Boundary does not meet the Council’s policy for a
lower speed limit.
1
Background Information
1.1.
At the County Council meeting on 7 May 2024, a petition was
presented to the Chairman by Councillor Osborne on behalf of
Ditchling Climate Action Network. The group are requesting the
following improvements on the B2116 Keymer Road, from Ditchling
Parish Council Car Park to the county boundary:
·
A better
footpath
·
Reduced speed
limits
·
An alternative cycle
route
·
Traffic
calming
1.2
Standing Orders provide that where the Chair 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. The Chairman has referred this petition to
the Lead Member for Transport and Environment. A copy of the
petition is available in the Members’ Room.
2 Supporting Information
2.
2.1.
Keymer Road is a B class road running east to west from Ditchling
in East Sussex to Keymer in West Sussex. It is subject to the
national speed limit, which starts approximately 15 metres west of
the Ditchling Parish Council Car Park to the county boundary. A
footway is present on the northern side for the entire length of
Keymer Road and is approximately 1 metre to 1.5 metres wide. A
location plan can be found at Appendix 1.
2.2.
Crash data supplied by Sussex Police for the 3-year period up to 31
July 2024 shows that Keymer Road has an excellent safety record,
with no crashes resulting in personal injury. A crash data plan can
be found at Appendix 2.
2.3.
The setting of appropriate and effective speed limits has been
subject to a significant level of research. It is important drivers
are provided with a consistent message, so they know what is
expected of them as they enter different road environments. A
predominant factor considered when determining an effective speed
limit is the number of properties that are visible to drivers.
2.4.
There is little to no visible frontage development on the section
of Keymer Road between the car park and the county boundary. This
section of road does not meet the Council’s policy
requirements for a lower speed limit therefore the national speed
limit applies. Whilst this section of road is subject to the
national speed limit, the onus is on the individual driver to drive
in a safe and judicious manner, and to the conditions of the road
and the surroundings through which they pass.
2.5.
It is acknowledged that a 30mph speed limit applies to the road
once it enters West Sussex, however it is subject to a system of
street lighting and has significant frontage development and the
30mph speed limit is therefore suitable. Likewise, a 30mph speed
limit applies when travelling eastbound and entering Ditchling
village where the surroundings change and there is significant
frontage development.
2.6.
The County Council has a limited amount of funding to develop local
transport improvements and needs to ensure that 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
Programme.
2.7.
The requests for improvements to the footway, an alternative cycle
route and traffic calming measures have been assessed to determine
if they might be a priority for future consideration; however, they
did not achieve the benchmark score to be taken forward at this
time.
3 Conclusion and Reasons for
Recommendations
3.
3.1.
It is recommended that the petitioners be advised that a reduction
to the existing speed limit is not appropriate for the reasons set
out in paragraphs 2.3 and 2.4. It is also recommended that the
petitioners be advised that schemes to improve the existing
footway, provide an alternative cycle route and install traffic
calming measures have been assessed and are not currently
priorities for the County Council at this time.
Director of Communities, Economy
and Transport
Contact Officer:
Victoria Bartholomew
Tel. No. 01424 724284
Email: Victoria.Bartholomew@eastsussex.gov.uk
LOCAL
MEMBERS
Councillor
Osborne
BACKGROUND
DOCUMENTS
None