Decision details

To consider and respond to the petition received from local residents requesting the closure of Maplehurst Road in Hastings at its junction with the A21/A28 Westfield Road junction or the introduction of access only restrictions and appropriate enforcement measures.

41.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

41.2     Ms Angela Russell, a representative for the petition calling on the County Council to request closure of Maplehurst Road at the A21 and Westfield Road end, or alternatively to designate this section as “access only” spoke to highlight the issues surrounding heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) not complying with width restrictions in place along Maplehurst Road, previous consultation and proposals regarding modification of Maplehurst Road and the residents’ concerns for the road safety and traffic flow if Maplehurst Road was to reopen upon completion of the Queensway Gateway Road construction.

DECISIONS

41.3     The Lead Member RESOLVED to advise petitioners that:

(1) following the opening of the Queensway Gateway Road, a programme of post-opening monitoring will be undertaken for a period of up to 12 months to assess any changes to traffic movements in and around the vicinity of the Queensway Gateway Road scheme; and

(2) the outcomes of the monitoring will be used to determine whether any further measures are required, including in Maplehurst Road, to mitigate any identified impacts.

REASONS

41.4     Maplehurst Road is part of the A2100, and links to the A28 Westfield Road at its northern extent and B2093 The Ridge at its southern extent. It is predominantly residential with a 30mph speed limit and a 6 foot 6 inches ‘except for access’ width restriction for traffic travelling southbound (towards The Ridge). It carries between 7,325 and 7,548 vehicles (7am and 7pm), which is lower in comparison to other roads in the vicinity, with a mix of on and off-street parking and has a good safety record with no collisions in the last three years.

41.5     Planning permission was given by Hastings Borough Council in January 2016 to Sea Change Sussex, the original scheme promoter, to construct the Queensway Gateway Road. This extant permission does not include a planning condition for the introduction of traffic management measures on Maplehurst Road. Whilst the majority of the Queensway Gateway Road has been constructed, the final phase from Whitworth Road through to the A21 has remained outstanding. External funding of £2.5m has been secured through the Hastings and Rother Levelling Up Partnership’s to contribute towards the completion of the scheme, with the County Council now taking responsibility to construct this final phase.

41.6     Construction of this final phase of the Queensway Gateway Road started in September 2024 with the road intended to be open in early 2025. As part of the traffic management associated with the construction, temporary measures have been put in place to restrict access to Maplehurst Road at the northern end and its junction with the A28 with southbound access only available for emergency vehicles. These temporary traffic management measures, implemented under a temporary traffic regulation order, will be removed.

41.7     Once the Queensway Gateway Road is opened to traffic, there will be a natural settling period as traffic flows and movements adjust to the revised network layout including the closure of both ends of Junction Road. A programme of post-opening monitoring will be undertaken for a period of up to 12 months to assess any changes to traffic movements in and around the vicinity of the Queensway Gateway Road.

41.8     The outcomes of the monitoring would be used to determine whether any further measures are required, including in Maplehurst Road, to mitigate any identified impacts which will also need to take account of the wider impacts of access for communities along the A28 into Hastings as well as emergency services, especially to the Conquest Hospital. Should the County Council consider that there is a case for introducing further measures on Maplehurst Road, there will be an opportunity for residents to comment on any such proposals as they are developed.