Agenda and minutes

48.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19 December 2022.

Disclosure by all Members present of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Members regard the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

49.1     There were none.

Notification of any items which the Lead Member considers urgent and proposes to take at the appropriate part of the agenda.

50.1     There were none.

51.1     Reports referred to in the minutes below are contained in the minute book.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

52.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport together with a letter from Fletching Parish Council.

52.2     Ms Amanda Abraham, the Lead Petitioner for the petition calling on the County Council to create a 30mph zone with safe road crossings on the A272 at Piltdown spoke to highlight safety concerns for pedestrians crossing the road and school children who catch the bus from bus stops on the A272.

DECISIONS

52.3     The Lead Member RESOLVED to advise the petitioners that:

(1) The A272 at Piltdown does not meet the criteria for a 30mph speed limit as set out in speed limit policy PS05/02;

(2) A scheme to introduce walk and cycle ways and safe crossing solutions does not meet the benchmark score for consideration within a future Capital Programme; and 

(3) The petitioners may wish to contact Fletching Parish Council to determine their interest in a community funded scheme to improve pedestrian and cycling facilities in Piltdown.

REASONS

52.4     The A272 between the white village gateways at Piltdown does not meet the criteria for a 30mph speed limit and the existing 40mph and 50mph speed limits are the most appropriate for the road environment.

52.5     Sites are identified where at least four personal injury crashes have occurred in the latest three-years within a 25-metre radius in urban areas and a 50-metre radius in rural areas. The latest crash record does not identify any location on the A272 at Piltdown that meets these criteria. Previous assessments of the rural A and B-class road network have not identified the A272 at Piltdown as being a priority for further investigation.

52.6     Appropriate improvements could be considered should an alternative source of funding become available or an application through Community Match is successful.

52.7     It was noted that Fletching Parish Council has agreed to undertake the feasibility study at a cost of £500 required prior to a Community Match application.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

53.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, together with written representation from the Local Member, Councillor Phil Scott, outlining the Local Member’s and Lead Petitioner’s views on the report.

DECISIONS

53.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to advise the petitioners that:

(1) A potential scheme to implement a traffic calming or speed reduction scheme in and around Kent 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) Petitioners may wish to consider taking a potential scheme forward through Community Match. 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.

REASONS

53.3     A scheme to implement traffic calming or speed reduction measures in the Kent Road area of St Leonards is not presently a priority for funding from the County Council’s budget.

53.4     Appropriate improvements could be considered should an alternative source of income become available or an application through Community Match is successful.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

54.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport together with written questions from Councillor Paul Redstone which were answered in the meeting.

DECISIONS

54.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Note the comments of the local consultation and subsequent discussions with Rother District Council regarding the inter-relationship between the Town Hall Square proposals and the District Council’s Town Hall campus redevelopment proposals; and;

(2) Approve that Option A – removal of the Town Hall Square gyratory and creation of a priority junction between London Road and Buckhurst Place - to be taken forward to detailed design and construction as part of the 2023/24 Capital Programme for Local Transport Improvements

REASONS

54.3     The London Road corridor scheme forms part of the wider Hastings Bexhill Movement and Access Package and seeks to improve the pedestrian environment, including the public realm, and traffic management in this part of Bexhill. The scheme would be delivered using Local Growth Fund monies, as well as £300,000 Community Infrastructure Levy funding from Rother District Council.

54.4     Whilst the removal of the gyratory received a mixed response during the public consultation, it will deliver an attractive public realm that will provide a safe space for people to meet, encouraging people to come into the town more often and spend more time there.