Cross in Hand Village News

/A267 MAYFIELD FLAT ACCIDENT: Sadly I have to report another fatal accident on the A267 at approx. 7am just north of the Mayfield Flat junction. It was between a sewerage lorry and a car carrying four passengers. The 32-year-old driver of the car was pronounced dead at the accident scene. What a waste of life. Hopefully the police report will be swift and the inquest will shortly follow. It took nearly two years for the inquest to be held into the fatal accident at the Isenhurst Junction in March, 2022. The police report on the accident informed the inquest that the female driver of the car was travelling at 51mph when passing the Isenhurst petrol station and was travelling at 49 mph at the impact with the victim. In January 2024 the female driver of the speeding vehicle was charged with a motoring offence but the case was dropped weeks later. The latest incident was serious enough for the coroner to attend the scene. It is inappropriate at this stage to comment on the accident and I urge readers to be sensible on social media. As I was composing this, I heard news of another accident on the A267, a few hundred yards north of the previous one. This time a motorcyclist was seriously injured. He was airlifted to hospital by the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance (a wonderful charity if you are thinking about donations at Christmas.) Ironically on September 11 2024 Sussex World published a contribution I made regarding a petition that was discussed at a full parish council meeting held on September 10 as follows: Punntts Town Petition to approve and respond: A discussion was held regarding a petition for a pedestrian crossing to be installed near the school. It was reported that the costs of such a scheme would be approximately £124k and ESCC would seek 50% contribution from the parish council towards the cost. The motion to support the concept of the crossing was carried unanimously and a councillor was designated to take the issue forward. I was very surprised to hear that approximately several councillors who attended the meeting live in, around or are designated councillors to Cross in Hand. My view is that road dangers at Isenhurst, Cross in Hand and on the A267 itself are more significant and there have already been two deaths on the road, I was surprised that no progress was made regarding a former petition to improve safety at this junction.

FIREWORKS and PETS: The October East Sussex firework season has started off with a bang. A number of residents are concerned that their pets are now continually traumatised during the build up to November 5 Guy Fawkes night. It is surprising how many local residents take their valued pets to far-off dog friendly pubs away from the area where firework displays are being held. I can highly recommend two such dog friendly establishments offering good food, reasonably priced and away from the bangs. They are the Lazy Fox at Mark Cross and the Ash Tree Inn, Brownbread Street, Ashburnham. It is surprising how many Heathfield and Cross in Hand residents choose these two venues to visit when the local bonfire society hold their annual event, (we’ve ofen met them!) I appreciate Classic FM run an animal friendly programme on November 5 but sadly not for the buildup – and we’ve had numerous firework displays starting in September. Perhaps animal lovers should set up a suitable club for a meet up?

DEBT and ENERGY SUPPORT: Residents are being reminded by Wealden District Council to utilise debt and energy support through Wealden Citizens Advice. The organisation gives free, impartial advice on money, debt, benefits, housing or employment problems helping to support residents across the district. The advice service is funded through the Wealden Community Grants programme receiving £165,000 per annum, between April 2022 - March 2025. Between the months of April to June 2024, Wealden Citizen’s Advice has supported 1,375 clients, gained a total income of £672,961 for clients and had a total of £335,603 debt written off. The Wealden based charity has recently helped a client make a fresh start financially after accumulating £49,000 in debts due to a relationship breakdown and the pandemic. To alleviate immediate financial pressure, Wealden Citizens Advice placed the client under a Breathing Space arrangement for two months. This provided temporary relief from creditor communications and bailiff visits while the Money Advice team explored debt resolution options. Due to the debt amount, making any reasonable repayment plan became unlikely. Because of an increase in the debt relief order from £30,000 to £50,000 in June, the client was eligible to apply for a relief order which cleared her debt. The client now has a sustainable plan for managing her remaining obligations, helping her regain control over her finances. Councillor Kelvin Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) and lead councillor for Public Health, Wellbeing and Asset Management said: “Wealden Citizens Advice is a vital voluntary service giving support and expert advice to residents in need during this cost-of-living crisis affecting the most vulnerable people in our community. They help residents with difficulties from debt and financial problems to personal and legal issues. The service provided is confidential and an invaluable resource in our district.” Residents can contact the charity on: 0808 278 7811 or 0800 144 88 48 anytime between 9am to 3pm Monday-Friday, contact them online through: www.wealdencitizensadvice.org.uk or visit one of their offices in Crowborough, Hailsham and Uckfield. Please be advised it is recommended to call ahead to avoid being turned away. Citizens Advice are always seeking volunteers to keep this service running. To find out more about volunteer opportunities, go to: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about- us/support-us/volunteering/.

PUNNETTS TOWN CROSSING: Report to: Lead Member for Transport and Environment At a meeting: 23 September 2024. A petition for the construction of a pedestrian crossing on the B2096, Battle Road outside Punnetts Town Community Primary Schoolto ask that the County Council constructs apedestrian crossing on Battle Road outside Punnetts TownCommunity Primary School to assist children to safely cross the roadfrom the car park to the school.Battle Road stands within two parish boundaries, Warbleton and Punnetts Town. The Community Primary School serves pupils from the village, as well as from adjacent towns and villages including Broad Oak, Warbleton, Hailsham, Heathfield and Herstmonceux, who travel to school by car due to the rural location. The village car park for Punnetts Town is located opposite the school on the south side of the B2096 Battle Road and provides parking for the school, village hall, medical centre and play area/recreation ground. The school uses the recreation ground on the south side of the B2096 Battle Road.Punnetts Town does not have a system of street lighting and the school is within the 30mph speed limit. 30mph repeater signs are positioned at regular intervals within the 30mph speed limit, some of which have been supplemented with 30mph road marking roundels. A 30mph speed activated sign is located to the west of the school for eastbound traffic. On the eastbound and westbound approaches to the school, ‘School’ warning signs with supplementary ‘School Safety Zone’ plates and flashing amber lights have been provided on each side of the road. Punnetts Town Community Primary School is an approved site for a school crossing patrol which is funded by the County Council. The position is currently vacant; however, two volunteers work the morning patrol shifts. There is presently no school crossing patrol in the afternoons. Whilst it is the responsibility of individual schools to recruit to vacant school crossing patrol positions, the Road Safety Team continues to assist the school with the recruitment for this position. Successful applicants will be provided with full training, uniform and equipment. The most appropriate crossing facility for this location would be a signalised puffin crossing, which can cost between £170,000 and £250,000. As a signalised crossing would require street lighting, a crossing facility in Punnetts Town would be at the higher end of this price range. Crash data supplied by Sussex Police for the most recent 3-year period up to 30 April 2024 shows that there have been no recorded personal injury crashes within the 30mph speed limit on the B2096 through Punnetts Town. The request for a pedestrian crossing facility on the B2096 Battle Road has been assessed through the approved High Level Sift process and did not meet the benchmark score to be taken forward to more detailed appraisal. Although the request for a pedestrian crossing facility outside of the school is not currently a priority for funding for the County Council, if an external source of funding is identified, the County Council could support a scheme to install it outside of the school.

WEALDEN RIDGE MEDICAL PARTNERSHIP: The practice regret to advise that Dr Clare Wiseman has made the difficult decision to resign her position as GP Partner at Wealden Ridge. Dr Wiseman will not be returning following her current absence.We are very sorry to see Dr Wiseman go and know she will be missed by patients and staff alike; the Partners and the team wish her every success and happiness in her future.