Action urged after elderly Barnham man knocked down

Victor Sterling (77) suffered bad bruising as a result of an intended

shopping trip across Barnham Road.

He was released from St Richard's Hospital on Sunday after being kept in three nights by doctors concerned about his health.

Mr Sterling said: "The traffic situation in the village centre is chronic and it is getting worse. It is murder trying to cross the road.

"There are people double parked, there are people turning round and the speed of most of the motorists is unbelievable.

"No-one will stop and they are all pushing and shoving in their cars to get in first or to get where they are going as quickly as

possible. There is no thought to anyone who is trying to cross the road."

He stressed he was not discussing the details of the accident which saw him knocked over in Barnham Road at about 10.10pm last Thursday.

The road was closed while the aftermath of the accident was dealt with by the emergency services.

Mr Sterling has lived in the McCarthy and Stone development of Windmill Court next to the railway station car park for the past nine months.

He moved into his flat because of its proximity to Barnham's shopping

centre. He was heading to the convenience store when the accident occurred.

"There is a pedestrian crossing in the village centre but you have to cross two roads from where I live to get there," he explained.

"It means treble the walk for people to reach the crossing and treble the walk with shopping coming back. Then, motorists shoot the red lights when you get there anyway."

One of Mr Sterling's neighbours, Frank Cornish (73), said conditions around the shops and the railway station car park were hazardous for pedestrians.

"It's been an accident waiting to happen out there," he said. "Traffic coming from the west along Barnham Road towards the village centre comes round a corner just before that really fast.

"There are a lot of cars parked around there as well and, if you're trying to cross the road, then you are in real danger.

"The area is also heaving with all the schoolchildren around at 3.30pm each afternoon to make it even more dangerous."

Cllr Mick Hutton, the chairman of Eastergate Parish Council which covers the area, said a 20mph speed limit could be the answer to the constant concerns about the volume of traffic through the village.

"This is being actively pursued by Barnham Parish Council along Yapton Road. If their application is successful, it could be applied for in Barnham as well."

He stated that a bid for a crossing to be installed outside the chemist on the western edge of the village centre had been discussed but rejected.

County highways officers had to work with criteria set by the government to justify any new crossings. But he believed the speed camera put in further along Barnham Road several years ago had succeeded in slowing down most motorists.

Car parking was another issue about which his parish council was

constantly dealing with residents' concerns.

He added: "We receive more complaints about this than almost any other issue."

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