Billingshurst parking changes to improve safety

West Sussex County Council’s North Horsham County Local Committee approved additional double yellow lines in many of the roads surrounding Billingshurst Railway Station off Station Road.

However a residents’ parking scheme on some of the roads nearest the station was approved, but will not be implemented until work has finished on the level crossing in Station Road.

One resident asked: “Is the CLC satisfied that the parking restrictions will improve the safety of the children attending Billingshurst Primary School?”

Amanda Jupp (Con, Billingshurst) said: “I’m conscious of the problems and I think we have to address some of the dangers and that’s junction protection especially at the school and it’s getting to a critical stage.

“If we do nothing there might be a horrendous accident. It’s not a quick fix I’m afraid.”

Denise Campbell, who lives in Natts Lane, told the committee she thought changes would simply shift the parking problem from one area of Billingshurst to another, with her road particularly affected.

She said: “It’s not going to solve the problem. We are still going to have the same number of residents, we are still going to have the same number of commuters.”

Officer Miles Davy replied: “It’s not a solution, it’s a way for us to manage the station.”

Keith Brown, of Myrtle Lane, said he was woken up by people parking in his road at 6am every morning, and called the situation at the loading bays outside of the Tesco Express store a ‘nightmare’.

Meanwhile the committee also approved waiting restrictions in some roads around Littlehaven Railway Station.

Peter Catchpole (Con, Holbrook) said: “The residents of Holbrook have waited a long time to get some respite from some of the commuter parking.”