Calls for crossing on busy Hastings road

Residents' calls for a pedestrian crossing to be placed on a busy main road look could soon be realised.
Cllr Clarke with a concerned resident by the roadCllr Clarke with a concerned resident by the road
Cllr Clarke with a concerned resident by the road

People in St Helen’s ward living near The Ridge say the road is dangerous to cross because of increased traffic.

Ward councillor, Martin Clarke, undertook a survey with residents earlier this year to ask for their views.

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He said: “I received a lot of feedback saying that crossing this busy road is a problem for residents living in the vicinity.

“For people wanting to get the bus, visit the new pub or cross over and back to the cemetery the increased traffic on The Ridge is now causing big problems with long waits for gaps in the traffic and the elderly not able to cross at all, isolating them to one side of the road or the other.”

The possibility of a pedestrian crossing in the vicinity of the cemetery was investigated in 2013 by the county council and went through a detailed appraisal process. This was also reviewed again earlier this year but the result was the introduction of the pedestrian crossing was not of sufficient priority to be put forward for inclusion in the Local Transport capital programme for 2016-17.

Cllr Clarke said this week the county council has now allocated a £75,000 development contribution from a housing site on The Ridge which can be used towards the cost of introducing a pedestrian crossing.

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He added in the light of this development contribution, county council highways officers have now been asked by lead member Cllr Carl Maynard to reassess this scheme for possible inclusion in the 2017-18 capital programme of local transport improvements.

Cllr Clarke said: “This is a major step forward. The draft programme will be considered at a county council cabinet meeting in March 2017. This scheme now stands a real chance of moving forward.”

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