Felpham bid to demolish traffic island dropped

The parish council members voted 5-4 to fight the plans to do away with the structure in the middle of Grassmere Close at its junction with Felpham Road.

West Sussex County Council wants to demolish the island, which was topped by an illuminated sign, after it was damaged in an accident a while ago.

But Cllr Geoff Farrell, the parish council's deputy chairman, said: "That needs to be retained and the illuminated bollard on it. It's a very strange entrance.

"If someone is parked there, and they can park there legally, there's a lot of chaos there.

"If you don't have that island there, it will encourage you to use the whole width of the road to get round rather than your half. Taking the island away will cause chaos and confusion where there is none now."

Parish council chairman Cllr Paul English said the island had been there for many years.

It was well used by the large number of elderly people around Grassmere Close and its large free car park. The island had only suffered one accident of which he was aware.

"We always knew this was the county council's responsibility and, now they realise that as well, they are struggling for cash and that's why they don't want to put it back," he claimed.

Cllr Graham Matthews said he had seen one of the area's police community support officers, Clive Morge, called into action at the junction one day to help elderly people cross the road. This proved the need for the island.

But Cllr George Blampied, who is also Felpham's county councillor, said the parish council had done nothing when the island at the nearby Felpham Road and Limmer Lane junction was removed a few years ago.

"In the eyes of someone at the county council, there's no reason why this one should not go as well."

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