Lower speed limits planned for a safer A21

Drivers, business owners and residents are being invited to an exhibition to find out more about work to improve the road recognised as the most dangerous in the UK.

The improvements will be made over an eight-and-a-half mile section of the A21 between Hurst Green and Sedlescombe.

The improvements include the introduction of a new 40mph speed limit on approach to the existing 30mph speed limit at Swiftsden, Hurst Green, extending the existing 40mph speed limit further south at Whatlington as well as on approach to the existing 50mph speed limit at Sedlescombe.

Meanwhile around three miles of the A21 will be resurfaced during the same period using overnight carriageway closures.

Ahead of work starting next month, a public exhibition will be held at Whatlington Village Hall on Wednesday July 29, between 3-7pm, where members of the Highways England project team in charge of the work will be on hand to answer any questions that motorists and residents may have.

Highways England asset manager Martin Wright said: “The A21 is a vital route for the tens of thousands of people that use it each day.

“We will improve journeys by resurfacing sections of the carriageway that have reached the end of its life.

“We are also reducing the speed limit along sections of the A21 to improve safety.

“I advise anyone who would like to know more about the speed limit reduction or roadworks to come and speak to us at the exhibition.”

The resurfacing will be carried out using ten overnight carriageway closures in August.

The speed limit will be reduced to 40mph at the three locations, covering a total distance of just over two miles:

At Swiftsden, creating a new 40mph speed limit north of the existing 30mph speed limit, will cover around one mile.

At Whatlington, the work will extend the existing 40mph further south by around one quarter of a mile

Meanwhile at Sedlescombe, creating the new 40mph speed limit north of the existing 50mph speed limit, will cover around one mile of the route.

Back in November last year, research by the Road Safety Foundation revealed the A21 is the most dangerous road in Britain.

The RSF rank roads in the UK based on the number of crashes and traffic use.

The figures showed there were nine fatalities on the East Sussex stretch of the A21 between October 2009 and 2014.

Residents in 1066 Country have been campaigning for years for improved safety measures on the notorious road.

Former Bexhill and Battle MP Greg Barker often spoke out about the need for improvements, while members of the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership, which comprises councils, emergency services and safety campaigners, also called for action.