‘Children at stake’ on Slinfold road, parents warn

JPCT 231213 S13510224x John Eltham and local residents. Bashurst Hill Road. Lower speed limit protest -photo by Steve Cobb

Around 90 per cent of people living in Bashurst Hill off Five Oaks Road have signed a petition to reduce the limit from 60mph to 30mph.

Concerns have also been raised about the A264 joining these roads - which is located close to the scene of a car crash earlier this year in which two teenagers lost their lives.

Campaigners have warned their ‘children are at stake’.

At a North Horsham County Local Committee on Monday (December 16), Bashurst Hill resident John Eltham told members: “We know the road very well and we have been witnessing a worsening situation develop.

“We ask for urgent action by our county council to help avoid another tragic accident and loss of life.”

He said many of those who have signed the petition have experienced ‘near miss’ incidents and stressed ‘it is only a matter of time before a tragedy occurs’.

The long narrow road has around 270 homes in it.

There are no footpaths and it is commonly used by dog walkers and horse riders.

Speaking to the County Times after the meeting, Mr Eltham warned speeding cars can ‘set horses off and who knows what the repercussions could be’.

He added: “Half a tonne of horse meat would be going through the windscreen, so it’s not as if the driver is going to get away without injury.”

Roger Pellow, 53, said the road demographic has changed over recent years and residents are conscious there are more children in the area.

“It’s completely crazy having an unrestricted speed limit when there’s no footpaths,” he explained.

“It’s a narrow lane and cars drive too fast. It’s only a matter of time - someone will be killed.”

Mr Pellow added: “We’re a very determined group because our children are at stake.”

Penny Simpson, chairman of Itchingfield Parish Council, said: “[Campaigners] came to the November meeting and put forward their case. We are very supportive, we all know it’s dangerous and we said that we would back whatever they wanted to do.

“We recognised it’s a very dangerous junction and the fact is the whole road gets used as a bit of a rat run.”

A spokesman for West Sussex County Council said: “The petition was received and the issue will now be looked at by highways officers and there will be a report back to the County Local Committee at a future meeting.”