Relocation of Hastings school's main entrance has turned nearby streets into 'dangerous, congested rat runs', claim residents
Residents claim the relocation of a Hastings school's main entrance has turned nearby streets into 'dangerous, congested rat runs'.
An online petition has been launched by Dave Smith on Change.org calling for Ark Alexandra to reinstate its main entrance in Parkstone Road at its William Parker campus.
The main entrance is in Park Avenue.
The petition reads: “The relocation of the main entrance of Ark Alexandra Academy in 2017 has caused numerous problems for the local community.
“The decision, taken unilaterally by the school without proper consultation with residents or East Sussex County Council, ignored critical factors like road suitability and community impact.
“Prior to 2017, the Parkstone Road entrance was the main point of access for students, parents, buses, and deliveries. The change has led to the rapid deterioration of local roads, as increased traffic was either not considered in the decision-making process or ignored.
“This has turned local streets into dangerous, congested rat runs. In particular Park View, Park Avenue, Park Way, Ashford Road and Thanet Way have changed from being some of the quietest roads in Hastings to congested, dangerous, worn away hazards to drivers, pedestrians and their vehicles.
“Complaints since 2017 about speeding, unsafe parking, road damage and increased risk to pedestrians and other road users have been either ignored or dismissed by school officials.
“The Parkstone Road entrance should once again become the central access point, providing a direct and safer route for students, parents, and school vehicles.
“This action would alleviate traffic congestion, ease pressure on the roads reducing the erosion of the road surface considerably and enhance safety for all. It would mean that if the local authority could resurface these affected roads in full, in particular Park View, Ashford Road and Thanet Way, these roads should then last for many years instead of receiving a continuous battering. This is the way things were before 2017.”
Alex Birks-Agnew, Ark Alexandra Academy headteacher, said: “Ark Alexandra Academy’s William Parker campus has always had two entrances. While the maintenance of the roads is not the school’s responsibility, we support calls from local residents for road surfacing improvements.
“We have a meeting scheduled with the local councillor to discuss how we can work together to address this issue.”