'Play school' clock is old hat - MP

THE 'Play School' clock which warns people when the Newhaven swing bridge is to open should be scrapped and replaced with a hi-tech system to help travellers, says MP Norman Baker.

THE 'Play School' clock which warns people when the Newhaven swing bridge is to open should be scrapped and replaced with a hi-tech system to help travellers, says MP Norman Baker.

The bridge currently displays opening times on manually operated clock faces in the control tower's windows.

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However, only a single opening time can be shown, creating problems for people who are unaware of later openings and as a result get caught in traffic jams or cannot reach the train station.

Mr Baker said: 'The outdated system of operating the swing bridge is not compatible with the transport needs of my constituents. The Play School clock on the bridge tower is useless in preventing severe traffic jams especially at rush hour.

'I am calling on East Sussex County Council to put in place a system of electronic displays as a matter of urgency. My constituents who use the road over the bridge are up in arms about the current system. The status quo cannot be allowed to continue.'

The MP wants electronic displays on routes into Newhaven to alert motorists of opening times up to seven days ahead.

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As well as on the bridge he suggested they could be sited at: the junction of the A259 and the A26; the Beddingham roundabout; the Kingston roundabout and the junction of the A259 and the C7 to Kingston.

The early warning system would allow people to plan their journeys in advance and avoid bridge opening times or take an alternative route.

The MP is also calling for better regulation of shipping to ensure that opening times avoid the peak rush hour.

A spokesman for East Sussex County Council said it was aware of the difficulties created by the swing bridge.

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'The County Council already has plans to upgrade the signage at the bridge itself and will look to see whether the other suggestions made by Norman Baker are practical and would be of real benefit to the travelling public.'

But he added: 'The swing bridge is there to enable trade to take place in the port of Newhaven, which is absolutely vital for the economy of the town. The openings of the bridge are actually determined by the Port Authority but, because they are timed to allow large vessels into the docking area, they have to coincide with high water which varies from day to day. The solution isn't simple.'

At the same time the council and the Highways Agency discuss schemes to reduce hold ups at the Beddingham level crossing they will consider whether new signs could be introduced at the swing bridge.

It is hoped the Beddingham improvements will make it easier for people to use the A27/A26 to Newhaven rather than the C7 via Piddinghoe.

The county spokesman said the Beddingham level crossing caused significantly more delays each day than the Newhaven swing bridge.