Political opinion: Horsham MP pushes for local control over rural speed limits
MP for Horsham, John Milne, has called on the government to improve safety on rural roads, after raising serious concerns about rising damage and danger on routes across West Sussex.
Speaking in a Parliament debate on rural roads yesterday (17 March), Horsham MP John Milne highlighted how heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) are increasingly using villages such as Cowfold, Colgate and Lower Beeding as “rat runs”, despite not being designed to carry such traffic.
The Lib Dem MP has called for greater freedom for villages to set their own speed limits, so they can better reflect the dangers on narrow lanes used by pedestrians, riders and drivers. In addition, he pressed Ministers to intervene on commercial HGV sat-nav systems to ensure they prioritise safe and appropriate routes, rather than simply the shortest ones.
His intervention comes amid ongoing local concerns about road safety and sat-nav systems at the A24 Bar Lane crossover, where motorists have been warned to ignore misleading directions. Milne has previously written to West Sussex County Council calling for urgent action to address safety issues at the site.
In response, the council has installed new signage warning drivers not to follow sat-nav directions at the junction. However, Milne has made clear that signs alone are not a long-term solution and is continuing to work with the council to explore more permanent safety improvements.
Liberal Democrat MP for Horsham, John Milne, said: “Our rural roads are carrying traffic they were never designed for. HGVs using narrow village streets as shortcuts are putting people in danger, and we need urgent action. I’m calling on the government to implement fair funding for rural councils so they can properly maintain their roads and give power to villages to set their own speed limits that reflect the reality for local residents.”