Ringmer: Traffic calming too expensive

The council heard that the various measures under consideration would cost 265,000 and the highway authority, the department that had come up with the scheme, couldn t afford to put any money into it.

Said chairman Cllr John Fletcher: Our council s annual expenditure is 53,000. To repay a loan of 265,000 would cripple Ringmer.

'It would average out at about 144 per council tax property a 100 per cent increase for each property for five years.

'In fact it would cost more than this if the interest was taken into account.

Cllr Fletcher said the council was concerned about safety, not only on the B2192 but also on many other Ringmer roads including Harrisons Lane, Springett Avenue, Gote Lane and Broyle Lane.

And the council did support the aims of a local pressure group to achieve effective enforcement of speed limits through Ringmer and to extend the 30mph speed limit to Paygate Corner.

Cllr Fletcher said the council had a long history of successful traffic calming negotiations with the highway authority, including:

The light-controlled pedestrian crossing outside the village hall.

The roundabout at Kennel Corner.

The reduction of the speed limit from 40 to 30mph through the village and extra traffic calming measures.

Street lighting along part of the B2192.

Also improvement to the junction of Farriers Place and the B2192 was currently being pursued.

Added Cllr Fletcher: 'We shall continue to to look carefully at this very difficult traffic situation which has beset Ringmer for so very many years.

Published: 18.7.01 Sussex Newspapers Ltd