Road plan row

Dr John Thurston, of Buckholt Lane, says he is part of a committee which has been created to urge county to change their plans for the village.

The Sidley Village Centre scheme proposes changes to the several key locations in order to ease the traffic flow or increase safety for pedestrians.

Although agreeing with some of the proposals, Dr Thurston and the group feel it does not go far enough and will fail to address the main problems.

Plans include the introduction of new loading bays to alleviate congestion and raised kerbs to allow easy access to buses.

A new signalled crossing point south of the junction with Buxton Drive and Ninfield Road is also planned, as is making Sidley Green one-way and widening the exit junction.

Planners also wish to introduce informal crossing points and landscape the small section of green space at All Saints Lane.

Dr Thurston said: "We have to look after the pedestrians but traffic has to come first because without traffic you don't have pedestrians.

"The traffic lights would be better off looking after both the crossing and the junction of Glovers Lane. A lot could be done by opening up the entrance to Sidley Street, so you could see round it, and by restricting parking there."

He says the main problem is lorries parking on the village's main road, causing long tail-backs, and the proposed loading bays won't help.

Dr Thurston said: "They are not going to solve it - it is in the wrong place.

"What they need, and everyone seems to agree, is to see it is an extremely long pavement (on the south side of Ninfield Road) which could be opened up and extended all the way up for parking."

East Sussex County Council have already concluded a consultation on the scheme, which they intend to use to formulate their final plan.

Dr Thurston has pledged the small band, including shopkeepers and long-time Sidley residents, will continue to try and make the council rethink the strategy.