Road safety fears along the A259

A BEXHILL councillor is concerned about dangers on the A259 trunk road where it passes through the town and is pressing for improvements.

But despite two serious accidents in as many weeks, the Highways Agency says safety is constantly reviewed and has shown a marked improvement over the past 10 years.

County and district councillor Martin Kenward lives in Glyne Drive, close to the scene of a fatal accident which happened on the A259 De La Warr Road on Saturday, August 14.

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Pedestrian Mark Penfold, 40, of High Street, Bexhill, died when he and a car were in collision near the trunk road's junction with Glyne Ascent.

Just the weekend before several people were injured when cars collided on the A259 at Little Common Road, and in both cases the A259 was closed for several hours while emergency services dealt with the incidents.

Cllr Kenward said: "I have received correspondence from residents of this road asking for some kind of action to remind drivers of the speed limit.

"I have been trying, without too much success so far, to get some speed restrictions signage between Glyne Gap roundabout and the Dorset Road crossing,"

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Cllr Kenward added: "I have spoken to the police involved in the investigation and am hopeful they can bring some presure to bear.

"And I have asked our local MP Greg Barker to give me what assistance he can."

On the road closures, Cllr Kenward said, "Whilst this is clearly inconvenient, we must not forget the great loss suffered by the relatives and friends of those killed in such incidents"

Sgt Bryan McCartney, of the Sussex Police Road Policing Unit at Polegate, is leading an investigation into the fatal collision.

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He said: "The car driver was arrested and has been bailed until November while our enquiries continue.

"Meanwhile, we are still keen to speak to any witnesses to the incident in which Mr Penfold died.

"In particular, we'd like to hear from a person believed to have been smoking a cigarette outside a nearby house and another possibly putting a refuse bin out."

Anyone with information should contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999 and ask to speak to Sgt McCartney in relation to Operation Wenham.

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A Highways Agency spokesman said, "We're committed to safe roads and our network has a strong record on safety. Any data suggesting a change to the road layout would deliver safety benefits is considered very carefully indeed."

He added, "There has been a marked improvement in safety on the A259 through Bexhill in the last decade, and the Highways Agency keeps safety continually under review.

"There is no evidence of accident cluster sites on either the De La Warr road or King Offa Way sections of the A259."

"We are developing proposals for a review of the speed limit and some other small-scale improvements on a section of the A259 near Knebworth Road."

In the three years between 2006 and 2008, the latest for which figures are available, there has been one fatal accident, five serious and 60 slight injury accidents,

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