Burgess Hill traffic problems: West Sussex County Councillor speaks out about his ‘serious concerns’

Councillor Richard Cherry (Burgess Hill East) thanked resident Iain Lewis for highlighting the disruption caused by new traffic signals at the junction of Station Road, Church Road and Mill Road.

Several other residents contacted the Middy in December to say that these lights had caused ‘long queues in all directions’.

Mr Cherry, of Junction Road, told the Middy: “Having already thanked Mr Lewis personally for raising awareness on this issue, I would like to thank him again, publicly, for what he has done. I would also like to thank the Mid Sussex Times for publishing the honest thoughts of a resident who lives close to the street work project (Burgess Hill Place and Connectivity Programme) which has caused so much travel disruption in Burgess Hill. Like Mr Lewis I also live close to the epicentre of this disruption.

“Indeed, as the elected County Councillor who represents the worst affected areas of Church and Station roads, I do take a special interest in what’s going on. Unfortunately for me this is a bit like watching an accident happening in my back garden, over which I have no or little control. I was never invited to approve or have a direct input into the development of the Place and Connectivity Programme. This may seem strange to your readers because it certainly does to me! Why should the voice of an elected County Councillor be muted when it comes to what’s going on in their voters’ patch?

“With regards to the progress of the programme so far, we know there have been some serious mistakes made which, in fairness, the project team have worked hard to correct. I wish them well and hope this part of the project comes to a successful conclusion for everyone’s sakes.”

Mr Cherry said that, as the programme rolls forward, he has three ‘serious concerns’.

He said: “Have lessons been truly learned and will fewer mistakes and less disruption occur in the future stages of the programme?

“Does someone need to take personal responsibility for what’s gone wrong so far and do the honourable thing? I hope it doesn’t come to this because blame for blame’s sake is never a good solution but to move forward successfully sometimes individuals must admit to their own failings.

“Will businesses that have lost out financially over the important trading period of Christmas be compensated alongside the rest of community that had to suffer long and frustrating delays?

“On the first point I hope we see more motorist-friendly scheduling and a much-improved picture, overall, when the programme moves on to the area around Wivelsfield Station and Worlds End – we just cannot afford to see the kind of disruption we’ve seen at the other end of Burgess Hill again.

“On the second point, given the problems of the past this programme now needs a hero not a victim.

“On the final point there is a claims scheme available to businesses [email protected] but a simple one-off payment might be a better approach to compensate business losses. Some positive work to improve the traffic situation on the McDonalds roundabout would also raise a collective cheer from the whole Burgess Hill community.”