‘Noise and speed’ of motorcyclists travelling on the A272 causes concern

One unwelcome consequence of the easing of lockdown restrictions has been the return of noisy, ‘speeding’ motorcyclists travelling through Petworth and Tillington at the weekends, a resident has said.
Pound Street in Midhurst. Google Street ViewPound Street in Midhurst. Google Street View
Pound Street in Midhurst. Google Street View

Jeremy Edwardes, who is calling on the authorities to take action, said that the weekend of May 16 and 17 was ‘a nightmare from dawn to dusk’.

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Following a short respite during the lockdown, Mr Edwardes said the return of the bikes was ‘a bit of a shock’.

“The main thing is the noise and the speed at which they go,” he said. “They think its a racetrack.”

Andrew Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Downs, said he had received ‘many messages’ from residents right across the constituency who felt ‘oppressed by the volume, noise and in some cases the recklessly dangerous riding of motorcyclists’ – and had witnessed it himself.

He said: “My general disposition is to ‘live and let live’ and to avoid sweeping generalisations but residents are absolutely right.

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“The A285, A283, A272 and A29 are all dangerous roads at the best of times and are nobody’s private racetracks.

“Nor should residents have to experience excessive levels of noise at anti-socially early times of the morning.

“I am pleased that there was some police presence and fines and admonishments were given.

“This will have to be a regular occurrence until the nuisance abates.

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“And to the vast majority of law-abiding motorcyclists who have as much right to enjoy our roads and countryside as anyone, I say help us to weed out the few idiots who give everyone a bad name.”

During patrols on bank holiday Monday, police officers stopped two motorbike riders on the A272 in Midhurst after they were seen to travel at 94mph and carry out solid white line overtakes, according to a social media post by the Roads Policing Unit.

A spokesman said: “Actions such as these put the lives of the rider and all other road users at risk.

“They’ll both be receiving Court dates where they’ll face a hefty fine and a potential driving disqualification.”

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Meanwhile at the A272 in Tillington, one rider was stopped for travelling at 86mph and another was prosecuted for overtaking a car on double white lines towards the stop check, the spokesman said.

Petworth Town Council said it was ‘aware that there have been concerns regarding motorbikes travelling through the town in recent weeks’ and directed residents to an update it published on its Traffic Plan.

According to the plan, the town council does not have the power to stop the motorbikes coming through the town, to change speed limits or making structural changes to A roads.

However it said the council would continue to lobby for additional resources for more enforcement and encouraged concerned residents to complain to the police and their MP.

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It also encouraged residents to consider setting up a Speedwatch initiative in the Town.

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