PARENTS have staged a roadside protest in Hailsham today (16 September) as they step up their campaign for a safe pedestrian crossing at the location where two schoolgirls were seriously injured earlier this year.
Local parents and residents gathered on the A271 Amberstone Road this afternoon, holding placards calling for a “safe crossing” at the site between Linnet Lane and Trefoil Road.
The protest took place at the crossing point where two Year 5 girls were struck by a vehicle while walking home from school in March.
Both children required emergency hospital treatment following the collision, prompting their families and other residents to campaign for improved pedestrian safety at the location.
A petition calling for a safer crossing attracted 541 signatures and was presented to East Sussex County Council in March.
The issue was considered by the council’s Lead Member for Transport and Environment in July, when campaign representative Steve Murphy read letters from children and parents affected by the collision and raised concerns about pedestrian safety.
However, a potential pedestrian crossing and traffic-calming scheme did not achieve the required score through the county council’s Local Transport Plan 4 prioritisation process to progress to detailed appraisal and possible funding through its capital programme.
The council instead agreed that its Transport Development Planning Team would pursue Community Infrastructure Levy funding from Wealden District Council as a possible way of delivering an appropriate solution.
Campaigners say they are frustrated at the lack of progress since then and want the crossing to be properly reassessed.
They have also questioned the assessment process, claiming a detailed week-long traffic speed survey was not carried out before the council’s report was considered in July.
Parents say the location is particularly concerning because it sits between two housing estates and is regularly crossed by children travelling to and from school. They argue pedestrian movements could increase further, with a Tesco convenience store planned near the junction.
Toki Snook, whose daughter was one of the two girls injured, said ahead of the protest: “My daughter and her friend were seriously hurt simply trying to cross the road on their way home from school. As a mother, I cannot accept that nothing is being done to make this crossing safer.
“We have 541 people supporting our petition, yet months later the councils are still passing responsibility between each other.
“We don’t want another child hurt before action is taken. We need a safe crossing here — and we need it now.”
