CALLS for a safer crossing on a busy Hailsham road are set to be considered by East Sussex County Council following a campaign launched after two children were injured in a collision.
On Monday (July 20), Councillor Peter Griffiths, the county council’s lead member for transport and environment, will consider a petition calling for a pedestrian crossing to be installed on the A271 Amberstone Road, close to its junctions with Linnet Lane and Trefoil Road.
The petition, which has attracted more than 1,000 signatures on Change.org, was launched in March after two Year 5 children were struck by a car while crossing the road at the dropped kerb between Linnet Lane and Trefoil Road.
Both children were taken to hospital by ambulance for emergency treatment, with one suffering a broken arm. The incident prompted renewed calls from parents and residents for improved pedestrian safety on the route, which is widely used by children walking to and from the nearby primary school.
At the time, lead petitioner Toki Snook said: “This route is used every day by families and children walking to the local primary school. Many children cross here independently on their way to and from school.
“Although there is a dedicated dropped-kerb crossing point, there is no zebra crossing, pelican crossing, or traffic control to slow or manage vehicles, leaving children vulnerable when attempting to cross.
“The road is particularly dangerous because two entrances from the housing estates sit directly opposite each other on the main road, meaning pedestrians frequently cross at this point.”
A report prepared for Cllr Griffiths says the location has already been assessed through the county council’s highway safety prioritisation process. However, officers concluded the scheme did not achieve a high enough score to be included in this year’s programme of highway improvements.
Despite this, the report says the council’s transport development planning team will investigate alternative ways to fund a crossing. This is expected to include discussions with Wealden District Council about whether Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding, collected from housing developers, could be used to support the project.
The report also recommends informing petitioners that they may wish to establish a Community Speedwatch group.
According to crash data supplied by Sussex Police, there were two reported collisions in the area during the three years up to March 31 this year – one resulting in serious injuries and one causing slight injuries. Officers say excessive speed was not identified as a contributing factor in either incident.
Campaigners have also called for traffic-calming measures to be introduced. However, council officers say options are limited because Amberstone Road is an A-class road.
If approved, Cllr Griffiths is expected to formally respond to the petitioners following Monday’s meeting.
