11.1 The Chairman introduced the item and advised
that the open forum was an opportunity for comments and questions
to be raised on items not already on the agenda, and over which the
County Council has a reasonable interest. The following issues were
raised and responses made.
- Four questions had
been submitted in advance.
- One concerning
Railway Approach design progress which had been resolved during the
Progress Statement.
- One concerning
traffic calming at Imberhorne lane, which had been resolved during
the Progress Statement.
- One concerning
increased traffic volumes in and around Haywards Heath, Burgess
Hill, Handcross, Pease Pottage, etc due to housing
developments. - Mrs Brunsdon explained that this
question should be for the Central and South Mid Sussex CLC
area. Mr Speller agreed to provide a
response to the query which would be provided to both
CLCs.
- One raising concerns
on the Road Space Audit report that increased development would
impact demand for on street parking. - Mrs
Russell confirmed that she was involved with Bus Strategies which
would promote public transport options. Mr Speller explained
that the County Council was not the planning authority, but the
highway authority, and resolved to respond directly to the member
of the public.
- Queried the lack of
cycle connections on the South Side of the A22 and what could be
done. - Mrs Russell explained that she had passed
this issue to the design team and would chase it. Mr Speller
agreed to speak to the design team to investigate cycle
connections.
- Raised concerns on
the parking issues at the Queen Victoria Hospital and Blackwell
School. - Mr Speller acknowledged the lack of
parking at the hospital and reported that plans were in place for a
planning application. Mrs Bennett confirmed that the plans
hoped to include a multi-storey car park. Collaboration with
the hospital was required.
- Question from the
East Grinstead Society querying the different sources of budgets
available at West Sussex County Council, and how the A22 Pedestrian
Crossing had first come to the CLC. – Mr
Speller confirmed that the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) had come
via Safe Routes to School. It was confirmed that only the
Highway authority could consider TROs. They could come via
developers, CLCs, or as part of wider schemes. Officers could
also raise TROs.
- Queried the
feasibility of introducing the old Tram line from Tunbridge Wells
to Crawley to assist with traffic. – The
Committee felt the proposal was good, but the County Council was
not in a position to consider this further as it would be for Tram
operators to implement.
- Discussed the length
of TRO consultation periods as they should be shorter for smaller
schemes.
- Queried the progress
with Ship Street. – Mr Speller conformed
that this was on the forward programme, but work had not started
yet.
- Raised concerns on
areas covered by district parking enforcement officers –
particularly with lorries parking on double yellow lines in the
outskirts of town. – Mrs Bennett reported
that she had raised this issue with MSDC. Mr Speller reported
that Clare Onslow was responsible for enforcement at Mid Sussex
District Council and is happy to send staff to investigate areas if
she is informed.
- Raised concerns that
some people who had responded to the A22 Pedestrian Crossing TRO
had not been responded to by the TRO team. – Mrs Brunsdon requested that this matter was
investigated.
- Queried if a
temporary crossing would be installed for the A22 crossing before a
permanent one so the impact could be considered. –
Mr Speller informed the resident this would not
happen. Mrs Brunsdon reported that algorithm modelling was
undertaken at the design stage.
- Commented that the
Pedestrian Crossing was being introduced to replace the existing
unmanned bollard crossing which had initially stopped people using
the underpass. – Mrs Brunsdon confirmed
that the decision had been taken.
- Queried where buses
will park after the A22 scheme had been introduced. –
Mrs Russell confirmed that buses would fit in the
allocated layby.