|
|
About FVS Congestion / Road Safety Contacts Events FVS Achievements Kings Parade Latest FVS Information
Links Local News Membership Mission Statement Newsletters Photos Planning Property Safer Routes To School
Recent Enhancements
“What’s all this red tarmac for?”
An often repeated question in the Valley over recent months!
The thinking is that the red tarmac draws drivers’ attention to an imminent junction or pedestrian crossing point, and will cause them to slow and be more attentive. Whether it is a good use of limited resources is another question.
CH is to assess the impact on road speeds in the near future.
Lane Narrowing was proposed at an exhibition of its Route Management Scheme held by CH held last year in Findon Village Hall. (Again, the thinking is that this measure will cause drivers to lower their speeds.) Subsequently we learnt that this proposal had been removed from the scheme. As a direct result of intervention by FVS, the measure has been re-introduced.
Anti-skid surfacing has been installed on the approaches to the Pelican, a measure welcomed by us.
So far as the Exhibition was concerned, this was held outside of the Valley, although the measures proposed would affect a far greater number of people within it, and was not advertised in the Valley at all. Which is why it is highly likely that this is the first you will have heard of it. We objected strongly to CH at this secretive approach. There are those who believe that this furtiveness was intended, and quote it as evidence of a hidden agenda by CH. At best, it demonstrates a total lack of awareness of the concerns carried by most of our members, and particularly the more senior, or those with young children.
HGV loading/unloading
We have asked CH to resolve the problem of Heavy Goods Vehicles unloading from the main road. With a large vehicle stationary on “the double yellows”, it forces south bound vehicles out into the hatching and north bound lane.
We now have (legitimate) collision speeds of 80 mph!
Worse, vehicles forced from the carriageway have to pull well over before they have a sight of oncoming traffic.
Worse still, southbound vehicles then have very little time to appreciate that infirm pedestrians may be trying to cross at the next bollard.
We are grateful to Tescos Express for re-scheduling most of their deliveries to “off-peak”
This is very badly positioned. With a bus stationary there, traffic emerging from Vale Avenue has no view of northbound vehicles, and two vehicles waiting to turn right into Kings Parade completely block that carriageway.
These hazards have been pointed out to CH. “They currently have no plans to change its position” We shall return to CH on this item once we have a few of the other issues resolved.
Meanwhile it’s worth remembering that when it became an issue over planning permission for Cissbury Court, that the authorities were quick enough to move it there from its old position. It then took a lot longer for the shelter to be replaced!
Access onto the Pelican
Firstly, and particularly at school entry times, the pavement allocation on the east side is completely inadequate for several mothers with push chairs, etc. to wait simultaneously. As a result they, together with very young children, have to stand in the service road … …
Secondly, … … where vehicles are still decelerating from A24 speeds!
Thirdly, this location (at PC Help) has the only “cross-over” (i.e. lowered kerb) along the Parade, and access to it is required for “shoppers”, wheelchairs, etc. Although cross-hatched in white, all too frequently thoughtless drivers park there.
CH has recognised these concerns and is currently considering the best option(s) in solving all three.
… recently installed on the west side were requested “to prevent young children from running straight onto the road". They haven’t been installed where they were envisaged.
Kings Parade “Speed Limit”
Until recently, the “30 Limit” sign on entry into Cissbury Avenue/Kings Parade was invisible to drivers entering from the north. (It was sideways on to them.)
We managed to get CH to agree to moving it, and to provide a larger sign. (Although we asked for two!) They have moved it. But east of the Parade! Worse, the “40” sign applicable to A24 is mounted on the Parade’s kerb! CH have been asked to deal with that confusion, too.
CH is to look again at this situation. Meanwhile, the replacement sign is “out of stock”! The Local Traffic Manager has twice been asked to update FVS as to what is causing the delay here. As of 5th November, no reply has been received.
Another of our campaigns. Previously, CH’s position was that “because Vale School was removed from the A24, such signs were unnecessary/confusing to motorists”.
FVS’ position was “Why does it matter where the School is? Pupils still have to cross the main road.” This has now been acknowledged.
Following FVS’ representations, CH have conducted an audit of pedestrians using The Surgery Crossing “after the schools went back”.
Whilst we welcomed this progression, we cannot quite understand the logic. After all, (very nearly) all Vale pupils would have crossed at the Pelican during the audit. Any mother living to the south will tell you that she would much prefer to cross here, and avoid the problems of crossing Lime Tree Avenue as they presently have to if they are to use the Pelican.