Road danger attacked (From The Argus)
Get involved: Send your news, views, pictures and video by texting SUPIC to 80360 or email us.
Road danger attacked
10:30am Sunday 3rd March 2013 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter
Road danger attacked
A busy junction on a dual carriageway has been branded a “danger spot” after traffic lights were removed.
After receiving a £4 million government grant, contractors from Brighton and Hove City Council are making a raft of changes to Lewes Road, Brighton.
The work, which includes installing a cycle and bus lane, is intended to raise air quality and improve the area for residents.
However, some have complained the junction with Saunders Park View, which is used by those accessing the Pavilion Retail Park, has been left “unsafe” after traffic lights were removed.
Local councillors have branded the local authority “irresponsible” claiming temporary lights were promised but not installed.
However, a council spokesman said a temporary “give way” arrangement was the only way traffic could be kept moving.
Jeane Lepper, who represents Hollingdean and Stanmer, said: “At the best of times this is a very busy junction taking traffic to and from the retail park.
“This is in addition to cars going to houses on Saunders Park estate, the doctor’s surgery and to the church where there is a playgroup.
“I have contacted council transport officers who tell me that despite their earlier statement they will not be installing any temporary lights to help pedestrians here. This is really irresponsible.
“It is simply not good enough for officers to say that when the work is finished it will make the junction safer for pedestrians when, in the meantime, they have created a real danger spot by expecting those on foot to take a chance dodging between vehicles.”
The whole Lewes Road scheme is expected to be completed in December.
Installing new traffic lights and a pedestrian crossing with islands at the Saunders Park View crossing is expected to take up to eight weeks.
A council spokesman said there had been no reported accidents at the junction in the last week.
He added: “We would ask pedestrians to kindly bear with us while the works are ongoing.
“The current phase involves laying new cables underneath the road surface.
“But once this is complete we will be able to provide a temporary waiting area in the middle of the road to make crossing easier during the rest of the works.”
- Updated: One killed in Hove shooting
- Council in racism row
- Tight collar causes cat horrific injuries
- Schools struggle to recruit new heads
- Police called to Lewes school after pupils' high jinks
Comments(29)
hubby
says...
10:54am Sun 3 Mar 13
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
11:00am Sun 3 Mar 13
Jeanne also vehicles now turning left up Coombe Road cannot see pedestrians crossing the road due to the barriers. Children are running across the bottom of Coombe Road to avoid vehicles as they don't have a clear view anymore. It's extremely dangerous.
Then can you please investigate why the correct highways signage has not been erected where the bus lane has been installed at Moulsecoombe. Vehicles are driving in the inside lane reaching the bus lane and suddenly swerving into the outside lane Just under the viaduct also at te point of another junction and every day horns are blasting. It's dangerous. Jeanne you should also drive along the section at Wilde Park and look at the quality of reinstatement and the line burning and re painting. Absolutely shocking.
Also the buses are now stopping on the inside lane and the passengers walking in front of the buses to cross across the outside lane and walking into the outside lane of traffic which although is no longer travelling at 40, is bloody dangerous. Previously the buses would pull into a proper stop.
The lowering of the speed limit and the congestion has given the uni students a false sense of security and they are just wandering across the road all over the place no longer bothering with the pelican crossings. I fear that railings across the whole central reservation will now be needed.
It would be useful for you to drive along the route at peak evenings in the dark to see the dangers highlighted. Someone will get killed on this route as its now like travelling along an obstacle route and while the traffic has slowed people are taking chances.
Come in Labour get a group together in the car and do a risk assessment and report into your observations before someone is hurt.
Hove Actually
says...
11:06am Sun 3 Mar 13
The greens want someone hurt and then they will be able to justify this ridiculess scheme
Man With No Name
says...
11:25am Sun 3 Mar 13
Man With No Name
says...
11:26am Sun 3 Mar 13
Robertostarlight
says...
11:27am Sun 3 Mar 13
They seem content to pursue road-works all over the city, all at once at our expense, as they are presumably in no doubt that they will not be returned even as a 'minority'Council in the next elections. Even they must be capable of recognising that through their 'green-tinted glasses'. The policy seems to be 'do the damage now whilst we can as it will be our only chance.'
Mind you I repeat that they are a 'minority' Council and why the other parties are simply standing by and allowing this economic and transport-link vandalism et al is beyond me. Combined they, (Labour and Conservatives), have the power to stop most of this. Instead, presumably because they individually hope to 'pick up the pieces' in votes from the discredited Greens next time around, they wring their hands and wail crocodile tears like Councillor Lepper when the remedy is actually in their own hands, (i.e put them up and ALL vote against these ideologues at the next Council meeting and then find some common ground to bring back some common sense to this unhappy situation by removing these incompetent amatuer chumps from power.
It is about time the other parties thought about what is best for the city now rather than playing politics for what they, (optimistically), might see as future political power as a result of general discontent with the current shambles.
We really cannot allow another couple of years of this appalling bunch.Get them out of power now before it is all too late and no-one come to Brighton and Hove unless they are walking or cycling.
bug eye
says...
12:06pm Sun 3 Mar 13
george smith
says...
1:55pm Sun 3 Mar 13
bug eye wrote:I have heard that a film is in the process of being made about the Wild Park, which isn't funny, needless to say the Brighton Festival programme is now out and the travellershave arrived again in the park, I image the council is delighted as dog walkers cannot see the large number of trees they are in the process of felling.
surely highways could lend one of the four new sets of lights put outside regency square car park that have been causing chaos on the seafront too. I hear there is a film being made 'carry on the Greens, highways and planning' hilarious.
WhatsNotToLike
says...
2:11pm Sun 3 Mar 13
8273661
says...
2:25pm Sun 3 Mar 13
Well, that's OK then, classic...
Sevensisters
says...
3:40pm Sun 3 Mar 13
WhatsNotToLike wrote:Its no good in a news letter. A sign should be on the road stating same. Not everyone gets the news letter.
I receive the e-mail newsletter on this development. I think its useful to let people know that the Bus lanes along the Lewes Road corridor are NOT enforceable until the entire scheme is completed. Quote from the newsletter "Please note - although the bus lane will be marked on the road, it will not be legally enforced until the entire scheme is completed. Clear signage will be erected in advance of the date enforcement is due to begin."
Freeloaders
says...
3:48pm Sun 3 Mar 13
hubby wrote:Outstanding post,i was thinking just the same thing.Anyway we may see some police on the streets when the knew 20 speed limit comes into force lol.You watch them all come out the wood work then when the council say go make us some easy money.
If the lights were doing their job why take them away?
keswick
says...
4:25pm Sun 3 Mar 13
Fercri Sakes
says...
5:39pm Sun 3 Mar 13
Hove Actually wrote:That 20mph limit around town will cause thousands of deaths, not to mention the hundreds of deaths from separating cycles and cars on these arteries.
Wake up people
The greens want someone hurt and then they will be able to justify this ridiculess scheme
These Greens just want to hurt people. Wake up sheeple!
Dealing with idiots
says...
6:25pm Sun 3 Mar 13
Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit
says...
6:47pm Sun 3 Mar 13
Regardless of the answer I expect when the scheme is complete we'll see loads of statistics 'proving' how much the air has improved. These however will be lies.
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
6:56pm Sun 3 Mar 13
They realised that the scheme is generating more pollution so free driving lessons are a last ditch attempt at getting the levels down before their scheme is exposed as a disaster.
I will be making an FoI request into current levels and levels after the scheme goes live.
You can bet the councils are already looking at excuses for an increase in congestion and pollution.
However the dangers the new scheme has created are separate from the pollution issues.
The road design is down right dangerous and anyone with an ounce of common sense who stands and watches many sections of the road at peak times will quickly understand why.
GovindaTim
says...
7:18pm Sun 3 Mar 13
Sevensisters wrote:Even after clear signage is erected, a dangerous bottleneck will exist from the traffic lights to the start of the bus lane, especially at peak times. I for one will be ignoring the signage if it proves at all dangerous and will take my chance in court should I be prosecuted.
WhatsNotToLike wrote:Its no good in a news letter. A sign should be on the road stating same. Not everyone gets the news letter.
I receive the e-mail newsletter on this development. I think its useful to let people know that the Bus lanes along the Lewes Road corridor are NOT enforceable until the entire scheme is completed. Quote from the newsletter "Please note - although the bus lane will be marked on the road, it will not be legally enforced until the entire scheme is completed. Clear signage will be erected in advance of the date enforcement is due to begin."
upsidedowntuctuc
says...
7:23pm Sun 3 Mar 13
These scum are killing the City and should be taken on by the majority Labour and Tory councilors whilst there is still something left to control.
Davey/Follett/Kitkat killing the City
keswick
says...
7:44pm Sun 3 Mar 13
upsidedowntuctuc wrote:If the elected representatives won't do it lets do it ourselves. A mass with-holding of Council Tax should do the trick. Lets see them take us all to court.
The Dials debacle sorry 'Improvement' starts this week for NINE months bringing the rest of the City to a standstill These scum are killing the City and should be taken on by the majority Labour and Tory councilors whilst there is still something left to control. Davey/Follett/Kitkat killing the City
WhatsNotToLike
says...
8:04pm Sun 3 Mar 13
GovindaTim wrote:Totally agree with both posts, it should be publicised (as the entire scheme is due to last until December). Thats why I posted it to let people know it is not enforceable as yet. @GovindaTim, yes, the bottleneck is very noticeable with people indicating to join the right-hand flow of traffic at the last minute when they realise they are suddenly in a bus lane. My other half travelled in the right hand 'vehicle' lane last week and indicated left at the dashed lines to join the Coldean Lane turnoff ~ A kindly bus driver sped up deliberately on seeing him indicating to join the left lane (He kept side by side) and effectively cut off his exit to Coldean Lane! So how that will work when bus traffic is built up at peak times who knows ? !
Sevensisters wrote:Even after clear signage is erected, a dangerous bottleneck will exist from the traffic lights to the start of the bus lane, especially at peak times. I for one will be ignoring the signage if it proves at all dangerous and will take my chance in court should I be prosecuted.
WhatsNotToLike wrote:Its no good in a news letter. A sign should be on the road stating same. Not everyone gets the news letter.
I receive the e-mail newsletter on this development. I think its useful to let people know that the Bus lanes along the Lewes Road corridor are NOT enforceable until the entire scheme is completed. Quote from the newsletter "Please note - although the bus lane will be marked on the road, it will not be legally enforced until the entire scheme is completed. Clear signage will be erected in advance of the date enforcement is due to begin."
HJarrs
says...
8:42pm Sun 3 Mar 13
Maxwell's Ghost wrote:Good try, but as you know, the roll out of changes to the Lewes Rd corridor was always more than just a bus and cycle lane and encouraging more economical driving is just one more element. I suppose you will be complaining about transport planning next when that is rolled out. Never mind, you enoy misrepresentation, you can tell you worked for a red-top.
and Jimmy Stewart that's why the Green Party have offered residents living locally free driving lessons to teach them how to drive in an echo friendly way.
They realised that the scheme is generating more pollution so free driving lessons are a last ditch attempt at getting the levels down before their scheme is exposed as a disaster.
I will be making an FoI request into current levels and levels after the scheme goes live.
You can bet the councils are already looking at excuses for an increase in congestion and pollution.
However the dangers the new scheme has created are separate from the pollution issues.
The road design is down right dangerous and anyone with an ounce of common sense who stands and watches many sections of the road at peak times will quickly understand why.
You never explain how, in a city with relatively low levels of car ownership, we are to radically increase the number of people regularly cycling without building the infrastructure.
HJarrs
says...
8:46pm Sun 3 Mar 13
If the junction has become dangerous, then temporary lights should be installed despite reducing traffic flow.
george smith
says...
9:57pm Sun 3 Mar 13
HJarrs wrote:The junction looks like a road in Calcutta
Maxwell's Ghost wrote: and Jimmy Stewart that's why the Green Party have offered residents living locally free driving lessons to teach them how to drive in an echo friendly way. They realised that the scheme is generating more pollution so free driving lessons are a last ditch attempt at getting the levels down before their scheme is exposed as a disaster. I will be making an FoI request into current levels and levels after the scheme goes live. You can bet the councils are already looking at excuses for an increase in congestion and pollution. However the dangers the new scheme has created are separate from the pollution issues. The road design is down right dangerous and anyone with an ounce of common sense who stands and watches many sections of the road at peak times will quickly understand why.Good try, but as you know, the roll out of changes to the Lewes Rd corridor was always more than just a bus and cycle lane and encouraging more economical driving is just one more element. I suppose you will be complaining about transport planning next when that is rolled out. Never mind, you enoy misrepresentation, you can tell you worked for a red-top. You never explain how, in a city with relatively low levels of car ownership, we are to radically increase the number of people regularly cycling without building the infrastructure.
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
10:22pm Sun 3 Mar 13
Lets hope its not her child dodging the cars at the bottom of Coombe Road.
She epitomises the selfish nature of the Greens.
Lets hope Jeanne gets a group of independent eyes out on this road to actually feedback some genuine observations instead of relying on idiots like HJarrs who would steal a wheelchair off an old lady if she thought she could flog it to fund Eco lighbulbs.
brightonian57
says...
11:56pm Sun 3 Mar 13
Freeloaders
says...
7:28pm Mon 4 Mar 13
Maxwell's Ghost wrote:I just love you Maxwell's Ghost.Just say it how it is my friend lol.Really do enjoy you're post.
Someone will be injured but HJarrs will do anything for the sake of ideology.
Lets hope its not her child dodging the cars at the bottom of Coombe Road.
She epitomises the selfish nature of the Greens.
Lets hope Jeanne gets a group of independent eyes out on this road to actually feedback some genuine observations instead of relying on idiots like HJarrs who would steal a wheelchair off an old lady if she thought she could flog it to fund Eco lighbulbs.
thevoiceoftruth
says...
10:33am Wed 6 Mar 13
What a ridiculous argument to put across. Perhaps if there are relatively low levels of car ownership then you don't really need to 'radically' force people onto bicycles. Maybe people would rather walk around hilly Brighton than attempt to cycle it. I bet you don't even cycle yourself. Probably got an electric car and now feel all superior, like you are some sort of green crusader!
Lewes Road is now a complete mess. The new bus stop near Coombe Road junction is prime example of terrible planning. If a bus is parked up at the bus stop, it completely obscures the cyclists on the cycle path running behind it. So cars turning left at Coombe Road are even more likely to hit a cyclist than they were before. Usually cyclists would go round a parked bus and be visible to traffic.
Be careful at this junction folks - won't be long before someone gets hit.
made up says...
10:47am Sun 3 Mar 13