MIKE WEATHERLEY
WELCOMES RENEWED CONSULTATION
BUT QUESTIONS A23
“IMPROVEMENTS”
‘No’ to adding
bus lanes just because grants are available
Mike Weatherley, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for
Brighton Pavilion, is backing Withdean residents over their concerns about the
so-called A23 improvements. Islands
have been taken away from London Road making it extremely dangerous for
pedestrians trying to cross London Road. At
The Approach, there was a traffic island enabling motorist to safely turn right,
because this was considered to be an accident black-spot.
This will not be re-instated, even though during a meeting at this very
junction with a council officer, a crash was only narrowly avoided.
To make matters worse due to the addition of a south bound bus lane
motorists will have to negotiate three lanes when attempting to cross the A23 to
go north.
I welcome the news that the Council have now agreed to consult further with the residents. But given that the majority of the road changes have now been completed, it remains to be seen if this is merely ‘window dressing’ or a genuine consultation. Time – and actions - will tell.
Following a meeting with Denise Pritchard, of Withdean
Crescent, Mike says
“I completely understand why residents are so concerned
and worried. The council have not
handled this well. Indeed the
Council had originally told residents near the A23 that they must expect some
sort of inconvenience if they buy houses so close to a main road. The residents
I have met accept that there will be disadvantages such as traffic volume and
noise, but fail to understand why the council should make it worse.
All pedestrians and motorists have been badly let down in the planning of
the A23 “improvements”. Take
for example Curwen Place. The
method of closure of the vehicular access to London Road has made it impossible
for the elderly, disabled or mum's with prams to access the planned new
crossing. The extra 50 + metres to the Leahurst Court Road exit, which has no
pavement and now carries all the traffic from Curwen Place, Leahurst Court and
Leahurst Court Road is very dangerous for pedestrians. There are several
residents at Leahurst Court who are now less able to post a letter or catch a
bus, having to rely on neighbours or relatives to take them out or post a letter
for them.
All that was required to affect
the closure was to place a bollard between the two brick walls.
There have been two minor accidents at Curwen Place since its closure to
traffic. What more evidence does
the council need to prove that they have got this seriously wrong?
As if bad planning was not
enough, the current phase four is already weeks behind schedule.
Even now problems remain from previous stages with the pavements outside
Preston bowling club being left in an extremely bad state.
And what is that 50 yards of bus lane going north outside the bowling
club all about?! What a ridiculous and unnecessary short strip of bus lane that
will not increase bus passenger numbers, but WILL cause additional
car queues.
What seems to have happened is
that the Council have been given various grants to put in additional cycle and
bus lanes. A worthy objective in principle. But the Council seems to have
decided to go ahead with a scheme that did not look at the whole picture. It
will certainly improve the speed of busses along this road – albeit there is
hardly a huge volume of busses using the A23 – and the very few cyclists that
use the A23 will be better provided for. But traffic will be held up more and I
predict far more accidents with cars running into the back of those waiting to
turn right. A recent survey of residents in the Withdean Crescent area came out
96% in favour of getting rid of the bus lane and putting back in a central
‘refuge’ lane for those turning right. Lets see if the new
‘consultation’ recognises this.
“I call on the council to see sense and put public opinion and safety first. This means re-instating all the islands that have been removed, making good all the pavements that have been disturbed during previous phases, cutting back of the council owned trees and shrubs that are reducing the already narrow Leahurst Court Road, by approximately one metre (this was promised to be done in October, but nothing has done yet) and a full review of what is needed for our roads – not decisions driven by grants. When you look around Brighton there is so much evidence of bad planning on traffic management. Bus lanes put in inappropriate place and traffic light system that doesn’t run in a synchronised way causing chaos and massive jams. Brighton and Hove City Council really ought to get a grip on this and wake up to what is required for the smooth flowing of vehicles and safety of pedestrians. This city is crying out for some common sense to keep everyone safely on the move. .An integrated policy – not one that gives undue weight to certain forms of transport over others.”
Mike Weatherley
