Recipients Are Listed in 26Th June 2015 Appendices ‘A’ and ‘B’ Attached
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13 Shenstone, Lindfield, West Sussex RH16 2PU Tel: Lindfield 01444 483367 e-mail: [email protected] www.lindfieldsociety.org.uk Recipients are listed in 26th June 2015 Appendices ‘A’ and ‘B’ attached Protection from Heavy Goods Vehicles Lindfield has endured 24 months of 32 tonne trucks passing through the High Street (B2028) and the Lewes Road (B2111) on outward and return trips. The situation has become intolerable and we have over 1200 signatures to a petition requiring action. The Lindfield Preservation Society is leading a campaign to reduce the number of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) using local roads to pass through our neighbourhoods. We are well aware that many of these lorry movements will have been passing through Ardingly, Turners Hill and Crawley Down and that Balcombe, Cuckfield, Sharpthorne and West Hoathly have also been adversely affected. We have prepared a Traffic Regulation Order application to WSCC to erect signs to restrict access to all vehicles over 7.5 tonne on all B & C roads in the greater part of Central and North Mid Sussex unless for access or loading (see map attached). Accordingly we hope that your residents will welcome the opportunity to join us to support and strengthen our application to WSCC. Our proposal will oblige HGVs, as advised by WSCC and ESCC, to use A-Class roads and motorways unless local access is required. The facts are that the Advisory Routes are being disregarded and need to be made mandatory by effective signage. The villages of Copthorne, Hurstpierpoint, Hassocks, Keymer, Ditchling, Wivelsfield Green & Warninglid already have 7.5 tonne exclusions except for access & loading. The southern part of Cuckfield is similarly protected but the northern section is unprotected. The map attached shows the protected area we propose with the locations of the necessary weight restriction signs. We also enclose a copy of the Traffic Regulation Order to which we hope to add in Section 6, the endorsement of our Parish Council and in Section 7 that of your Council. We are also writing to Community Groups within the protected area seeking their support. It should be noted that the delivery of Transport Regulation Orders and the reasons we cite for our proposals are in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to which we make references in our application. The Town and Parish Councils and Community Groups in receipt of this letter are listed in Appendix ‘A’. Copies are being sent to County and District Councillors set out in Appendix ‘B’. We very much hope you will pass this letter and its contents to any other interested community group in your Parish whom we may have omitted. We hope you will consider that this TRO will assist your community and that you will let us have a letter or e-mail in support with the HGV issues in your area that the measures requested would alleviate. Yours sincerely, Gil Kennedy, John Jesson, Chairman, Lindfield Preservation Society Chairman Planning Sub-Committee, Registered Charity No. 237439 Promoting and encouraging the preservation and sympathetic development of the village Community TRO Application June 2015 TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDER (TRO) COMMUNITY SUPPORT FORM 2014/15 Name of applicant Mr John Jesson, CEng, FIMechE, MEI, Lindfield Preservation Society Contact address Lindfield Preservation Society, 13, Shenstone, Lindfield, HAYWARDS HEATH, West Sussex. Postcode: RH16 2PU Day time contact telephone 01444 483367 number Email address [email protected] Signature of applicant Date Please note – this application form will become a Background Paper to the report(s) to the County Local Committee(s) and will therefore be published on our website. All personal details will be redacted. Tips for Comp leting the Form Be specific – keep your answers focussed around the specific project being applied for and the anticipated benefits it will provide your neighbourhood. Ensure that your answers provide us with detailed information regarding all aspects of your request. Be realistic – All TRO’s have a cost to the taxpayer. Does the issue you wish to deal with warrant it? Once you have collected all your evidence, please submit it to your local County Councillor. This evidence, along with technical assessments will be a factor used by County Councillors who will decide whether to prioritise this request. Their details will be found at www.westsussex.gov.uk in the “Councillors and Democracy” area. Thank you very much for taking up this initiative on behalf of your community. If you have any questions about the process or want assistance in completing this paperwork please contact your Local County Councillor. Please complete all sections of the form 1 Which County Local Committee are you applying to? Central Mid Sussex 1. Details of the location: The area bounded by M23 Junctions 10 to 11, A23 south to the A272, the A272 including the Haywards Heath Bypass to North Chailey, the A275 from North Chailey to Wych Cross, the A22 to East Grinstead and the A264 to M23 Junction 10. 2. Provide a brief description of issue that you consider needs addressing: He avy Goods Vehicles are passing through the area above and are not following the Ad visory Route Guidance to use the routes that surround it. The results are: 1. damage to ‘B-class’ and ‘C-class’ roads not built for HGVs, making them hazardous for normal light traffic without more frequent repairs, 2. harm to the environment and buildings of settlements along these roads, some of which are Listed as being of National importance historically and architecturally and stand either side of narrow streets 3. hazards to children, adults and the elderly as HGVs attempt to pass through narrow streets and at junctions, preventing easy and safe access to shops and business premises. 4. danger to other traffic including local bus services. Th ese issues can be addressed by Highway Authorities placing restrictions on traffic by way of a Traffic Regulation Order as set out in The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 , as amended, at section 1(1) for the following purposes: Prevention of use by vehicular traffic unsuitable to the character of the road. Prevention of damage to roads and buildings on or near the road. Pr eserving or improving the amenity of the area through which the road runs. Pr eventing the likelihood of danger to persons or other traffic using the roads 3. How long has this been an issue? Is there something that has changed to make it worse? La rge numbers of HGV movements along the B2028 first became a serious issue in 2012 with the importation of material to Hill House Farm, Ardingly Road, Lindfield. 2014 brought increased numbers and frequency of HGV movements to and from the site of a clay pigeon shoot near Fletching. This site is remote, but the movements substantially increased and continued at high levels (10 in 15mins was noted on 10.3.2015). Other Villages in Mid Sussex have 7.5te weight restrictions affording them protection. Lindfield and most other villages within the location defined above ha ve none, leaving them open to harm. 4. Please provide a sketch of what you would like to achieve. Mapping overlaid to show existing and proposed vehicle weight limit of 7.5te r egulation signs is attached to this application with explanatory notes. W e also wish that heavy goods traffic that requires and can only achieve local access v ia the restricted road(s) such as that serving local farms and businesses, including th e Show Ground at Ardingly can continue as normal. 2 5. Have any other solutions been considered? W idth restrictions are present in some parts of the area. A wider use of this type of re striction would not address the issues of noise, engine exhaust emissions and gro und transmitted vibrations that causing or exacerbating existing damage to fra gile or ancient buildings near to the highway. 6. Is your local parish/ Town council supportive of your application? YES ¨ NO ¨ Clerk Name: …………………………………………… 7. Are there are any local people or institutions who would be affected by this TRO? If so please try and obtain evidence from them that they support your request (for example: local bus company, district or borough council, local police, business association etc) and attach to this form. List of supporters whose evidence is attached: All Saints Church, Lindfield; letter dated 28 April 2015 is attached. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Sussex Bus Company; e-mail dated 23 April 2015 is attached. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1276 residents signed the attached petition, of which 294 signed on line, many leaving supportive comments that are also attached. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Supporters from the wider area of Central and Northern Mid-Sussex to be received. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3 8. It is important that WSCC Highways devote resource to projects that definitely have community support. All too often in the past schemes have been worked up, or even implemented, that have then been condemned by other residents. Therefore we now require that community support is demonstrated. To that end, please get as many residents/businesses that are in close proximity to your proposed scheme to indicate their support below. Ideally over half of those possibly affected by the proposed change will confirm their support. Resident/Business Name Address Please refer to the attachments. Date Signature Resident/Business Name Address Date Signature Resident/Business Name Address Date Signature Resident/Business Name Address Date Signature Resident/Business Name Address Date Signature 4 Location of Weight Limit Signs: The principals underpinning the choice of signage are: 1. To provide clear guidance to HGV drivers to use only A-class roads and Motorways surrounding the protected area except where it is necessary to gain access for pick-up or delivery.