We Are Gravely Concerned About the Impact of the Proposed

We are gravely concerned about the impact of the proposed development on the capacity and operation of the road links between Rottingdean and Falmer i.e Rottingdean High Street, The Green and Falmer Road. This route is increasingly congested and there are two major problems in particular that we would highlight. Firstly, air quality levels in Rottingdean High Street already exceed EU permitted levels on an annual mean concentration due to traffic volumes and associated congestion. This is exacerbated by the sequencing of the traffic lights at the junction between Rottingdean High Street and the A259, where priority is afforded to traffic on the A259, causing hold-ups in the High Street where the ‘canyon effect’ raises pollution levels; increased volumes of traffic travelling down the High Street to and from new housing provision in Peacehaven and Telscombe, trying to avoid Brighton city will therefore pose an unacceptable health hazard to residents, traders and visitors. Secondly, the lack of enforcement regarding the prohibition of lorries weighing above 7.5 tons already contributes to said congestion and the level of pollution. Housing development at Lower Hoddern Farm is bound to lead to a further increase in these illegal vehicle movements along the route described. Public transport improvements alone will not mitigate the known adverse impacts. Rottingdean has its own housing development proposals and traffic and pollution is our own main concern against the scale of these. The Parish Council accept we are not in LDC but quality collaboration between LDC and BHCC is very necessary to avoid damaging related communities like Rottingdean. The A259 is not, and will not be a high quality sustainable transport corridor, improving access by 2030. The few junction improvements proposed will not do this (p29). The A27 may be viable but new ways of connecting these developments to Lewes and the A27, M23 and beyond need to be sought. These grave concerns more specifically relate to MM14 but have a bearing on MM01 and MM02.

Has a Peacehaven to the A26 link road been considered without the need to go through Newhaven? The ‘dormitory town’ nature of Peacehaven / Telscombe without significant places of work, shops and other facilities encourages car ownership and travel to Brighton, Lewes and London etc. Buses are meeting the needs of some young and older people but are not appealing to those between these ages. Current traffic usage of the A259 is already abhorrent at peak times, and can only be made worse by these proposals.

That being said an improved bus-service from the new developments to Lewes could help matters. Not even Rottingdean has convenient bus services to Lewes.

1

In collaboration with BHCC a Falmer Road – Wilson Avenue link road may be possible, decongesting both Woodingdean and Rottingdean. Large-scale house-building needs associated infrastructure, roads, services, access. Rottingdean High Street which fails B Road classification criteria, and EU environmental air quality standards already, must not become the cut-through for another 450 home-owners in Peacehaven

Strict enforcement with penalties of the lorry size restriction rules on LDC and BHCC roads including the B2123 could help to make our roads more sustainable.

2