Proposed Change of Land Use Cuckfield Road, Hurstpierpoint Transport Statement for Edburton Contractors Proposed Change of Land Use Cuckfield Road, Hurstpierpoint Transport Statement for Edburton Contractors project number: 81209 prepared by: DM position: ATP checked by: Phil Bell issue date: 7th May 2009 status: Final 232 High Street Guildford Surrey GU1 3JF T 01483 531300 F 01483 531333 E [email protected] W www.motion-uk.co.uk Contents Section 1 Introduction page 1 Section 2 Policy Context page 3 Section 3 Existing Conditions page 4 Section 4 Improvement Works Page 13 Section 5 Summary and Conclusions page 14 Drawings 81209-02 Visibility Splays 81209-03 Improvement Works at Site Access Appendices Appendix A Accident Statistics Appendix B Stage 1 Road Safety Audit Appendix C Highway Boundary Plan Appendix D Method Statement Appendix E Risk Assessment Appendix F Designer’s Response to Road Safety Audit Appendix G Traffic Survey Data Appendix H Geofence Report 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Edburton Contractors has appointed Motion Transport Planning to investigate the highways and transportation issues associated with the change of use of land adjacent to Cuckfield Road, Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex. 1.2 The site is located to the west of Cuckfield Road, 1.75 kilometres to the north of the centre of Hurstpierpoint, and is the site of a former sewage treatment works that ceased operation over 20 years ago. The development proposals involve the use of the site for the importing and processing of inert waste, the distribution of recycled materials, and reuse of the area for forestry purposes. 1.3 Advice has been sought with West Sussex County Council, where the following highways related issues were identified: ► Whether the site access road is of adequate width to cater for site traffic; and ► Whether visibility to the south, at the junction of the site access with Cuckfield Road is adequate. 1.4 It is understood that the issue related to the width of the site access road has been addressed by information relating to vehicle movements associated with the proposed development. As such, the previous planning application was refused permission on 2nd December 2008 by West Sussex County Council for a single reason, as follows: “The development proposed is contrary to Policy DEV4 of the West Sussex Structure Plan 2001-2016 because due to inadequate sightlines south of the junction of the access road with Cuckfield Road it fails to ensure safe access to the highway network.” 1.5 It is noteworthy that the Highway Authority stated within a planning committee report in December 2008 that it may be possible to overcome the highway objection if the hedge to the south of the access road was altered so as not to restrict visibility. Furthermore, the Highway Authority accepted a case for a reduction in the length of the sight lines within the committee report, provided this was justified by traffic survey information regarding the volume and speed of traffic travelling on Cuckfield Road. 1.6 A Stage 1 Road Safety Audit was previously carried out by Owen Williams in October 2007. Road safety issues highlighted by the audit are commented upon in detail, and resolved, within this report. Proposed Change of Land Use, Cuckfield Road, Hurstpierpoint Transport Statement page 1 1.7 The applicant has also provided a risk assessment and method statement specific to the site, which detail measures and safe systems of work for employees in order to reduce the likelihood of any hazards occurring. 1.8 It is an important part of the applicants’ case that the current application differs significantly from that determined last December. This is because the application has the full support of a qualified highway engineer and is supported by: ► A complete record and appraisal of all accident statistics held by the police from November 2000 to October 2008; ► A topographical survey of the area including of the access, visibility splays and land within county council control; ► Detailed information and analysis of speed of vehicles along Cuckfield Road; ► Detailed information of traffic flows along Cuckfield Road, including an accurate analysis of the minimal increase to the flows as a result of the current use of the site; ► An analysis of safe stopping distance from the speed survey; ► An electronic record of traffic movement to and from the application site enabling confirmation that it is extremely unlikely that more than one vehicle will be on the access road at any one time; ► The submission of the applicants’ risk assessment and method statement relating to site operations; and ► Improvement works are included within the planning application. 1.9 The remainder of this report is divided into 4 Sections. Section 2 sets out the relevant national, regional and local policies associated with the change of use while Section 3 considers the existing situation including road safety and traffic attraction. Section 4 sets out details of improvement works associated with the proposals while Section 5 sets out our Summary and Conclusions. Proposed Change of Land Use, Cuckfield Road, Hurstpierpoint Transport Statement page 2 2.0 Policy Context 2.1 Relevant policy guidance is contained within the West Sussex Structure Plan 2001- 2016, adopted February 2005. 2.2 Policy DEV4, regarding travel needs and choices, states that: “Development should not be permitted unless: the travel needs it generates are met; where possible, it reduces the need to travel; it achieves safe and convenient access by a choice of means of travel; it encourages and enables an increase in walking, cycling and the use of passenger transport; and the number and impact of motorised journeys is minimised. Local plans will include policies to ensure that development caters safely, conveniently and adequately for all travel needs by: ► Integrating with existing and proposed provision for pedestrians and cyclists and maintaining or improving existing patterns of movement on foot or by cycle; ► Ensuring safe and adequate access to the highway network; and ► Minimising the impact of motorised journeys.” 2.3 Section 3 of this report considers the existing access junction with Cuckfield Road and its ability to ensure safe and adequate access to the highway network to accommodate traffic generated by the proposed change of use. Proposed Change of Land Use, Cuckfield Road, Hurstpierpoint Transport Statement page 3 3.0 Existing Conditions Introduction 3.1 This section of the report sets out details of the existing site and surrounding area, including analysis of existing road safety issues and layout of the site access junction with Cuckfield Road. Site Context 3.2 The site is accessed via Cuckfield Road which runs on a north-south axis to the east of the site. Cuckfield Road provides direct access to Hurstpierpoint the centre of which is located 1.75 kilometres to the south of the site and is a relatively lightly trafficked road. To the north, Cuckfield Road intersects with the A2300 providing connections with the A23 to the west and Burgess Hill to the east. To the south, Cuckfield Road intersects with the B2216, which provides connections to Hassocks. The site in relation to the regional road network is illustrated at Figure 3.1 below. Figure 3.1 – Site in Relation to the Regional Road Network Proposed Change of Land Use, Cuckfield Road, Hurstpierpoint Transport Statement page 4 3.3 The development site generates a maximum of 10 vehicle movements per day Monday to Friday and 4 on Saturday relating to the current use of the site. These are understood to be predominantly heavy goods vehicles. The applicant is prepared to accept a condition restricting the number of vehicle movements into and out of the site therefore not increasing vehicle movements above those which are currently experienced. Road Safety Study 3.4 Accident statistics have been obtained from Sussex Police for the period from November 2000 to October 2008 for the stretch of Cuckfield Road in the vicinity of the site access. This represents all available data that Sussex Police keep on record. Results are included as Appendix A . Analysis of the accident reports highlights only one accident to have occurred at the Danworth Farm access road opposite that of the site access with Cuckfield Road. No further accidents were recorded as occurring within 300 metres of the access road during the entire 8 year period. 3.5 The accident that occurred at the Danworth Farm access road was classified as slight in severity and took place in daylight and under dry road conditions. The accident involved a rear shunt between two vehicles and was deemed as being caused by a vehicle failing to stop and making contact with a second vehicle that was waiting to turn right into Danworth Farm. It is understood that the vehicle that was hit had been waiting for a third vehicle to enter Danworth Farm, which was travelling in a southbound direction on Cuckfield Road. As part of the planning application, an anti- skid surface is proposed on Cuckfield Road adjacent to the site. It is noteworthy that should the anti-skid surfacing have been in place when this accident occurred, the accident may well have been avoided. 3.6 Four accidents were reported as having occurred at the junctions of Cuckfield Road with Gatehouse Lane and Mill Lane. All were deemed as slight in nature and involved collisions between vehicles attempting to enter Cuckfield Road. 3.7 We do not consider there to be an existing road safety issue associated with the site access. It is noteworthy that the existing site access has been in use since November 2006 accommodating heavy goods vehicles associated with the current use of the site with no related accidents. The one accident that took place at the Danworth Farm access road was not caused or influenced by the site access.