Calls to review safety of Plumpton road after van overturns

A Plumpton resident has raised concerns over the safety of a road after witnessing the aftermath of a collision.
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Oliver St.John, 59, a surveyor, said he was driving to Lewes on Tuesday morning (February 19), and saw a van had ‘fallen off’ the B2116 in Plumpton.

He said: “Another vehicle has fallen off the B2116 in Plumpton. It keeps happening because the road is subsiding and there is no barrier.

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“I went past it at 7.45am – an ambulance was there, and police were just coming.

The overturned van on the B2116 in Plumpton on Tuesday (February 19). Photo supplied by Oliver St.JohnThe overturned van on the B2116 in Plumpton on Tuesday (February 19). Photo supplied by Oliver St.John
The overturned van on the B2116 in Plumpton on Tuesday (February 19). Photo supplied by Oliver St.John

“Highways has known about this issue for some years – I am disappointed that Highways hasn’t sorted it out before yet another accident happens.”

Police confirmed officers attended the collision on Tuesday. They said the driver suffered minor injuries.

A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokesman said: “I can confirm we attended the scene of a road traffuc collision on the B2116 in which a van reportedly overturned. We were called at approximately 7.25am.

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“One patient, with injuries including a leg injury, was treated at the scene before being taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.”

Photo supplied by Oliver St.JohnPhoto supplied by Oliver St.John
Photo supplied by Oliver St.John

An East Sussex Highways spokesman said: “We perform regular, monthly inspections of this road, and it was most recently inspected on Monday (February, 18).

“One pothole was identified that will be repaired within the next five days, however, this is not in the location of the road crash. We have no other works planned for this stretch of road at this time.

“We are spending £18.5million on maintaining the county’s roads this years and improvement work is focused on those roads where the need is greatest.

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“Our road safety team have previously considered the suggestion of having a barrier on this section of road and concluded it would not be an appropriate solution at this location.

“While we do everything we can to ensure our roads are safe, drivers themselves have a responsibility to drive safely according to the layout and conditions of the road.”