Protest at Stonepound crossroads over pollution

Their anger spilled onto the streets after Mid Sussex District Council put together an ‘Air Quality Action Plan’ for the crossroads to try to bring down unacceptable levels of nitrogen dioxide from vehicle emissions.

The plan has a number of suggestions, including adjusting the traffic light sequencing to improve traffic flows; signage on the A23 to advise drivers of heavy goods vehicles to use alternative routes, and putting up “Cut engine, Cut Pollution” signs at the crossroads.

But angry residents say these ‘solutions’ miss the point. Traffic queues are building at the crossroads because of the unending pressure for more housing on a creaking infrastructure that cannot cope.

On July 11, Mid Sussex District Council approved a plan for 81 new homes in the strategic gap between Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint off number 31, College Lane.

What is left of the gap, a mere 600 metres, lies behind homes off London Road, Hassocks - the main arterial route to Burgess Hill, leading from the crossroads.

London Road resident Ian Credland and his neighbours fear that Hurstpierpoint and Hassocks could coalesce and lose their identities, with traffic jams and further pollution eroding family life.

Their fears were heightened last month, when several residents spotted men with what appeared to be surveying equipment in the field behind their homes.

Ian Credland said: “The strategic gap is a beautiful green space intersected with numerous public footpaths and bridleways, and there are long ranging downland views, ancient woodlands with rare and varied flora and fauna.”

London Road neighbour Ian Tovey added: “I hope more residents will start becoming aware of the potential nightmare that awaits us - the potential merging of villages, the road infrastructure being inadequate to cope with, but most of all the health of both ourselves and our children.”

Mid Sussex District Councillor for Hassocks, Peter Martin, insisted: “I do not anticipate any further development in the gap between Hurstpierpoint and Hassocks. The College Lane development is filling in a corner. We would jealously guard what remains of the gap.”

The district council has a housing target of 10,600 new homes over the next 20 years - equating to 530 new homes per year.

The draft district plan, drawn up in the context of the Localism Act, envisages 4,000 new homes will be built in the northern and eastern parts of Burgess Hill, taking some of the pressure off the rest of Mid Sussex.

However, speculative developers have been criticised for trying to push through applications on sensitive greenfield sites before the district council can demonstrate a five year land supply through its vital plan that is yet to be ratified and set in stone.

*The district council has put forward a number of suggestions for controlling pollution at Stonepound. You can comment on the suggestions and read more at: www.midsussex.gov.uk/air quality.

The deadline for feedback is August 5.

You can read more on this story on pages 6 and 7 of the Mid Sussex Times, published on Thursday, August 1.