Step nearer to a footpath solution

I trust they will be heartened to know that the long struggle to persuade the county council to make pedestrian safety provision at Sea Lane, immediately north of Cudlow Avenue, which has been advocated for many years by Rustington Parish Council and county councillor Dr James Walsh, is at last having some success.

In 2006 the county council responded to these concerns by appointing engineering consultants Halcrow to prepare a pedestrian safety scheme which subsequently proposed the provision of a footpath on the east side, where none exists, and the widening of the sub-standard footpath on the west side.

The proposals have been welcomed by St Bridget's Cheshire Home, which has stated that 38 of its service users "struggle to go into Rustington independently because of the lack of pedestrian access" and that the scheme will "greatly enhance their independence and quality of life".

Implementation of the scheme has, however, been delayed through uncertainty by the county council as to whether the length of single-lane carriageway which would be formed by the new footpaths should be controlled by "give way" signs or traffic signals, and has now decided to carry out a further traffic assessment to resolve this and permit preparation of the final scheme.

Implementation of these proposals will be a significant milestone in safety provision in Rustington for the disabled.

May I therefore, please, ask all friends of St Bridget's to support the proposals, so that the county council is made aware of essential public support?

K. W. Grimes, Broadmark Avenue, Rustington

NOTE: All letters must include a name and address which can be withheld by request.

-----------------------------

Click here to return to Gazette letters.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Gazette: [email protected]