‘Where’s that wall?’ - Lindfield man says it’s been demolished six times

A Lindfield resident says damage to his property is caused after dark because street lights are turned off.
By Carly-May Kavanagh
Published 14th Jan 2020, 11:25 BST
Updated 14th Jan 2020, 11:26 BST
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Ron Harris, of Lewes Road, said: “My front wall has been knocked down six times by cars. It’s in pieces at present although it should have been repaired by the time you go to press. Who knows how long it will be before it’s knocked down again?”

He says he believes the problems are caused by the fact the street light outside his house goes off at midnight and doesn’t go on again until 5.30am. He explained: “It’s always midnight and beyond when these crashes happen. They didn’t happen when the lights were on all night.

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“I think the problem might be drivers trying to avoid the High Street – I don’t know, perhaps they’ve had a bit to drink and want to avoid a police patrol – they can’t see the junction and they drive straight into my wall.

Ron Harris, Lewes Road, Lindfield, is frustrated that his wall which has been knocked down six times by traffic due to the fact that street lights are being switched off at night.Ron Harris, Lewes Road, Lindfield, is frustrated that his wall which has been knocked down six times by traffic due to the fact that street lights are being switched off at night.
Ron Harris, Lewes Road, Lindfield, is frustrated that his wall which has been knocked down six times by traffic due to the fact that street lights are being switched off at night.

“I’ve been in touch with the county council’s highways team countless times and asked them to ensure the light stays on all night. But apparently that can’t be done.

“I’ve even had a visit from the highways manager and I’m hoping that by the time you read this the wall might have been repaired.

“But that doesn’t mean the problem is going to go away. I’m hoping there won’t be a next time soon.”

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Mr Harris said he was particularly upset as his garden is widely recognised as one of the prettiest in Lindfield, particularly when his summer flowers are out, but now it just looks a mess, he said.

His wall has been knocked down six times.His wall has been knocked down six times.
His wall has been knocked down six times.

Having made the right approaches to get the matter put right, he says in desperation he is turning to the ‘power of the press’ to kick-start some action.

A county council spokesman said: “We do sympathise with Mr Harris and a highways manager has been to see him to discuss his concerns: unfortunately, from a highways perspective, there are few reasonable/practical engineering solutions which would address these.

"The police may well have been called upon to investigate some of the accidents and may be able to suggest the root causes, which we understand were not lighting related.”

The council confirmed that this section of Lindfield is a part-night area so the street lights go off around midnight for about five-and-a-half hours.

Related topics:Lindfield