Call for safer crossings on Haywards Heath's relief road

The second phase of Taylor Wimpey’s proposals for 113 homes on land off Greenhill Way has already been agreed by Lewes District Council (LDC) since the majority of the site is in East Sussex.

But since the access is within Mid Sussex, the district council’s district planning committee also had to approve the application which it did on Thursday August 11.

Simon Carter, speaking for Greenhill Way and Lewes Road residents, argued that West Sussex County Council’s highways department was ignoring concerns about the capacity of Hurstwood Lane, and raised concerns around pedestrian safety.

He asked why the relief road was ‘so difficult to cross’ and added: “There should be a safe way for residents to cross this road.”

Mr Carter also questioned the logic of LDC taking most of the developer contributions when the majority of not all the new residents would access services in Haywards Heath.

He added: “In what sane, fair world does this make any sense at all?”

Leader of Mid Sussex District Council Garry Wall (Con, Haywards Heath - Franklands), who started off by apologising for appearing before the committee without a tie, suggested the impact of extra traffic from a number of developments in the area should be looked at cumulatively not individually.

He echoed the point about the need for a safe way for pedestrians to cross the relief road, and the issues around how developer contributions were divided between the two district councils.

Christopher Hersey (Con, High Weald) suggested Lewes was getting the money while they ‘get the aggravation’.

Robert Salisbury (Con, Cuckfield), chair of the committee, suggested they could write to West Sussex County Council about the possibility of pedestrian controls, but who received the developer contributions would be down to negotiations still to take place.

Officers explained that the access into the new development would see the loss of two trees covered by preservation orders and while the loss was ‘regrettable’, it would be mitigated by landscaping near the site’s entrance.

Colin Trumble (Con, Hurstpierpoint and Downs) suggested that while some of them might think parts of the application were ‘bonkers’ they were not going to receive any support from WSCC highways.

The committee resolved to approve the application unanimously.

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