Links around Burgess Hill to be improved in 2021

As part of the £22.8million Place and Connectivity Programme, better connections to the Sheddingdean Business Park and through the West End Recreation Ground are due to be completed early this year.

Other projects well underway include those at the West Park Nature Reserve, between Chanctonbury Road and Potters Lane, and a major section of the Green Circle between Gatehouse Lane and Malthouse Lane.

These will then join the list of completed projects including the improvement work at Wivelsfield Railway Station, which has brightened up the bridge area. Planned walking and cycling links from the south of the station will complement this, and work is due to start shortly.

Responses to the public engagement held in May and June 2020 have been used to inform the designs of walking and cycling improvements to the Town Centre Western Gateway between London Road and Queen Elizabeth Avenue, and the Burgess Hill Railway Station area from Queen Elizabeth Avenue through to Station Road and Hoadlands Corner, all of which are progressing towards scheduled delivery in 2021/22.

There will be further public engagement in early 2021.

As a direct result of the public engagement, work will be carried out to explore the possibility of an extra pedestrian crossing in Leylands Road and a cycle link between Hurstpierpoint and Burgess Hill.

Feedback has also provided an opportunity to review the network of proposed traffic free links between Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath.

Whilst a technical review is considering a number of potential routes to the west of the railway line, it has ruled out progressing a potential ‘eastern route’ from Valebridge Road in Burgess Hill to Fox Hill in Haywards Heath. This is due to the cost implications required to address issues of flooding and user safety.

Judy Llewellyn-Burke, deputy leader of Mid Sussex District Council, said it was ‘fantastic’ to see progress made despite the challenges of the past year.

She added: “As we move into phase two of our projects, it is particularly encouraging to see how the comments of residents have been incorporated and responded to, even to the extent that new projects are being investigated. 2021 is set to be a busy year on the Place and Connectivity Programme and residents will begin to see the differences in and around the town.”

The district council is working with West Sussex County Council and the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership to deliver the strategic growth programme for Burgess Hill.

The project is funded by a £22.8m of government grant, including Local Growth Funding and developer contributions.

Bob Lanzer, WSCC’s cabinet member for economy, said: “The designing and building of high-quality pedestrian and cycle improvements through Burgess Hill will boost local infrastructure and help support the sustainable recovery of the West Sussex economy when we emerge from the COVID-19 crisis.

“The programme also demonstrates the value of collaborative working between the two local authorities and the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership.”

Jonathan Sharrock, chief executive at Coast to Capital, added: “Improvements to walking and cycling routes are vital for creating safer towns of the future and the Place and Connectivity Programme will provide long term green enhancements to Burgess Hill. I’m delighted that positive feedback from the public is being used to inform the proposals and look forward to seeing developments in the future.”

For full details of the programme and latest news at www.burgesshill.net