Worrying times ahead for Titnore lane?

 

 

Some of you may know in tandem with the campaign to save the ancient woodland alongside Titnore lane (we won that); there has been correspondence with the various local authorities to a) have the correct C37 road numbering designation applied the lane. b) have the present 60mph speed limit reduced. c) have a weight limit imposed on HGV traffic using the lane. All this has been going on for much of the last 20 years.

 

At the March 9, 2016 meeting of the Worthing County Local Committee it was disclosed that the correct  C37 designation will now be applied to the lane, however there is no published time for completion of the  work due to the various department involved in the signage, maps, public notices etc.

 

However b and c above has been rejected by officers and that decision resulted in a lively exchange with councillors and the public at the meeting over the reasons for rejection.

It seems there is a new procedure for determining whether on not a scheme warrants approval. This is via an assessment and points system based on: Cost, Policy, Safety, etc, etc.

Briefly, although the committee were not going to overrule the officers, there was some indication the committee were minded to recommend signage indicating the lane was unsuitable for HGV’s. Unfortunately a Tory councillor pointed out the alternative route would add cost to deliveries.  (the alternative route was built to remove traffic off the lane and is 3 miles longer). The councillors agreed the officer’s decision below.

 

Titnore Lane HGV restriction.

 

The data does not meet the living with HGV policy. Looking at the class data supplied through the permanent count at site 0027, there have been a total of 9987 (trips?)  between the hours of 07:00 and 19:00 - 215 of these were heavy goods vehicles (2.1%). According to the Living with the Lorry Assessment Framework and comparing the data to the flow chart. Titnore Lane does not meet the requirements to ban or restrict HGV’s at this moment in time.

 

 Titnore Lane Speed limit.

 

The speed data does not meet WSCC policy based on speed data.

 

So why did we campaign on this?

 

It’s a long story but briefly Titnore lane is a rat run between the A27 and A259 it also forms a sort of western bypass for Worthing to the A24 via the Longfurlong A280.

Plans from the 1950’s identified this route to be duelled and this was only prevented due to the important environmental status of the lane. But the idea of creating this western bypass for Worthing could be reactivated due to the proposed A27 major works.

 

We fought to prevent the developers trashing the woods with access roads and buildings; we can’t now allow the rush for more road space for vehicles to fill and undo all the hard work of those who spent 6 years camped in the woods to save them.

 

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