Sompting village's rat run becoming '˜intolerable'

For many years now West Street in Sompting village has been a 'rat run' for vehicles trying to avoid the hold-ups at Lyons Farm traffic lights.

The volume of traffic along this very narrow road through the village has grown by the day and is now absolutely intolerable with daily incidents involving frustrated and often angry drivers – some even getting out of their cars and pushing and shoving each other in the middle of the road.

Only last Friday, there were two road traffic accidents, one involving a bus. Two lots of garden walls have been demolished and damage to parked cars is a frequent occurrence with one just this week sustaining damage costing £750.

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I was personally recently struck by the protruding wing mirror of a passing Tesco delivery van drifting onto the pavement over a non existent kerb.

Despite detailed proposals to ease the problems sent by me to West Sussex County Council, nothing is currently planned to be done.

The council didn’t even bother to come out and clear a “give way” sign that I had advised them had been overgrown by vegitation.

A small ad hoc protest group also gathered together outside The Gardeners Arms last week advising drivers who had ignored the two sets of “give way” signs that they were in the wrong and causing a log jams.

The response they got was simply abuse.

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I am currently awaiting a response from WSCC to no less than three communications on the subject (I live in hope).

But in the meantime can I, through The Herald, challenge Cllr John O’Brien (cabinet member for Traffic and Transport) and Mr Matt Daley (head of Traffic and Transport) to respond to this letter outlining in your columns the positive and immediate action they plan to take while also acknowledging responsibility for any harm that is likely to befall pedestrians using this road that has become so perilous for them.

For neither to accept this challenge will, without shadow of a doubt, force residents to take matters into their own hands.

They have been waiting for more than 10 years for action and will wait no longer.

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A cadre protest group has already met with me and they mean business.

So please West Sussex County Council – action now.

George R Barton

Adur District Councillor for Sompting Peverel

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