Road Safety Strategy Consultation - Closing 2nd February

It’s not too late to have your say on road safety!

West Sussex County Council is asking for your feedback to help shape the West Sussex Road Safety Strategy, which outlines how we intend to improve road safety across the county and reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in traffic collisions. 

A key objective in Our Council Plan is to keep people safe from vulnerable situations and the strategy sets out our vision to create a safer road environment for everyone while encouraging active and sustainable travel in the county. 

We want to hear from as many people as possible who walk, wheel, cycle, use public transport, or drive in West Sussex. Your feedback will help make the highways network in the county safer for all road users, especially the most vulnerable.

The consultation closes on 2^nd February 2025.

Scheme Updates

Community Highway Schemes completion in Hunston

Following an application by the Parish Council for a Community Highway Scheme to provide enhance pedestrian facilities by providing a safer crossing point and new footway Selsey Road, Hunston, are now complete.

A new footway has been constructed which connects the existing Oakview southbound bus stop to an upgraded pedestrian refuge island plus complementary footway alterations adjacent to the Oakview northbound bus stop. Improvements to the dropped crossing and traffic splitter island outside Hunston Community Club and additional pedestrian guardrail has also been delivered. These upgrades will provide providing a safer crossing point and new footway enabling pedestrians to access bus stops.

Refurbishment of Pedestrian Crossing on Portfield Way near Sainsbury’s, Chichester

On behalf of West Sussex County Council, Principal contractor Telent Ltd and the civils sub-contractor Landbuild Ltd, will be undertaking road works to refurbish an existing signal controlled staggered puffin crossing on Portfield Way near Sainsbury’s, Chichester. The objective is to carry out essential maintenance works on the existing crossing from 3 February to 15 March 2025 between 07:30 – 17:30 weekdays . Lane Closure and Traffic management will be in place at all times. Areas of the adjacent parking bays maybe utilised to store machinery, materials, and welfare facilities off the carriageway.

If you have any queries on the day regarding how the works are being carried out near you, e.g. ‘Can I get access to my property’ or ‘Can I walk to the shops along the footpath?’, then please feel free to ask to speak to the onsite Site Supervisor who is normally best placed to address your concerns.

However, if you would prefer to speak to someone about how or why the works are being carried out then please contact us via the West Sussex County Council Contact Centre on 01243 642105 or via the WSCC website.

Newly refurbished Haslett Avenue East/ Hawth Avenue junction in Crawley

As part of the Halogen Bulb Replacement Program, the traffic signals and crossings has been refurbished using the latest, greener, and more effective control method. Energy-efficient technology is used in the new LED equipment. In addition to renovations, the junction's vegetation was cleared to increase pedestrians and motorists’ visibility.

Road Signage works for Crawley and North Horsham area

WS Highways will be improving signage associated with the unplanned diversion routes for M23 junctions 8 to 11. The improvement works will take place between 3 February to 6 June 2025. This scheme is Funded by National Highways. It is a rolling programme and will not cause disruption for a significant amount of time in any one location. However, for road and workforce safety reasons , there will be some roads that might require traffic management. In the upcoming newsletter, we will share further information about these roads. Please see the map below which gives an overview of the locations where the improvements will take place.

Road safety works on all approaching lanes to Tushmore Roundabout, Crawley

Tushmore Roundabout Crawley . Works to replace ageing and live expired directional signing on the approach to all arms of the junction to start from 10 February to 28 March 2025 between 9:30am - 3:30pm. Spiral Road Markings are being adjusted and refreshed  on the approach and through the junction. There will also be some vegetation clearance to improve sign visibility. Temporary lane closures will be in place on the approaches which will be repositioned depending on the arm of the gyratory the works are being carried on. To mitigate against some of the disruption we will be making use of the School Half Term Holidays to work on the busier lanes approaching the roundabout. Apologies for the disruption. Further details can be found on one.network

Overnight works on A284 Lyminster Road

From the evening of 10^th February until the morning of 21^st February, there will be nightworks happening on A284 Lyminster Road. The nightworks will be taking place between 8pm until 6am, there will be periods of noisy activities within the site working area during these times.

Please note that during these dates, a full closure will be taking place from 8pm on 15^th February until 6am on 17^th February.

During the scheduled night works, the activities to be undertaken include the completion of the verge and footpath at the north-western end, which encompasses cross carriageway drainage connections and street light ducting. Additionally, full carriageway construction will be conducted up to tie-in, along with planning of both existing and new asphalt prior to finalising the surfacing for the new road.

Vehicular traffic coming from the South (Morrisons) will be able to access as far as our site compound junction, during our night work hours - with the exception of resident access.

Vehicular traffic coming from the North (A27 services) will be able to access just past the Brewhouse Project, during our night work hours - with the exception of resident access.

There will be a diversion route in place whilst these works are progressing. Please see below the diversion route during the nightworks.

It will not be possible to use the closed section of the A284 during the night-time closures.

Diversion route

For residents north of the closure, who wish to access Lyminster during closure times, please use A27 east towards Brighton, then exit for the A280 following diversion signage until the A259 roundabout. You can then turn right and follow A259 until Wick Roundabout with the A284.

For residents south of the closure, who wish to access the A27, please head south on the A284 towards Wick Roundabout, then left onto the A259 towards Worthing, then left onto the A280 until it joins the A27 where you can proceed east or west.

If you have any general enquiries about the upcoming night-time road works, please do not hesitate in sending an email to lyminsterbypass@jackson-civils.co.uk.

West Sussex County Council offers free Bikeability training to Year 6 pupils

West Sussex County Council is to offer free Bikeability training in a bid to ensure that every child in the county has the opportunity to develop the confidence and skills to cycle safely. The free training sessions will be available to Year 6 pupils who are eligible for free school meals from January 2025

Bikeability, which is the government recognised syllabus for cycle training in the UK, ensures participants can make independent and safe cycle journeys, providing a foundation to a lifetime of active travel.

The council’s Road Safety Team, a fully accredited Bikeability provider, trains over 7,000 pupils annually in the skills needed to navigate today’s roads safely. However, participation rates have dropped in recent years with a survey revealing that cost is often a significant factor preventing families from enrolling their children, particularly those from lower-income households.

Councillor Joy Dennis, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “With the move to secondary school, young people will often begin to make the journey to school independently, with many choosing to do so by bike. Bikeability training equips children with important skills to confidently share the roads with other users, ensuring that their journey is a safe one. However, cost barriers have prevented too many children from accessing this essential programme. By offering free places to pupils eligible for free school meals, we are ensuring equal access for all and hope that more children will participate as a result.

This initiative also supports our council’s wider goals of promoting active travel, reducing reliance on cars, and fostering healthier lifestyles among young people.”

The Bikeability programme, funded in part by Active Travel England, is designed to increase hazard awareness, observation skills, and confidence when cycling on roads. The Level 1/2 training offered to Year 6 pupils begins with off-road assessments before progressing to real-road scenarios in risk-assessed areas. Trainees learn critical skills, including how to start and finish a journey, how to signal intentions, and the basics of Highway Code.

The council's decision to waive the £20 per pupil fee for children eligible for free school meals is expected to increase participation rates, which in turn will ensure we are able to bid for future funding to put towards similar programmes. Parents, carers, schools, and communities are encouraged to take full advantage of this opportunity.

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Produced by the Stakeholder and Partnerships Officer, Highways Transport and Planning. Please contact active.communities@westsussex.gov.uk with any comments or suggestions.