In this newsletter, you'll find:

• Highway Rangers
• Grass cutting suspended
• Cheaper bus travel for families this summer
• Good news for bus passengers, new bus shelters installed in the Stagecoach 500 route
• Safe adventures - for parents with children moving up to year 7
• Discover some of West Sussex’s best countryside escapes
• Highway improvement works
• Utility projects update

Highway Rangers

Following the launch of our Highway Rangers programme on 3 August, the team has been making a great start in Worthing and the surrounding area.

Since the launch, the Rangers have completed 30 jobs, including:

• weeding
• cutting back overgrown vegetation
• clearing leaf litter
• clearing debris from road edge
• litter picking

Grass cutting suspended

With the prolonged hot and dry weather, we have taken the decision to suspend the fourth urban grass cut. The third cut is currently being completed as planned and due to finish soon.

The grass cutting teams will instead focus on tree watering and other essential vegetation maintenance activities until conditions improve and grass cutting can resume.

Thank you for your understanding as we prioritise resources during these challenging weather conditions.

Cheaper bus travel for families this summer

Throughout August, children aged 5 to 15 can travel for free on participating bus operators as part of the government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme, helping families to make the most out of days out this summer. The initiative also offers reduced VAT on tickets for cinemas, attractions and meals out. Check out theGreat British Summer Savings website to find your local offers.

If you’re aged 16 to 20, don’t forget you can get cheaper bus fares in West Sussex all summer – and beyond – with the 16 to 20 Bus Saver. Just ask for the '16 to 20 Bus Saver' discount from the bus driver or via the bus operator app. Please note you may be required to show proof of age ID to get the discount.

With plenty of bus routes linking the coast and countryside, be inspired and find new places to explore this summer at Experience Sussex.

Good news for bus passengers, new bus shelters installed in the Stagecoach 500 route

The pilot scheme is delivered in partnership between Barnham and Eastergate Parish Council, Aldingbourne Parish Council, Oving Parish Council, Yapton Parish Council, Stagecoach South, and West Sussex County Council through its Bus Service Improvement Plan, which is funded by the UK Government. The Stagecoach 500 route is the first to benefit from this partnership approach, with similar improvements being explored for other routes across the county.

Safe adventures - for parents with children moving up to year 7

The move up to Year 7 in secondary school brings many new challenges for all, like travelling to school independently for the first time.

Whether they plan to walk or bike to school on their own, or with friends, this is a good time to sit down with your child and talk through their new route to school, and how to keep themselves safe whilst making these journeys without you.

Road casualty data shows that the number of child pedestrian casualties' doubles between the ages of 9 and 11, with incidents more likely to happen during school drop-off and pick-up times.

The top 3 risky behaviours (based on the top contributory factors assigned to child pedestrian casualties):

• Pedestrian failure to look / distraction (friends and mobiles).
• Pedestrian careless, reckless or in a hurry.
• Safe place to cross (including parked cars and behind buses)

Have a conversation with your children about their journey to school and use these three key road safety rules: ‘EYES UP, SLOW DOWN, CROSS SAFELY’.

Discover some of West Sussex’s best countryside escapes

Looking for inspiration for your next outdoor adventure? Whether you enjoy peaceful waterside walks, wildlife watching, cycling, horse riding or simply spending time in nature, West Sussex has something for everyone. Here are a few fantastic destinations to explore this season.

Step back in time at Burton Mill and Chingford Pond

Nestled in the South Downs National Park, just south of Petworth, Burton Mill and Chingford Pond offers a beautiful blend of history, wildlife and tranquil scenery. The reserve centres on an atmospheric hammer pond created during the county's iron-making era and is now an important wetland habitat. Visitors can spot kingfishers, grebes, wildfowl, dragonflies and even wintering bitterns among the reedbeds and water lilies.

A circular nature trail of around three miles takes visitors through woodland, wetlands and waterside habitats, while an easy-access trail provides a shorter route suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

Experience the wildflowers of Fairmile Bottom

Near Slindon, Fairmile Bottom Nature Reserve is one of the county's hidden gems. This stunning chalk grassland reserve stretches for around a kilometre and is backed by ancient yew and beech woodland. Chalk grassland is one of the UK's richest and rarest habitats, making this site particularly special.

Throughout the warmer months, visitors can enjoy displays of wild herbs, orchids and colourful flowers, while butterflies including Silver-washed Fritillary, White Admiral and Grizzled Skipper add flashes of colour across the landscape. The reserve is also an excellent location for birdwatching, with green woodpeckers regularly seen and heard.

Take on the Downs Link

For those seeking a longer adventure, the Downs Link provides a spectacular 37-mile route connecting the North Downs Way in Surrey with Shoreham-by-Sea on the Sussex coast. Following the course of two former railway lines, the route is open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

Along the way, you'll travel through the Surrey Hills, Low Weald, South Downs and Coastal Plain, experiencing an incredible variety of landscapes and wildlife. Wildflower banks, woodland glades, rivers and wetlands provide habitats for butterflies, kingfishers, bats, nightingales and even glow worms.

Whether you're tackling the entire trail or enjoying a shorter section close to home, the Downs Link is a fantastic way to experience the diversity of the Sussex countryside.

Explore the Worth Way

Since the railway closed in the 1960s, nature has reclaimed the corridor, creating valuable habitats for wildlife. Along the route you may encounter orchids, wild strawberries, butterflies, kingfishers and a variety of woodland birds. If you're visiting at dusk, keep an eye out for bats, while sunny clearings may reveal adders, grass snakes and common lizards basking in the warmth.

Plan your next escape

From peaceful ponds and rare chalk grassland to award-winning parks and long-distance trails, West Sussex offers countless opportunities to connect with nature. Whether you're looking for a short family stroll, a wildlife-rich day out or a cycling challenge, these countryside destinations are waiting to be discovered.

Wherever you choose to visit, please follow the Countryside Code, respect wildlife and other users, and help protect these special places for future generations.

Highway improvement works

Keeping West Sussex moving requires regular maintenance of our roads and pavements. To extend the life of road surfaces, minimise waste and reduce the need for more extensive repairs, West Sussex County Council uses a range of preventative maintenance treatments. These approaches help keep our highway network in good condition while making the most of existing materials and resources. Below is a brief overview of some of the most common techniques we use.

Micro-asphalt resurfacing

Micro-asphalt is a material used to provide a new surface layer to an existing road. It contains bitumen emulsion, fine aggregate, cement and water. It is a surface treatment applied over an existing road surface. This is carried out to both roads and pavements and is a great way to extend the life of the existing surface.

Road surface retexturing

Retexturing reverses the wear and tear of a road and restores the surface to a condition similar to when it was originally laid. It is used when a road’s surface layer is aging, but the structure is in otherwise good condition.

Road surface dressing

This is the process of road surface dressing treatment. Surface dressing is a treatment used to provide a new surface layer to an existing road. It involves spraying a coating of bitumen onto a road followed by one or more layers of hard stone chippings. This seals the surface against damage and improves the levels of grip available to traffic. 

Road resurfacing

Carriageway resurfacing involves the replacement of the existing road surface with new asphalt or macadam (tarmac). Where possible, we will overlay the existing road construction with new material to increase the overall strength of the road construction. Overlaying the existing surface is also better for the environment because the old surface does not have be transported elsewhere and it is therefore more cost effective.

Where overlaying the old surface is not possible, for example to maintain kerb face at property thresholds, the existing road construction is removed to the required depth before being reinstated with new material.

The process of removing the existing road layers, known as ‘milling’ or ‘planing’, is carried out using specialised machinery that breaks up and removes the worn road surface. In the vast majority of cases, this material is not discarded as waste. Instead, it is transported to an asphalt plant where it is recycled and incorporated into the production of new tarmac. By reusing existing road materials, this process helps to reduce waste, conserve natural resources and lower the environmental impact associated with sourcing and manufacturing new construction materials, supporting a more sustainable approach to road maintenance.

You can find out where capital-funded road maintenance and improvement schemes are planned, from our website. A list of all the projects are published each year so you can see what is due to be happening in your area. As well as a break down of the type of works on the interactive map.

Road safety improvements - Hanlye Lane, Cuckfield

Work has now been completed on Hanlye Lane, Cuckfield, to improve safety for everyone using the road. The project, which was undertaken earlier this year, followed ongoing concerns about the number of collisions along this route, particularly for young drivers.

As part of the scheme, the 30mph speed limit was extended to align with the Cuckfield Parish boundary, and a new 40mph limit was introduced along the remainder of the lane. Road users will also notice upgraded signage, including clearer warning signs, new chevrons and additional verge marker posts on the four bends.

While on site we took the opportunity to cut back vegetation to enhance visibility as well as carry out drainage improvements to keep the road safe throughout the year.

Utility projects update

Gas works

Chichester Road, Bersted, Bognor Regis

The existing gas pipes in this area were originally installed in the 1940s and are now deteriorating rapidly. These essential upgrades are being carried out to ensure long-term safety, maintain a reliable gas supply to the community, and prevent further leaks.

Due to the location of the gas pipes in the road, for everyone’s safety the replacement works will be done under road closure in three phases as follows:

Phase one: from 1 to 22 June 2026 (completed)

Phase two: from 22 June to 21 August 2026

To help ensure access arrangements are clear during phase two, we have broken this phase into four sections as follows:

Phase three: from 24 August to 25 September 2026  

Road closure on Chichester Road from the junction of Fairlands to North Bersted Street.

Businesses will open as usual and pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

Market Avenue and Basin Road, Chichester

Following several gas leaks linked to the condition of the ageing gas main on Market Avenue and Basin Road, SGN undertook trial holes in late April to assess the requirements for a full mains replacement. This work is urgently necessary to ensure a safe and reliable gas supply to the community and to prevent further leaks.

WS Highways arranged for SGN works to be done early to avoid delaying road resurfacing and to prevent the new road from being dug up again. At the same time, Southern Water will carry out sewer lining works on Canal Wharf during the road closure. Please see the work programme below:

A259 Brighton Road, Park Road, Worthing

Works are progressing well for gas main replacement on Park Road, alongside connection works to the existing gas main on Brighton Road.

Park Road (between the junctions of Lyndhurst Road and Brighton Road/A259) Due to the location of the gas pipes and the width of the road, a road closure will be required from 27 July to 16 October 2026 to ensure the safety of the workforce and the public. On-street parking will be suspended for the duration of the works; however, vehicle access to off-road parking for the flats will be maintained.

A259 Brighton Road at the junction with Park Road Temporary two-way traffic signals will be in operation from 16 September to 2 October 2026 to facilitate connection works to the gas main.

Stockbridge Road, Chichester

From Saturday 10 October, SGN engineers will be carrying out gas main replacement works on Stockbridge Road for approximately seven weeks.

The works will be undertaken under a road closure on Stockbridge Road between the Chichester Bypass junction and Grosvenor Road. Earlier this year, gas main replacement works were completed on the side roads off Stockbridge Road, which has significantly reduced the overall duration of the planned road closure.

Apologies for any inconvenience these essential works may cause. The section of gas main being replaced is an ageing metal pipe that has experienced a number of emergency gas leaks.

In addition, works will be carried out on the A286 Birdham Road, between Nos. 26 and 35, under multi-way temporary traffic lights.

Please note that the Grosvenor Road bus stop will be suspended for the duration of the works. A temporary bus stop will be provided nearby to minimise disruption to passengers.

We will continue to keep you updated with further information as it becomes available.

These works may have impact on bus timetables. Please check your local bus service provider for routes and timetable.

If you need further information about these works, you can contact SGN Customer Service Team by email Customer@sgn.co.uk or alternatively you can call them on 0800 912 1700. For travel and route diversion, please follow Causeway one.network.

Electrical upgrades

Manor Royal, Crawley

UKPN has now moved into the third and final phase of works to install a new underground cable within the public highway at Manor Royal, Crawley. Please see the work programme:

• 11 to 22 May, Manor Royal (completed)
• 1 June to 17 June, London Road/Junction of Martyrs Avenue (completed)
• 10 August to 3 September, Martyrs Avenue, Junction with Garage Access Road: A full Road closure on Martyrs Avenue will be required from 10 to 20 August.

If you have any questions, please contact UKPN customer care team on 0800 028 4587 Monday to Friday 8:30am – 5pm, care@ukpowernetworks.co.uk and reference 260010910.

Water infrastructure upgrades

Bull Hill, Rake

South East Water and its contractor, Clancy, continues to carry out the replacement of approximately 1.15 kilometres of water main pipework. The works commenced on 27 July 2026 and is expected to take around 6 months to complete. These works are essential due to a number of leaks and burst water mains in and around the Rake area.

The project will take place along London Road, Bull Hill and Canhouse Lane. To facilitate the works, a phased road closure will be introduced, starting at the Bull Hill junction with London Road and progressing towards Canhouse Lane as the works advance.

Find out more and sign up at Priority Services | South East Water . If you have any questions or concerns before the work starts, please call our advisors on 0333 000 0018 (Monday to Friday 8:00am to 5:30pm) or via email @ Wholesale Contact Us | South East Water.

Keep up to date 📱💻

Facebook, X, Bluesky & WhatsApp

Updates on emergency reports are posted every day and project updates are posted frequently on the West Sussex Highways Facebook @West Sussex Highways, X @WSHighways, and Bluesky @wshighways.bsky.social accounts.

Did you know you can get gritter alerts, grass-cutting updates and up-to-date information on road issues on WhatsApp? You can follow silently or opt for alerts to notify you when we share an update. To find us open WhatsApp and select "Updates" from the bottom menu, then simply search for WSHighways or click the link - WSHighways.

Produced by the Customer Communications Officer, Highways Transport and Planning. Please contact active.communities@westsussex.gov.uk with any comments or suggestions for future articles.