News and Events
Highways Transport and Planning News
Better Roads: A busy 6 months maintaining our highways in West Sussex
Almost 40,000 safety related defects on highways across West Sussex have been repaired between April and September as we retain our commitment to better roads.
This year the council invested an extra £13 million to actively tackle the problem of our deteriorating roads and keep the county moving.
This was in addition to the base budget for the year of £42.8 million and £2.1 million received from the Department for Transport’s Road Resurfacing Fund.
|
|
Preparing for winter
Preparing for winter
Ahead of the coming winter months, we are increasing work to clear drainage systems and ensure water can run off the roads as effectively as possible should we get more heavy rain, providing extra resources to clear more gullies, ditches and areas where leaves build up.
So far this year, we have carried out more than 43,000 drainage gully cleanses, brought in extra CCTV resource to monitor and identify issues, and provided an additional jetting unit to clear flooded areas and get them moving as soon as possible.
West Sussex County Council’s Highways Team will continue this work over the coming months and is calling on road users to help keep the network open by continuing to report any issues you encounter using our online reporting tool.
Planting Season
Our planting season has begun, with West Sussex securing 300 trees to be planted around the county. This year we have 85 new trees kindly donated by our Parishes and our Donate a Tree Scheme. West Sussex supplied approximately 91 replacements and 124 new trees to be planted. If you are fortunate to have a new tree planted near you, please help by watering it, no amount of water is too much.
For more information on tree planting or if you would like to participate in our Donate a Tree Scheme please visit our web pages Tree planting - West Sussex County Council
Scheme Updates
Pedestrian Crossing refurbishment on Haslett Avenue East, Hawth Avenue, Crawley
Part of the Halogen Bulb Replacement Programme works to refurbish the crossing to a more efficient and green crossing from 11th November for approximately 6 weeks between 09:30 – 15:30. The works will include decommissioning of current pedestrian crossing and signals and installation of upgraded crossing, new signal poles, signal heads and controller. There will be overnight road closure from 18th November 2024 to 21st November between 8pm to 2am. Multi Way traffic management will be in place throughout the works. Further details on one.network.
Community Highway scheme at Southwater
|
Community Highway Scheme successfully completed in Southwater. Construction of a new pedestrian footpath, uncontrolled pedestrian crossing and installation of road marking have successfully completed. The works were required to improve the pedestrian facilities on the northern section of Blakes Farm Road and to improve the pedestrian access to Martindales. |
Road Closure on Wallage Lane, Rowfant, Crawley
Planned works to repair and install new drainage system to prevent flooding to start from 9th to 17th December 2024. There will be full road closure with route diversions signed on site. Further details can be found on one.network.
‘Road Safety Theatre in Education’ performance at Felpham Community College
On Monday 14th October, two ‘Road Safety Theatre in Education’ performances were put on at Felpham Community College; one for Year 7 and the other for Year 11 students. These performances are arranged by theatre company ‘Rapport Ltd.’, in collaboration with the ‘Sussex Safer Roads Partnership’, with whom WSCC are partners.
The Year 7 performance is called ‘Look Up’ and teaches students about the importance of pedestrian safety. It also covers how to spot hazards on a journey as a pedestrian, the importance of using our senses in road safety and how to think like a driver to become more aware of the impact behaviour has on safety.
The Year 11 performance is called ‘Take a Second’ and students learn about the impact of their own behaviours. It covers how to be a safer passenger actively, the impact of speed on an accident, the dangers of distracting a driver, drink and drugs and how to speak up to stay safe in a car.
Councillor Jaine Wild (for Felpham) attended the Year 7 performance and commented: -
“I attended the 2024 tour for Road Safety ‘Theatre in Education’ at Felpham Community College and must say how impressed I was. The engagement with students watching was first class and the team also interacted with the students asking individuals to come up and share situations. The theme was based on modern times, of children head down crossing roads looking at mobile phones or wearing head phones and hoods up. This would of immediately struck a chord with the age group they were entertaining. We also had visual slides and sounds. The students would have been able to connect with the three main characters acting, and I was greatly impressed overall with the performance which would of made the students think. I personally would like to also see a theatre group for younger children, primary age who would be riding bikes to school for the first time. But overall a great production and certainly in terms of cost, worth it.”
Jaine Wild, County Councillor for Felpham
Countryside Updates
Buchan Path, Buchan Country Park – Surface Improvement Works
|
A 600m length of path was widened, surfaced and with drainage works undertaken to help prevent water run-off degrading the path surface. Works were completed in May/June 2024. |
Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common – Footpath 66Hu – Surface Improvement Works
|
This footpath is a popular route that became narrow, gullied and difficult for users to navigate. The 100m length of path was cleared, re-graded and surfaced to make the path wider and accessible for users including pushchairs. Works were completed in May 2024. |
Plaistow – Restricted Byway 639 – Surface Improvement Works
|
An 800m length of restricted byway was impassable virtually all year round. Works were undertaken to clear and surface the path along with ditch clearance and culvert installation to assist with the drainage of the path. Works were completed in June/July 2024. |
Lancing – Bridleway 2065 – Surface Improvement Works
|
560m length of bridleway was gullied and slippery in the wet due to underlying chalk. The path was re-graded and surfaced to provide a wider, level path for users providing a useful off-road link between Lancing College and the South Downs. The works were undertaken in August 2024. |
Horsham – Footpath 1697 – Bridge Replacement Works
|
This bridge was damaged beyond repair by a fallen tree and required complete replacement. The path was closed until the bridge was replaced with a new 6.0m span timber footbridge. This new bridge was installed in August 2024. |
Bolney – Footpath 18Bo – Surface Improvement Works
|
140m length of footpath was very muddy and impassable in wet conditions and is an important route from a housing development to the local Primary School. The path was cleared and surfaced to provide a safe off-road route available to use all year round. The works were undertaken in August 2024. |
Hassocks – Bridleway 8C – Surface Improvement Works
|
475m length of bridleway was muddy and impassable during the winter. The path was cleared and surfaced to provide a usable bridleway link year-round. The works were funded using s106 contributions. The works were undertaken in July 2024. |
Aldingbourne – Footpath 300 – Surface Improvement Works
|
150m length of footpath was very muddy and poorly drained making access difficult for users. The path had significant vegetation and ditch clearance undertaken along with surfacing and new wider plank crossings installed. These works were funded using s106 contributions. The works were undertaken in August 2024. |
King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIIIECP)
The final section of the King Charles III England Coast Path in West Sussex, between East Head and South Hayling, was approved on the 16th July 2024 by the Secretary of State.
Work is now underway to prepare the new stretch of coast path for public use. The first step is to contact owners and occupiers of the affected land to discuss the design and location of any new infrastructure which is needed, such as signs and gates. There will also be improvements to path surfaces and new sections of path for the public to enjoy.
When preparations are complete, new access rights will come into force along the route and adjoining spreading room.
|
|
We need your feedback!
We want to improve the Highways, Transport and Planning Residents newsletter and would appreciate your feedback.
|
|
Follow us on X!
Project updates are frequently posted on the West Sussex Highways X account (formerly Twitter). Just search @WSHighways if you aren't already following.