Hangleton link road needs safe crossing point, say councillors

Two Hangleton councillors are calling for a safe crossing to be created on the link road to the Brighton bypass.

They have written to Brighton and Hove City Council chief executive Penny Thompson to ask that the council’s Transport Committee looks at the issue.

Conservative councillors Dawn Barnett and Tony Janio wrote: “We would like the Transport Committee to consider implementing measures to make it safer for residents in our ward to cross the busy Hangleton link road near the roundabout at its junction with Fox Way.

“The A293, which links the A27 with the Old Shoreham Road, is a significant barrier to the many school children from Portslade who walk to Hove Park and Blatchington Mill schools as well as parents with young children who want to get to Greenleas Park.

“We were extremely disappointed to see that in the recent pedestrian priority assessment, which went before the last Transport Committee meeting, the Hangleton link road came just 34th in a ranking of city roads meaning there is little or no chance that it will receive any funding in the near future.

“By contrast, over £2 million will be spent next year on road safety work at the Seven Dials and on implementing 20mph zones in the city.

“In addition, £27,000 has recently been spent on a variable messaging sign for motorists (that has not been working for months) on the same stretch of road.

“We consider that the pedestrian priority assessment doesn’t accurately reflect the dangers of crossing this stretch of road and, if nothing is done, we feel it is an accident waiting to happen.

“We are, therefore, asking that the Transport Committee considers providing a small pedestrian bridge (like the one over the Old Shoreham Road near Holmbush), traffic calming or some form of crossing point that won’t lead to more queuing traffic.

“We understand that there is a pot of money called Safer Routes to Schools which would seem to be perfect for this situation.

“The council should be actively encouraging kids to walk to school – the current situation is a positive deterrent to them doing so.”