Author: Irene - Parish Clerk

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Why this petition matters

There have been five serious accidents in the last 12 months on 16 Oct 22, 24 Jan 23, 16 Mar 23, 18 June 23 and 27 Oct 23 and two of which sadly were fatal.

The children at Mountfield Heath School have complex needs, meaning that they have limited danger awareness.  A faster road will increase the danger posed to these young children.  Sometimes vehicles travel at speed down the slip road towards the school thinking they can bypass the roundabout, and many near misses have occurred here.

Sussex Police classify John’s Cross as a high-risk section of road. Section 7 of the Government Guidelines states that the set speed limit should be the maximum speed vehicles should be driven at, not the minimum.

Over 14,000 vehicles (Geo report) use this stretch of road every day, and the speed motorists travel at is a danger to everyone.

Our MP, Huw Merriman, our County Councillor, Paul Redstone, our District Councillor, Kathryn Field and our Parish Councillor, Robert Purdie plus Surrey and Sussex Police and Road Safety and Traffic Management Team all support our campaign.

What action should be taken?  

We demand that National Highways revises their current A21 safety package project currently being carried out to:

1)     Retain the Johns Cross speed limit of 30mph: National Highways must follow government guidelines and retain the 30mph through this stretch of road.  Government guidelines for rural villages state that all villages with 20 or more residential properties should have a 30mph speed limit.

2)     Reduce the 60mph zone North of Johns Cross to 50mph & a further reduction to 40mph before going through the 30mph gateway: Currently from the North, a 60mph leads directly into our 30mph, contravening section 7 of Government Guidelines/own policy.

3)     Reduce the 50mph zone just South of Johns Cross roundabout to 40mph:  Approaching from the South, the 50mph past Vinehall School leads straight into a 30mph. Again Section 7 of Government Guidelines states that not only should a gateway be used to slow traffic but there should be an extended area of a lower than national speed in problem areas, “The speed limit on the road outside Vinehall School should be reduced from 50mph to 40mph before going through the 30mph gateway.

THE ANSWER ISN’T TO INCREASE THE SPEED LIMIT FROM 30MPH TO 40MPH.  THE ANSWER IS TO REDUCE THE SPEED LIMITS EITHER SIDE TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS, SCHOOL CHILDREN AND EVERY MOTORIST THAT TRAVELS ALONG THIS DANGEROUS SECTION OF THE A21!

Your support for this petition is vitally needed.

Please add your signature and share this petition with others. The petition will be presented to National Highways by our MP and made known to the Department of Transport and to the East Sussex County Council.

With thanks from the residents, businesses owners and schools located in John’s Cross, Mountfield and surrounding villages.

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