Drivers did not ‘ignore’ road signs in Haywards Heath

South East Water are enforcing the one-way system on Hazelgrove Road while they install a new water main, and claim motorists have been ignoring the 200 road signs they have put in place.

Don McBeth said: “I was one of the motorists in question, and I can assure you that I did not ‘ignore’ any road sign.”

Mr McBeth came out of the Orchard Centre car park and approached Hazelgrove Road, where there was a sign saying ‘road closed’.

“That was the problem, it was straight in front of me where there is no road. The sign was casually leaning on some road works so my assumption was that it had been left there by workmen.”

“I turned right to go down to the roundabout only to be approached by a vehicle coming in the opposite direction and a workman in a high vis jacket waving his arms.

“I turned around and went back, whilst at the same time informing the workman exactly what he should do with his sign.”

South East Water began the work on Tuesday August 26.

Last week Desmond Brown, head of engineering at South East Water, said there had been a number of instances of motorists ignoring the one-way system, which: “Not only putting their lives at risk, but the lives of others too.”

After reading Mr Brown’s statements in the Middy, Mr McBeth said:

“Mr Brown should ensure that all his contracting staff have training in how to erect street signs. Namely if you want to close a street, you put the sign across the street in question, not in-line with it!”

Mr Brown, said: “As a company we take the safety of motorists, pedestrians and our water workers extremely seriously. Originally we had planned to have 20 signs out displaying the road closure and diversion route. To date we have displayed approximately 200 signs reinforcing the message.

“There have also been a number of occasions when these signs have been removed, however we have acted to replace them as quickly as possible. One of the signs that was removed read ‘No right turn’ which was at the location the customer has described, this sign has now been replaced.”

Traffic travelling northbound along Hazelgrove Road is unaffected, but motorists travelling southbound will need to follow the one-way system diversion which is signed.

“As the road is still used by those travelling northbound we are unable to put ‘Road closed’ signs in the middle of the road,” Mr Brown said.Because managing road works and traffic flows is integral to the installation of water mains in busy areas we ensure that there is always at least one fully trained street works operative on site ensuring the signs and road works are compliant with the law. The installation is due to take six weeks.