Hundreds march against proposed closure of the A27 Sussex Pad junction

Hundreds of people on foot, bikes and even a horse marched to protest the proposed closure of the A27 Sussex Pad crossing in Lancing as part of the New Monks Farm development on Sunday.
Protesters sent out a very clear message SUS-180716-145527001Protesters sent out a very clear message SUS-180716-145527001
Protesters sent out a very clear message SUS-180716-145527001

The crossing is due to be closed as part of the controversial development which will include 600 new houses and an IKEA superstore.

It is due to be replaced with a new roundabout on the A27 which will feed the proposed site.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A decision on the proposal is scheduled to be made by Adur District Council’s planning committee on Wednesday (July 18).

Protesters gathered at the Sussex Pad junction SUS-180716-145507001Protesters gathered at the Sussex Pad junction SUS-180716-145507001
Protesters gathered at the Sussex Pad junction SUS-180716-145507001

The rally was organised by Brighton & Hove Friends of the Earth (BHFOE), Brighton Excelsior Cycling Club and Bricycles and supported by Shoreham-By-Cycle, Brighton Mitre Cycling Group, Sussex Nomads, Angmering Cycle Club, The British Horse Society and Adur Residents Environmental Action (AREA).

Protesters said the crossing is popular for cyclists, who would find the proposed diversions ‘awkward, if not dangerous’ to use.

Chris Todd, a member of BHFOE, believed a traffic count conducted by the developers was flawed – and said a count by his organisation two weeks ago showed the crossing was well used.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

According to a BHFOE count over Saturday, June 30, and Sunday, July 1, 340 cyclists and 50 pedestrians used the crossing on Saturday (8am to 7pm), with 522 cyclists and 70 pedestrians on the Sunday (7.45am to 8pm).

Thunder the horse SUS-180716-145517001Thunder the horse SUS-180716-145517001
Thunder the horse SUS-180716-145517001

The count contradicts figures given in the Transport Assessment put forward in the planning application, which states, for a weekday, ‘only 20 two-way pedestrian movements per day, with 31 movements per day for a Saturday’.

The assessment also counted ‘24 two-way cyclist movements for the weekday 12 hour survey period and 66 movements for the nine Saturday hour survey period’.

Mr Todd questioned the wisdom of not conducting a count on a Sunday, which he said is typically the busiest time for cyclists.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “Adur planning committee need to take this on board and reject or defer the application to allow a better solution to be brought forward.”

A large number of cyclists were in attendance SUS-180716-145457001A large number of cyclists were in attendance SUS-180716-145457001
A large number of cyclists were in attendance SUS-180716-145457001

More on the IKEA plans: