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Town Council to Fund Feasibility Study On Road Safety Issues in Brunel Drive

Community

James West Community Centre building exterior 

Town councillors have approved funding to carry out a feasibility study to review issues and potential options to improve road safety and parking in Brunel Drive and Hedley Way in Hailsham.

At the meeting of Full Council held recently, members resolved to spend £500 from its Professional Fees budget on the feasibility study, which will be carried out soon.

The need for the study to be commissioned has come about due to a number of recent parking problems with users of the James West Community Centre in Brunel Drive, causing issues with some drivers driving dangerously and nearby residents not being able to access their properties.

One particular incident, reported in January, resulted in a significant part of Brunel Drive becoming filled with cars, which in turn caused some residents having to drive onto the pavements to get into and out of the Welbury Meadows, creating a serious road safety situation. Residents expressed their concern about the situation at the time.

In response to this and other issues reported, the Town Council agreed to closely monitor bookings of the centre and confirm at the time of booking the estimated number of attendees and vehicles using the car park to the rear of the centre, to ensure there are no future parking issues. It was also agreed by town councillors that all future users of the centre are encouraged to park their vehicles in the designated car park as opposed to on Brunel Drive.

The Town Council has liaised with East Sussex County Council in relation to these parking issues and, following a recent site meeting with East Sussex road safety officers, it was recommended that, in the short term, a feasibility study will be carried out by the Highways team, funded by the Town Council.

Deputy Town Clerk & Business Enterprise Manager Mickey Caira commented: “It is clear that the parking issues in Brunel Drive are not something that can be solved easily, taking into account that part of the problem has emanated from the initial design of the road leading into the residential estate that meanders and then passes a large community facility.”

“In terms of what can be done to alleviate the situation, the Town Council closely vets all James West Community Centre bookings and gauges the estimated number of vehicles using the centre’s rear car park. Where these numbers are higher than usual and may cause a similar parking/blocking issue, we decline the booking.”

“The Town Council’s agreement to fund a feasibility study to be carried out by the county council is certainly a step in the right direction and, from this, we can get the ball rolling and address this issue responsibly.”


Enquiries relating to this media release

Terry Hall, Communications Officer
Hailsham Town Council, Market Street, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2AE
Telephone: 01323 841702 | Email: terry.hall@hailsham-tc.gov.uk