Conservatives say no to traffic lights at dangerous Bishopstone junction

Liberal Democrat County Councillors James MacCleary and Carolyn Lambert once again pleaded with Conservatives on the County Council to take urgent action on the A259 through Seaford and the dangerous Bishopstone junction. Cllr MacCleary explains:

“The A259 through Seaford is now at crisis point. It is regularly gridlocked and there have been more accidents in recent weeks. There are only two roads in and out of Seaford - the biggest town in Lewes District - the A259 and the road through Alfriston, and there have been times when both these roads have been blocked.

Residents cannot go on like this. We need urgent action to make the road safer for all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

Cllr Lambert and I are now taking a further Notice of Motion to the Lead Member for Transport and Environment calling on her to install temporary traffic lights at the Bishopstone junction to assess the effectiveness of this as a traffic management solution. The Lead Member’s answer to Cllr Lambert’s request to do this was met by a blunt “no” but we hope that when she looks at the evidence, she will reconsider.”

Councillor Lambert adds:

“I took a Notice of Motion to the Lead Member two years ago now asking for a safety audit of all the junctions throughout Seaford with the A259 as well as other road safety measures such as speed reduction and a safe pedestrian crossing.

These were turned down by the Conservatives as a study was being carried out. This study has now been delayed with no real timetable or action plan.

There is money in the County Council’s Active Travel fund to look at putting in a footbridge at the Bishopstone crossing so that pedestrians and cyclists can cross safely.

It’s time for action.”