Speeding traffic is an issue for many residents in our town, crossing major roads can be a nightmare, thoroughfares and short cuts can often lead to speeding, and even driving at 30 mph can seem too fast at times. Whilst we are all reminded that speeding can cost lives, more often it is the minor accidents, or the stress in just crossing the road that it causes to pedestrians and residents, that is a real problem locally. Parking is also a problem when local residents are unable to park outside their house, or commuters parking near road junctions, often reducing traffic flows to one lane and causing visibility problems.

These problems cannot be solved by any one solution, and indeed with the planned scale of new housing developments, are likely to worsen. We need a town wide master plan that will integrate traffic control measures, and look at introducing parking restrictions where appropriate, with investment in the required infrastructure development that will allow for the level of planned new housing, and which will promote a thriving town centre, not out of town desert island shopping. We need investment in public transport that provides more frequent bus services that can be relied upon, and a network of cycle ways based around the green circle of open spaces to provide route ways to the town centre.

One possible solution could be introducing a 20 mph speed limit in selected residential areas, and these are increasing being introduced around the country, with a 42% reduction in accidents seen in the four hundred 20mph zones introduced in London this needs to be looked at. Reducing speeding requires more active policing and use of local speed watch volunteers which are now active in Burgess Hill. We need all our local schools to have 20 mph speed limits where they are accessed from residential streets but this could also be extended more widely if local residents demanded.

Are you experiencing traffic problems, or what do you think should be done to improve the situation, let’s hear your views.