PRC Brief Number 10 for Mid Sussex District Councillors
Monday,  27 March 2007

Traffic ‘relief’ - the essential pre-condition that cannot be met

What does the Structure Plan require? The West Sussex County Structure Plan 2001-16 identifies a strategic location at East Grinstead - but only if certain essential pre-conditions can be met. Traffic congestion in East Grinstead has to be reduced "significantly below current (2004) levels". In Topic Brief number 2 we saw that these pre-conditions are legally binding; they must be met if the strategic development is to proceed.

To achieve traffic relief, the Structure Plan demands a ‘comprehensive transport package’, including:

• a public transport link to Crawley/Gatwick offering "a realistic, attractive & convenient alternative to the private car";
• An effective ‘relief’ road taking proper account of its environmental impact.

The Council Leadership however has made clear that they are no longer planning to meet the Structure Plan pre-conditions (see Cabinet answer to question in Council, 15 November 2006):

• The bus service they are planning will be a stopping service with a change at Three Bridges;
• They do not expect it to attract a significant share of the traffic (3% at most);
• It will not therefore offer an attractive & convenient alternative to the private car.

The Council Leadership has published a Strategic Transport Assessment Report containing traffic modelling results for their "relief road" route options. These show two main effects: first, a large increase in traffic, as 4500 new houses in East Grinstead bring in 7,000 new cars. Second, a shift of traffic into residential streets. In several residential streets the traffic is predicted to double or more. There is clearly no prospect of the requisite reduction in traffic congestion.

Yet the traffic modelling studies show a clear risk of more road accidents, especially to children. Surprisingly, the planners have confirmed that there is to be no analysis of this safety threat until after the relief road route has been selected! We advise Councillors to insist on these safety checks BEFORE choosing a route. They will bear a heavy responsibility if they do not.

The original concept was that massive housebuilding in the district’s foremost historic town could be justified if it opened the way to traffic relief. This concept can now be seen to have failed. The planners admit as much. The Council’s Head of Planning Policy has advised "...Thus it was impossible for the AAP to be in full compliance with the Structure Plan." (See JMAG minutes, 19 October 2006, first draft.)

Councillors should call a halt. Now the Council’s chief planner has advised that the scheme cannot meet the Structure Plan’s essential preconditions, the scheme is blundering forward aimlessly, and only because no-one can say STOP. It is time to re-plan these houses at a feasible location (see PRC Topic Brief number 7).

For more information click on www.eghouses.org/ PRC Sustainable Alternative