Representation by Nigel Lewis
- Date submitted
- 6 November 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
The A272 is the main trunk road throughout the county and this particular part is one of the most accident prone and dangerous of the entire road. Picts lane and Kent street are tiny single track rural lanes either side of the A272. Neither of these tiny lanes were built or designed for heavy traffic. Deep ditches, blind bends, obscured driveways, footpaths which use the lane to link up, a busy agricultural farm, many equestrian yards and businssses are just a few reasons why additional traffic using these lanes is totally impractical. Whenever there is an accident or congestion in this part of the A272, huge volumes of two way traffic try to use Picts lane and Kent street and Bulls lane as rat runs and this causes total chaos. Two weekends ago was a perfect example with horse boxes in ditches with panicking animals. Police were called due to aggressive drivers losing tempers (many witnesses) it was total gridlock as two way trunk road traffic tried to use our narrow single track road and it was totally rediculous and frightening. Why should we as residents who chose to live in a rural area, be expected to put up with this for the next 5-8 years causing a new life of stress and anxiety each time we need to leave our homes for a pint of milk. This lane has many elderly residents who are very frightened that emergency vehicles may not get through when required. Whilst not against green energy, this location is totally inappropriate. This part of the A272 is notorious for congestion and accidents and also already well above the legal air pollution levels. The Rampion substation construction would lead to an enormous increase of industrial size vehicles adding to already congested traffic resulting in regular traffic again using our little lanes as rat runs. I run an agricultural business using heavy machinery at different times of the year, I can’t imagine being able to continue my business with the lanes affected in this way. We have animals which use the lane to move from grazing to shelter and this could not continue. I am also totally concerned about the wildlife and biodiversity of the ground proposed for this hideous site. There must be a more suitable position nearer Wineham Lane which is closer to the A23 where most lorries would be coming from