Reader Letter responding to the article in our June issue by Storrington Parish Council about the proposed 20mph speed limit for the village. Please see below the full unedited version.

Dear Editor

(With regard to the comment) “In Wales, insurers are already lowering premiums in 20mph areas because there are fewer accidents and the risks are lower’. It would be balanced to know where these data were verified? It is the case, as noted in the Welsh Parliament, local and national newspapers, and elsewhere, that in some areas in Wales the 20mph introduction has caused havoc on the roads and is being returned to the previous speed limits.  For balance and accuracy, this too could be noted.

This approach no doubt has its merits yet suggesting there are no down-sides to such a change could be misleading. It is worth noting that 2010/2013 expert report (Ricardo-AEA through Horsham District Council (HDC) noted and I quote:  ‘It was concluded that no air quality benefit could be achieved by imposing a 20-mph restriction.’ There were no statistics about deceasing accidents and no accident rates were considered or monitored, nor was speeding other than to note that at peak times traffic through Storrington rarely reaches 20 mph.

Certainly, a majority of Storrington residents would like a quieter and safer village without poisonous fumes which are above Government legislated safe levels  I suspect, and to reduce through traffic, but a 20-mph approach may prove to be a very short-term approach; a sticking plaster approach. It is noted there is a petition against such a change currently on line with over 450 signatures as of yesterday plus some to the point opinions on the Storrington Community Facebook Group about it being a waste of time and money – the funds should be spent differently it was noted.

You are no doubt aware that Sussex Local ran a series of articles about the air pollution across many months in 2019/20 and the whole issue goes back to 2000. Longer term we need a by-pass, similar to Steyning,  for any meaningful peace and clean air. With national finances as they are this is unlikely yet perhaps, we could aim higher with interim measures? And without pushing our problem onto our neighbours such as West Chiltington and Pulborough.

Below is a short review of HDC and others’ REPORTS on our worsening traffic air pollution issues in Storrington:

2010 – Air quality shown to be noxious and unacceptable by government standards along the through part of the A283 from Manleys Hill to what is called the Tesco/Esso roundabout. Also noted: “The village has a traffic flow of 17005 for 2009 (24 hour 7 day week yearly average on West Street). The percentage of Heavy Duty/Diesel Vehicles (over large Transitsize) is 2.8% (annual percentage over a 5 day week). This equates to 504 heavy duty vehicles (HDV’s) each week day on average.”  That was 15 years ago and the problem was first discussed as far back as far as 2000, 25 years ago.

2012 – HDC Action Plan began with this quote: “Nationally and locally air quality is a major issue probably causes more mortality and morbidity than passive smoking, road traffic accidents and obesity. ” from the UK Parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee, March 2010
Action Plan outcomes appeared to be many words/meetings/minutes and very little action that has in reality improved our lived experience as Storrington residents.

2013 – Ricardo-AEA traffic management experts reporting to HDC noted a number of active suggestions which included better signage on major roads approaching Storrington to warn of the delays and time to drive through, ‘gating’ to prevent access top Storrington which they noted would be effective reducing through traffic and improving air quality, discouraging or preventing heavy goods vehicles from accessing the village by means of access restrictions and the results indicate that a reduction could be achieved. (No doubt navigation apps would indicate this and suggest better routes on dual carriage way roads. (Perhaps leave access to the town along Water Lane from A283 and the Thakeham Road to ensure shops could receive their stock deliveries yet and there are ways to ensure those people and homes effected have compensatory plus any attempt to use it as a rat run once road narrowing (gating) was in place would result in those vehicles being trapped having to go back the way they came – it would not take long to be known and signage could be clear). It would though stop 8-wheeled and worse heavy vehicle access along the A283, still not consistently monitored or regulated, though extra air gathering pipes are in place and monitored is supposed to happen but is evidently having no effect.

2020 – HDC report/action plan issued suggested air alerts to we residents nothing much else HDC allowed themselves to buy 3 electric vehicles based on the Report e trust for the use in this area by wardens, etc. Have you had any air alerts? I haven’t but I have only lived here for 5 years.

2022 – more words and better pictures of Storrington but no action yet again from HDC or WSCC.

2025 – I note HDC (perhaps with financial input from WSCC which has highways responsibilities and budget) is about to spend much of our taxes, and our area generates a high proportion of those taxes, on improving the centre of Horsham. Last time I was there it was in better operational state than we are in Storrington. For we residents of Storrington, there is nothing to assist us with our noxious, noisy, and dangerous living conditions directly attributable to through traffic – recognised and reported on since 2020 – 25 years.

Since the 15 year old report about Storrington traffic and the air quality issues,  it is the case that our occupation density has increased, new developments are being built as I write and proposed, traffic flow has increased not only along the A283 but on all other access roads in and out of Storrington, and speeding is now a real issue and is truly likely to cause accidents, possibly deaths, all in addition to the air quality issues. A 20-mph introduction as a speed limit does not address this as the 2010 report noted traffic through Storrington rarely reaches that mph at peak times! Such an approach fails to address the underlying issues, known for 25 years.

Many do not support 20 mph area within/through Storrington, as it will allow those funding a proper scheme/s to yet again leave us without a long-lasting effective solution. It would act as just another deflection of this worsening situation which needs a permanent solution benefiting all of Storrington.

In the article referred to above the plans suggested also appear to ignore a large part of our town where there is heavy road use as well as new housing being built, further development in the local plan draft, currently with no traffic management actions/schemes in place and these are 30 mph zones.

It is reasonable to seek greater funding to put in place speeding, congestion, and poisonous air reduction measures permanently which benefit the whole Storrington area. It is reasonable to expect not to waste money on this sticking plaster approach, or leave these important decisions to the Traffic Group alone. The Parish Council (with HDC & West Sussex County Council) should be putting efforts into a long-term solution without deflecting the issues. 25 years since the situation was recognised and 15 years since the only professional technical input was shared by HDC. It’s time for a permanent solution based on non-amateur traffic management changes which address both levels of traffic and air quality.

No more reports;  we need a real action addressing all issues now.   I for one do not want to wait another 15 or 25 years!

By email, name supplied.

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