Concern over rat-run

A HEATHFIELD resident has warned that a pedestrian could soon be killed on a road being used by motorists as a rat run.

Brian Hamper, of Tilsmore Road, has called on East Sussex County Council to act after seeing countless pedestrians forced to 'dive into hedges to escape traffic. Mr Hamper decided to speak out after he himself was hit by a passing car while walking his dog.

The former ambulance worker urged ESCC to take steps to reduce the volume of traffic through Tilsmore Road, which was built at the turn of the last century without pavements.

He said: 'How much longer must we wait before something is done in respect of the horrendous amount of traffic using this road, which is residential? Do we have to wait until someone is actually badly injured or even killed?

'One evening earlier this month, I was walking my dog along the road when two cars travelling in opposite directions passed me simultaneously. One actually struck my arm forcefully with its mirror as it passed. I could clearly be seen, but rather than wait for me both cars pushed ahead, regardless of my safety.

'This is now becoming a common occurrence and folk on foot are being forced to dive into hedges for safety. It has to stop. This traffic is alien to Tilsmore Road, and I have followed many cars up from Horam, down Ghyll Road, through Tilsmore Road, for them to go shopping at the Co-op, rather than travel up Hailsham Road to use Station Road and the High Street, which could take them a little longer.

'The amount of traffic now using Tilsmore Road is often travelling almost bumper to bumper, which is not for the purpose the road was constructed.

He said the answer was to limit the amount of through traffic, either through the use of sleeping policemen or by building chicanes at either end of the road. 'It would not solve anything to construct a footpath, he said, 'as this would only magnify traffic speed, which even now is often well over the limit.

'Something must be done before tragedy occurs and someone is knocked down, injured or even killed by drivers only caring for themselves. As a former crew member of our ambulance service I can see this happening soon, and I want it prevented.

A spokesman for East Sussex County Council said: 'If Mr Hamper would like to write into us we would certainly look into the possibility of traffic calming. However, this does reflect the growth of traffic throughout the whole county. It is very difficult to re-direct traffic without it causing problems elsewhere in the town.

'We have certain criteria for introducing traffic calming measures and we need to prioritise schemes.