Fury over Longford Road 'death trap'

The angry homeowners of Longford Road said the measures taken so far to calm the traffic along the main route to the town centre had failed.

Nigel Ede, who has lived on the road for seven years, said: "It's a death trap down there.

"You can't walk from one side of the road to the other without taking your life in your hands.

"We are fed up with the situation. Something needs to be done about it - and drastically."

He told the joint western Arun area committee of town, district and county councillors that two serious accidents where vehicles had ploughed into the front of nearby properties had occurred in just over two years.

Measures such as plastic bollards put along the kerbsides had failed because motorists simply knocked them down when they mounted pavements and drove off.

Cars parked on the road were also routinely smashed into by passing motorists trying to squeeze along the route between the town centre and the A259/A29.

"Wing mirrors are knocked off and cars damaged," said Mr Ede. "Mine's been done three times this year. People just drive off afterwards."

Added to this mixture of dangerous conditions was the routine flouting of the 30mph speed limit, particularly at night.

Mr Ede said he and his neighbours were angry that nearby roads such as Hotham Way and Hawthorn Road had flashing road speed warning signs.

"All we've got is a sign saying 'slow'," he stated.

Councillors backed the demands of the handful of residents at last week's committee meeting for more substantial traffic calming measures.

They had gone along after being alerted to proposals by the county council to create 'chicanes' along Longford Road by shifting around the existing on-street parking spaces.

Alternating the parking bays is estimated by the county council to cause a 2mph drop in average speeds.

The county council says speed cushions or a one way system is unsuitable for the road because of its role as a main thoroughfare.

Councillors asked the highways officers to think again about replacing the current bollards with metal or concrete versions. They also wanted more work into the possibility of a 20mph speed limit.

County councillor Michael Coleman said: "If a motorist hit a concrete bollard he would soon know it and stop."

Cllr David Biss, of Arun District Council, said: "It's difficult for the residents of Longford Road to understand why it can't be 20mph when similar roads nearby are."

Committee chairman, county cllr George Blampied told the residents: "We are not going to let this matter go. We are well aware of the problems in Longford Road."