Petition launched to make busy Eastbourne junction safer

Councillor John Ungar and resident Robert McGowan are spearheading a campaign calling on East Sussex County Council to make improvements for pedestrians and cyclists at the crossroads between Victoria Drive, East Dean Road, and Summerdown Road in Old Town.

Almost 300 people have signed their petition on Change.org which says it is concerned about the safety of “the most vulnerable road users – who include children, the elderly, and disabled people”.

The petition says, “A glance at Crashmap reveals that it is among the most dangerous junctions in Eastbourne’s Old Town, which we think is partly due to the lack of a clear pedestrian phase on the traffic lights.

“Given that three pedestrians and two cyclists have been killed on Eastbourne’s roads since mid-2015, including two fatalities on Victoria Drive, this is clearly a very serious issue.

“Many children who attend Gildredge House, Cavendish, Pashley Down, Motcombe, Ocklynge and Ratton schools have to negotiate this junction on weekdays, along with large numbers of foreign students in the spring and summer months.”

And now the petition has been delivered to County Hall, and a report into the issue will be considered by the lead member for communities and safety on May 30.

Meanwhile local dad Matthew Zalman is also calling for improvements at the crossroads. He thinks there should be a button there for pedestrians to stop the traffic lights.

The 33-year-old said, “It is not safe at all, it was only last week that I saw two cars hit each other once again, luckily no major accident happened. Cars go through the red lights all the time.”

Matt, who has recently celebrated his successful campaign for a traffic light crossing in Kings Drive, said, “My daughter crosses the road with me as it’s not safe. You have to wait ages. They don’t stop.”

An East Sussex County Council spokesman said, “We have received the petition and it will be considered by the Lead Member for Communities and Safety at his meeting at the end of May.”

To view the full petition, click here.

Eastbourne dad celebrates new school crossing after long campaign