Lindfield has endured several years of 32 tonne trucks passing through the High Street (B2028) and the Lewes Road (B2111) on outward and return trips. The situation has become intolerable and we have over 1200 signatures to a petition requiring action.
The Lindfield Preservation Society is leading the campaign to reduce the number of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) using local roads to pass through our neighbourhoods.
We are well aware that many of these lorry movements will have been passing through Ardingly, Turners Hill and Crawley Down and that Balcombe, Cuckfield, Sharpthorne and West Hoathly have also been adversely affected.
We have recently written to these and our own Parish Councils and to Community Groups asking them to support our application to WSCC for a Traffic Regulation Order to restrict access to vehicles over 7.5 tonne on all ‘B’ & ‘C’ roads in an area of Mid Sussex enclosed by the M23/A23 to the West, the A272, including the Haywards Heath bypass, to the South, the A275/A22 to the East and the A264/A2220 to the North. Existing width limit signs and weight limit signs would be supplemented by new weight limit signs, almost all positioned along these routes.
Our proposal will oblige HGVs, to use, as advised by WSCC and ESCC, A-Class roads and Motorways unless local access is required. The facts are that the Advisory Routes are being disregarded and that effective signage is needed.
The villages of Copthorne, Hurstpierpoint, Hassocks, Keymer, Ditchling, Wivelsfield Green & Warninglid already have 7.5 tonne exclusion signs except for access & loading. The southern part of Cuckfield is similarly protected but the northern section is currently unprotected. We have none.