'˜Someone's going to die': residents speak out over speeding concerns

Those living on Bracklesham Lane claim cars travel as fast as 70mph through the 40mph zone, with some careering off the road at a sharp bend on the corner.

Young dad Jason Pearce has been campaigning for additional traffic calming measures since he moved to the road in February.

A speed indicator device was installed for a few weeks in June, but Jason feels it’s not enough.

He said: “Cars are flying past at 60 or 70.

“We’ve got a young family, we’ve got a young puppy as well and we’re so worried about them being out the front that I tried to see if there was anything we could do, but since June I haven’t really got anywhere.”

Neighbour Ian Collyer is also worried after an incident last May saw his daughter badly hurt in a collision while turning into their drive on her moped.

Ian said: “Someone’s going to die.

“They’ll die, because we’ve had numerous accidents at the end of our road.

“We’ve got two nasty little bends and within the last two months we’ve had vehicles over-cooking the bend and going in the corn field round there and it’s only a matter of time.”

Another resident said she felt she ‘took her life in her hands’ every time she pulled out of her driveway, with others expressing concerns that the 40mph signs are too overgrown to be visible.

A West Sussex County Council spokesperson confirmed there were plans to clear vegetation from around the traffic signs in mid-November.

Existing traffic calming measures between Bookers Lane and Clappers Lane include red traffic calming strips, speed limit roundels, yellow backed signs, slow markings and a permanent vehicle activated sign.

West Sussex County Council has one speed indicator device for temporary use in Chichester, but parishes may apply for permission to fund their own permanent device.

Sussex Police said there had been eight reported collisions in Bracklesham Lane between August 2013 and October 2016.

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