Summary Notes of the Maresfield Parish Council Traffic & Transport Committee’s Local Action Team meeting held on Thursday 30th June 2005 in the Parish Office, Nutley

Present: -             Cllr R Tester, Mr P Knivett, Mr D Sweetnam. Clerk Tony Allen.

                        Mr N Banks (SWP Community Safety Coordinator)

                        Sgt R Mitchell, PCSO Ms K Juniper (Uckfield Police)

The Clerk opened the meeting by summarising the current position regarding the Parish Council’s collection and analysis of traffic data over the last few years. It was noted that data had been collected by the following means:-

• Speedwatch exercise in 2003
• Speed Indicator Devices
• Road grids
• Parishioner/Council surveys and measurements

The Clerk explained that this data had been distilled into priority areas for each Village which were included in a Parishioner consultation exercise carried out at the end of 2004, to gauge the perceived importance of issues and solutions proposed by the T&T Committee. The results of this consultation, having been collated and summarised, had allowed the T&T Committee to prioritise issues/solutions for each Village, enabling an Integrated Parish traffic Management Plan to be drafted for further public consultation, following which the Plan would be reviewed by consultants, funding identified and physical solutions implemented.

Sgt Mitchell stated that the Parish Council, although very advanced in its traffic studies, needed to think more carefully about what it wanted to do and how this would be achieved, using a Local Action Team (LAT) to address one priority issue at a time following  the LAT process model. It was noted that the driving force for quick large scale highway changes were accident statistics and that driver ‘education’ was a preferred means of addressing most issues.

Mr Sweetnam noted that reasonably priced physical measures should still be considered as a means of slowing traffic down, and that Police back-up and enforcement was needed as part of any solution. It was agreed that these actions could flow from LAT initiatives.

Mr Knivett stated that the speeding of vehicles, as opposed to volume, was the main problem, and that the long-term solution to this was physical measures.

Mr Banks referred to the successful Speedwatch Exercise being carried out in Ringmer, where the LAT had a trained team of volunteers, on a continuous rota, using a speed gun to identify speeding vehicles; and using follow-up letters to offenders had produced a very positive effect on lowering speed levels. It was noted that this was a relatively inexpensive method of addressing the main issue of concern in Maresfield Parish, but relied on a large core of willing volunteers over a long period. Mr Banks agreed to speak to the SWP regarding the funding for the acquisition of a speed-gun for Maresfield Parish, but it was noted that a case would have to be submitted by the T&T Committee. It was noted that a useful contact regarding the Ringmer Exercise was A/Sgt Mark Cranleigh based at Lewes.

PCSO Juniper stated that, under Section 59 Orders, PCSOs can deal with a lot of traffic offences that cause danger and distress to Parishioners (i.e. ASB), but that this relied upon individuals making reports to Sussex Police. It was noted that reported incidents are analysed by the Sussex Police Road Policing Unit, and from this intelligence, action is fed to the Police Officers ‘on the ground’.

Councillor Tester proposed the following Actions to be put before the next T&T Committee meeting on 5^th July 2005:-

• T&T Committee to target highest priority issue by sequencing its Parish Traffic Plan
• LAT membership to be tailored to include representatives who can make a valuable input into addressing the chosen issue and its solution
• Hold a meeting with LAT Team from Ringmer PC to discuss their approach and to get advice on applying for a speed-gun
• Identify ways of increasing the volunteer base

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 20:10