Welcome to Frant and Withyham NPT page

Priority 1: What you said: Concerns raised over the speed of traffic through the villages, across Ashdown Forest and through Frant on the A267
Issue raised on 17 Mar 2012

What we did: Community Speed Watch has been set up in Groombridge. Stop Speeding Commitment to be run in Withyham What Happened: 15 Volunteers now signed up to the community speed watch in Groombridge. The speed awareness week held in July was a success with 26 letters being sent out advising drivers of their speed, another speed awareness week is planned for week beginning 5 October. The parish of Withyham is to take part in the Stop Speeding Commitment. The aim of the commitment is to raise awareness in local communities about the speeding and road safety issues. In signing up to the commitment local residents will show their support for more thoughtful and careful driving. The main point of contact for residents is to be the Withyham Parish Clerk, Rosemary Leopard. When the resident signs up they will receive a car sticker and a VEL tax disc holder both have the revamped Stop Speeding Commitment logo on them. This initiative is to be presented to the Withyham Parish Council on 11 October 2010. The Parish Council and East Sussex Highways have agreed on a VAS sign for the A264 at Blackham, this is to be funded by the Parish Council with the final design to be agreed. Request made to PCSO Tompsett to spend time in Frant and Bells Yew Green with the SID machine E-mail sent to ES Highways with request to cut hedges along A267 between Church Lane and Abergaveny Arms Request put into Frant Parish Magazine for members to join the Community Speed Watch Scheme. 5 Volunteers have shown an interest in community speed watch and a training session has been planned for January 2011. Request for PCSO Tompsett to use SID in the villages. Ops team have been asked to carry out Speed checks in Groombridge Ops Team carried out speed checks on the morning of Sunday 8 May and again on Monday 9 May between 17:30 - 18:30 no speeding motorists to note Neighbourhood Panel Meeting held, priorities to remain the same New area to be aware of re speeding is London Road, by the Forest Fold Cottages and Chapel. PCSO Tomsett is aware and is looking at speed check site. Ops team have agreed to do further speed checks on The Ridge, G/Bridge Parish Council to be asked to look at reducing speed limits near the schools PCSO Tompsett will be carrying out SID checks on London Road, Withyham and Corseley Road, Grombridge on 18 June. Speed checks carried out on London Road at Forest Fold Cottages by PCSO Tomsett, speeds recorded upto 57mph. I have asked him if he can ask RPU to spend some time up there. Speed checks carried out on Corseley Road, Groombridge speeds recorded were no more than 25mph. Frant now has Community Speed Watch in place with sites assessed Speed awareness week 3 - 7 October across Ashdown Forest and villages. No further reports of motorbikes speeding around Station Road, Groombridge Accident on Station Road, G/Bridge resulted in young girl being hit by a car, Mark Dunn traffic management looking at site for safety on Wednesday 7 Sept and PCSO Iain Tomsett will be doing some SID checks on 16 and 26 September. SID checks still to be completed Assessment carried by Mark Dunn out on Station Road, Past to East Sussex highways who will include the site on their assessment list. Church Road, Frant to have SID check at end of school to remind parents of need to slow down. This site has been assessed and unfortunately there is nowhere for the machine to monitor due to parked vehicles and junction to A267 and school. SID Speed check done on Station Rd, Groombridge on 28/09/11 with average speed of 28.3mph with 30 vehicles checked between 12:25 - 12:55. SID Speed check done on London Road on 28/09/11, by the Forest Fold Cottages with an average speed of 37.5mph with 50 vehicles checked between 15:25 - 15:45. SID Speed checks done on London Road on 4/10/11 with an average speed of 35.1, 50 vehicles checked between 15:00 - 15;30. SID Speed checks done on The Ridge on 4/10/11 with an average speed of 39.1, 50 vehicles checked between 16:00 - 16:30 Update 01/11/11 SID checks done at Station Road, Groombridge on 10/10/11 with average speed 21.7mph, checked between 09:20 - 09:40 SID checks 26/10/11 at Forest Fold Cotts, London Road 3 vehicles reported to Op Crackdown. SID operation in Crowborough area between 5-9 December. Update 6 December 2011 I have worked with the Groombridge Community Speed Watch to carry out checks on The Ridge. Worked with PC Elphick to carry out enforcement on The Ridge with 45 vehicles checked, 3 were above the 40mph limit but no penalties were issued Updates 19 December 2011 Frant Community Speed Watch are now trained and ready to start checks PC Elphick carried out speed checks on A267 at Frant, 61 vehicle checked, highest speed recorded 35mph Neighbourhood Panel Meeting held on 19 Jan 2012 Request to be made to East Sussex Highways re possibility of deer signs on A267 at Frant towards Mark Cross - Graham Beaty, County Hall, Lewes AFPRSP will be planning next road safety campaign across the Ashdown Forest and surrounding villages, dates to be advised, PCSO Iain Tomsett to be asked to assist with SID Speed loops to be put in the road on The Ridge Groombridge as requested by the new Ridge Community Association NH Panel Meeting 19/04/12 Speeding No speed checks or SID done during this quarter, now summer is approaching we can get back to it PCSO Tomsett asked to chase up speed loops for The Ridge Groombridge East Sussex Highways have been spoken to and e-mailed with the request for signing on the A267 and Bunny Lane at Frant, they advise that Ashdown Forest scheme is to be rolled out to other locations so there is a good chance request can be followed through Updates 09/05/12 Speed loops have been fitted and date received West Bound - 06:00 - 07:00, 13 vehicles 41 - 46mph 14:00 - 17:00, 23 vehicles 41 - 46mph East Bound - 06:00 - 18:00, 277 vehicles 41 - 46mph 06:00 - 18:00, 119 vehicles 46 - 51mph 06:00 - 07:00, 7 vehicles 51 - 56mph 11:00 - 12:00, 4 vehicles 51 - 56mph 16:00 - 17:00, 4 vehicles 51 - 56mph Request to highways for temporary deer signs - call from Helen Payne advising that trials are continuing on Ashdown Forest and Frant and Bunny Lane would be added to a referral list for consideration when trial complete. Next Ashdown Forest speed initiative to be in September 2012
Action taken on 9 May 2012

Priority 2: What you said: There were worries about the parking outside the Post Office, Station Road, Groombridge and along the Withyham Road, Groombridge close to the mini roundabout by the Victoria. There were worries about the parking along the Bayham Road, Bells Yew Green. Communters using the train station are parking along the road very close to the junction with Broomfield,
Issue raised on 17 Mar 2012

What we did: A request was made to East Sussex Highways for the double yellow lines to be painted outside the Post Office in Groombridge. Reqest for letters to sent to all residents living close to the mini roundabout reminding them of the need to park consideratly and within lawful distance of junctions. Request to be made to Parish Council to ensure they are happy for letter to go out. Continued patrols in Bells Yew Green to check parking What Happened: The double yellow lines have been repainted outside the Post Office along with the junction lines. The Parish Council have been contacted and letters have been sent out to all residents living close to the mini roundabout on the Withyham Road, Fixed penalty tickets have been issued to vehicles parked too close to the junctions on the Bayham Road, we are waiting for an update from East Sussex Highways with regard to traffic calming and yellow lines being put onto the road. Frant Parish Council Meeting planned for 20 October where ES Highways will advise what measures are to be put in place on Bayham Road, Bells Yew Green Plans have been drawn up and approved for traffic calming and parking restrictions in Bells Yew Green, these maynot be implemented until May 2011. Parking at the Victoria roundabout Groombridge has improved following the letters being sent out, parking at the Post Office Groombridge is a bit better but still an issue. East Sussex Highways have planned a public meeting for 21 February 2011 to discuss Bells Yew Green parking. Plans have been agreed and are now with East Sussex Highway solicitors and it is hoped to get notices put up in the near future Parking is much inproved around the Post Office in Groombridge - continue to remind drivers of safe parking areas. Fixed Penelty tickets have been issued on the Withyham Road, Groombridge by the mini roundabout for vehicle owners parking on the pavement and blocking access for pedestrians. Following on from the Withyham Annual Parish Meeting concerns where raised over the parking outside St Johns School, St Johns. I will be checking the area when the children return to school after the Easter holidays Parking checked at St Johns school advise given to parents. - 26/04/11 Neighbourhood Panel Meeting held and parking to remain a priority with no new sites identified. Sites to be monitored. Parking notices re done at Bells Yew Green due to confusion about reading the back of sheet, some objections received so going to planning meeting and hope to start work in October, there will not be another public meeting. Groombridge parking continues to be monitored Parking outside Frant Post Office being monitored, the Parish Council are responsible for the area and advise that no plans to change the layout Sites to continue to be monitored Updates 6 Decemer 2011 The new parking restictions and traffic calming has now been completed on the Bayham Road at Bells Yew Green. Vehicles now parking correctly. Parking in Groombridge continues to be monitored Neighbourhood Panel Meeting held 19 Jan 2012 Concerns with the parking on the Tunbridge Wells side of Frant railway station car park as vehicles parking very close to entrance and round corner and view is obstructed Concerns with vehicles parking on Orchard Rise, Corseley Road, Groombridge junction Parking outside the Groombridge Post Office needs to continue as a priority NH Panel Meeting 19/04/12 Parking Frant Post Office, words of advice given to those parking on pavement when in the area Bells Yew Green much improved with road improvements now in place although commuters still park on Tunbridge Wells side of station. Groombridge Post Office continues to be monitored
Action taken on 9 May 2012