Resident questions council priorities

That's the question being asked by an Ellerslie Lane resident who wants to know where East Sussex County Council priorities lie.

David Norris says he has campaigned unsuccessfully for six years to improve safety for pedestrians in Ellerslie Lane yet lorry damage to an oak tree was acted on immediately.

He commented: "It is ironic. They are prepared to protect the tree but do nothing for the pedestrians, children, mums pushing prams, or householders that use the lane.

"I'd like to ask the council '“ what is your priority?"

Ellerslie Lane has become a "rat-run" according to David because drivers use it as a shortcut between Turkey Road and the A259.

"Peartree Lane and Gunters Lane have the same problem '“ they are all rat-runs - but they have pavements either side, wide roads, street-lighting...everything you would want. Ellerslie Lane has no kerb signs, no pavements, no markings on the road, no street-lighting, nothing."

Pedestrians in Ellerslie Lane are put at risk by on-coming cars, vans and lorries, because there is no room and must wait in driveways to allow traffic to pass by.

Vans and lorries frequently back into private property to make space for oncoming traffic but David said eight weeks ago one of these reversed into an oak tree on his boundary and caused minor damage.

He contacted Rother District Council who informed the Highways Department and shortly after a Forestry Officer came to examine the tree and concluded it had been damaged and needed protection.

Two bollards were placed around the oak tree to keep it safe.

David commented: "It is ironic they did something about the tree so quickly. I am very pleased with what they have done but it doesn't help me at all '“ it helps the tree. I have still got to walk along this lane and jump out of the path of cars and lorries to avoid them.

"Where are the local priorities '“ trees or residents?"

He believes the cheapest way to solve the problem of heavy traffic would be to install steel posts in the lane to enforce the restriction sign at the entrance from Turkey Road '“ no vehicles wider than 6ft 6in.

A spokesman for East Sussex County Council said, "Ellerslie Lane is a narrow road so constructing a pavement would severely reduce its width, creating safety problems for two-way traffic. Also, as there are no features such as schools or local shops, the number of people walking along this road is very low and it would not be a priority for this work compared to other roads in the county."