'˜Resolve road chaos before new homes are built'

The petition, launched by SAFE Rottingdean, calls on Brighton and Hove City Council and East Sussex County Council to find solutions to worsening peak time gridlock along the A259 between Newhaven and Brighton Marina before any new housing is planned in the area.

Nigel Smith, chairman of SAFE, said: “We would like to see both councils work together with Lewes District Council and the highway authorities so that we can get a permanent solution that works.”

The petition also asks the councils to carry out a study on the impact of heavy traffic on the economy, air quality and health of residents.

The road goes through two Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) at Newhaven and Rottingdean, contributing to worsening levels of air pollution.

Mr Smith fears future housing developments in the area will only exacerbate the congestion as well as placing more pressure on the local schooling and healthcare system.

SAFE claims the hundreds of homes planned for Newhaven and Peacehaven will add an average of 1.5 extra cars to the rush hour traffic jam.

The group said in addition, a lack of available school places in the area will force parents onto the A259 to take their children to the nearest junior school four miles away.

“This is not acceptable,” said Mr Smith.

The petition calls on the councils to halt the planning of all housing developments in the area until suggestions of infrastructure improvements – including the road – have been made available to the public.

The petition has already gained more than 1,000 signatures on the Brighton and Hove City Council website and more than 700 on the East Sussex County Council website.

It has to collect 1,250 signatures to be debated by Brighton and Hove City Council and 5,000 to be debated by East Sussex County Council.

To view the petitions, click here for Brighton and Hove, and here for East Sussex.