Transport

Authorities and transport agencies must realise we are now planning for the needs of the second quarter of the 21st Century. Full consideration must be given to global warming, pollution, largely caused by vehicle emissions, and the likelihood of massive price rises in fuel. In addition, climate change, including rising sea levels and increased flooding, will radically change the way, and where, we live.

CPRE policy agrees with the Prime Minister's statement that the time for road building is past. Traffic must be reduced in the interests of cleaner air, safety and costs.

30mph Speed Limits in Villages
The government has stated its intention of making 30pmh the norm through villages, with 20mph outside schools or other particularly vulnerable places. West Sussex is making some progress towards this desirable target and Oxfordshire County Council has nearly completed. However, Portsmouth Council has gone to the extreme of a 20mph limit throughout. The results of this pioneering action wil be extremely interesting.

Rail Services

Fighting the Demise of Rural Services
We are also working to promote improvements to the Hastings to Ashford rail link and campaigning to prevent reductions in services to rural areas. We hope to prevent the planned reduction in services to Crowhurst. On top of the loss of a valuable service it would also be a boost for road builders pressing for the Hastings link road.

Our efforts campaigning for the reinstatement of the Wealden Link which joins Lewes to Uckfield seem to be gathering more support as ESCC are now actively campaigning for it.

The new trains are gradually coming into service on the Sussex to London lines months after they were originally due and still with a number of snags and problems. They are certainly smoother running but there is less room for luggage and cycles.

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