Promoted Routes and impact on the Environment, do they provide protection?

[John Vannuffel]

I'd be interested to hear peoples views pertaining to the impact of promoted routes on the environment. It appears to me that promoted routes, such as the South Downs Way, function to  protect the environment by concentrating use along one route. Without these promoted routes traffic would spread further, causing greater impact. Promoted routes are also used for organised events. Without the promoted routes the organised events would follow many different routes, again, this would cause greater impact.

Financially and practically, it strikes me as easier to maintain a small number of high use routes than maintain a wider spread of routes.

 

Where a number of routes cross a sensitive area, does it not relieve pressure on the environment by promoting one convenient route and concentrating use. so as to minimaise impact across the wider area?

 

 

 

[Michael Sewell]

Hi John,

I live in Streat, near to Plumpton Agricultural College. We have noticed a significant increase in motor traffic in Streat Lane over the recent past, which is very noticeable to me as I look down onto Streat Lane from my arm chair!  But also a particular increase in cycle traffic. This may well be due to the large number of organised cycle events that now use Streat Lane, to gain access to The Ridge bridleway leading down to Plumpton Race Course. Our local Parish Meeting have asked me to find out if it would be possible to make Streat Lane an official  'Quiet Lane', under the Dept of Transport legislation passed in 2006 (see attachment). We are very concerned at the mix of cars, tractors, bicycles, walkers and horses, all of which are on the increase. In effect, this would make Streat Lane an 'un-promoted' route for motor traffic. I am sure there are other quiet lanes that would welcome the same sort of approach.

What are your thoughts on this please?

Many thanks

Mike Sewell

[John Vannuffel]

Hi Mike,

 

I'm familiar with the area and Streat Lane as I pass it, and occasionaly use it, on my commute to work by motorcycle. A lovely rural lane that occasionally provides me with a enjoyable ride back from work on summer evenings. I also use it when the roads are ice bound as it enables me to avoid some of the busier Clayton road / Ditchling road and the not so competent drivers on them. Always a worry when your on a small motorcycle - espescially on icebound roads.

 

From my perspective as an occasional user of the lane I think it would be suitable for quiet lane status. That's not to say motor traffic should be deterred from the route, but the nature in which motor traffic uses it should be more sympathetic to promoting a less "motorised" character of Streat Lane.

 

Multi user routes (inclusive of motor vehicles) do work very well in my experience, as do quiet lanes, providing that all users of that route do so with consideration for one another. One of the ways to foster this mutual consideration is by changing the nature of the roads environment i.e. with quiet lane status.

 

It would be usefull to establish the volume of all modes of traffic, in various seasons/times, using Streat Lane. Much of it may not be through traffic, the popular Blackberry Farm may well have significant  assosciated journeys by all modes.

 

On the wider scale is there any other cause for a percieved increase in traffic? The traffic management through Ditchling seems poor to me. Chicanes in place reduce (sometimes) traffic speed at the expense of flow. This displaces traffic elsewhere. Part of the solution may be to reduce traffic speed through Ditchling without reducing flow. An accoustic road surface together with speed humps perhaps?

 

Likewise it would warrant consideration of revoking the Traffic Regulation Order on the Eastern Underhill lane. Changing this to Quiet Lane status to allow sympathetic passage of motorised through traffic would achieve many goals whilst improving the overall character of the wider local road network, that includes Streat Lane.

 

Quiet Lane status could well be the ideal solution to improving the lane for all modes of traffic, providing it's considered in the wider context. Dedicating lanes without doing this can just lead to problems elsewhere. You may encounter some objections if quiet Lane status is sought without considering it's wider implications.

 

Hope this is of help.

 

John

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Michael Sewell]

Thanks for your comments John, I think the points you have made are very valid.

You are one of  very few motorcyclists using Streat lane (I would particularly notice as I am one, too).

My armchair view is actually straight onto the entrance of Blackberry Wood camp site, and you are correct in saying that that does attract a significant amount of traffic, almost entirely cars or SUVs - they are popping in and out of there like bees at a hive sometimes, mostly using the southern end of the lane for both access and egress.

But they are not the only traffic, especially during the rush hour. We seem to get a convoy of cars, and then a break. Maybe one travelling at a sensible speed holding up other estwhile faster users - perhaps not a bad thing.

There have recently been several sets of roadworks in the wider vicinity that have sent people away from their normal routes, and perhaps in the process they have discovered Streat lane. Hopefully the novelty will wear off soon!

I also agree with you that reducing the traffic restrictions in Ditchling would help. One very simple step would be to restrict parking on the road running south from the crossroads. At least traffic would then flow freely out of the village, and this would, I think, relieve the pressure on the rest of the village road network. Whether the locals would view this as an improvement is another matter!

I would agree that any use of Quiet Lane status should only be part of a bigger plan, but it is clear that some lanes are manifestly more suitable for larger traffic volumes than others, Spatham Lane more suitable than Streat Lane, for example. By making Streat lane a Quiet Lane, motor traffic would not be banned from Streat Lane, just asked to bear in mind that they might well meet non-motorised road users just around blind bends, and to drive accordingly.

I think you and I agree that careful, selective use of Quiet Lane status could be a useful tool in harnessing the increased traffic demands that are likely to arise as the National Park really comes of age.

Quite how our thoughts  can become part of a proper plan  I am not quite sure.Who is the policy maker on this, and how do we involve them in the discussion?

Thanks

Mike

[John Vannuffel]

the initial responsibility for Quiet Lane status rests with the relevant highway authority. This would be east Sussex for Streat Lane. I understand that Quiet Lane status is a form of Traffic Regulation Order (TRO). SDNPA does not have the power to impose TRO's on tarmacced roads. SDNPA can work with the relevant highway authority to designate Quiet Lane status though.

 

As for policy, Quiet Lane status could be considered as part of the Rights of Way Improvement plan for  SDNP.

 

I guess the first step as a Parish Council is to contact ESCC highways and copy SDNPA in. Hopefully these posts will result in some interest from SDNPA as well.

 

 

 

 

[Michael Sewell]

Thanks John, that is very helpful. I will follow it up.