From the Argus: Falmer road sheme (sic) gets green light

[Barrel of Fun]

Falmer road sheme (sic) gets green light
By Simon Barrett

A major scheme to improve roads around the proposed Falmer stadium will begin next year.

The South East England Development Agency (Seeda) and Brighton and Hove City Council have agreed a £5.3million package of transport infrastructure works.

The work is seen as a vital step in delivering Brighton and Hove Albion's new community stadium at Falmer, which was given the go-ahead by the Government last month.

Seeda says the work will create major improvements to the A27/A270, the socalled academic corridor into Brighton, improving access to Brighton and Sussex universities.

The road upgrades include improvements to the A27/A270 junction, a new access road to Sussex University, improved access to Falmer High School and a footpath and cycle path between Moulsecoomb and Falmer train station.

The move has been hailed as another step forward in Albion's ten-year search for a new home.

Peter Cusdin, Seeda development director, said: "As well as being fundamental to the development of the stadium, there are spin-off benefits of these infrastructure works which will benefit the people living in the local area.

"We are very pleased that Brighton and Hove City Council has approved the management arrangements for the project, and look forward to working with them on delivering it." Seeda says the road improvements will improve access to other key sites, including four hectares of land at Woollard's Field, which is currently being considered for East Sussex County Council's proposed History Management Centre.

Brighton and Hove City Council's leader, Brian Oxley, said: "It's good to see the benefits created by the stadium starting to take shape at this early stage, which vindicates our support for it.

"We welcome the improvements these works will bring to the communities and universities in the area around the stadium, the city and the wider surrounding area."

Work on the improvements is expected to start next year.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears moved to end a decade of uncertainty for Albion last month by approving plans for the 22,500 seat arena at Village Way North.

Opponents of the stadium still have until September 4 to appeal against the scheme's approval, but Lewes District Council has already decided not to initiate another appeal.

Albion fans are anxiously awaiting news from Falmer Parish Council, which could yet decide to launch a High Court challenge.

The original decision to grant permission, made by John Prescott in October 2005, was quashed by the Government after it was revealed he made a mistake in the wording of the document.

 

[larus]

Does this include improvements to the Falmer roundabouts as well?

The major problem coming off at this junction to go via Woodingdean is that the traffic from Woodingdean to Brighton has to cut across (at the first roundabout closest to Woodingdean ), rather than having a slip road to take it to the A27/A270. If this isn't improved, the road here is going to be an absolute nightmare.

It's a dangerous junction here at rush hour, as the traffic filters out from the A270 onto the A27, as other traffic is trying to get into the inside lane to come off the A27 into Woodingdean.

 

[Scoffers]

I think the bigger problem is at the Woodingdean end. My folks live in Woodingdean, and I went to see them last Saturday morning. I left the A27 to take the Falmer Road, and had to queue from just past Village Way, the traffic was stacked up to the Woodingdean lights. Agreed it's not always that bad, but improvements certainly need to be made there to get the traffic moving quicker.

 

[pornomagboy]

I think the bigger problem is at the Woodingdean end. My folks live in Woodingdean, and I went to see them last Saturday morning. I left the A27 to take the Falmer Road, and had to queue from just past Village Way, the traffic was stacked up to the Woodingdean lights. Agreed it's not always that bad, but improvements certainly need to be made there to get the traffic moving quicker.

i agree with you there i used to work in lewes and it used to take me 45mins to get home to queens park.... i think is mainly the traffic light Sequence that has to be changed in order for the traffic to move more freely....

 

[The Large One]

Isn't the main problem at Woodingdean the fact that it's single-lane, and that a fair whack - possibly the majority - of the traffic wants to turn right into Warren Road? However, it's stopped from doing that by oncoming traffic from the Rottingdean Road.

Hopefully, someone can change the sequence so that it all moves bit freer.

They have something like that at the Lewes Prison crossroads, and it works quite well.

 

[Scoffers]

Isn't the main problem at Woodingdean the fact that it's single-lane, and that a fair whack - possibly the majority - of the traffic wants to turn right into Warren Road? However, it's stopped from doing that by oncoming traffic from the Rottingdean Road.

Hopefully, someone can change the sequence so that it all moves bit freer.

They have something like that at the Lewes Prison crossroads, and it works quite well.

Yup, exactly.

What would really help is a "Woodingdean Bypass", a road that connects the Falmer Road to Warren Road near the racecourse, that runs behind (North) Woodingdean. There is a dirt road that goes part of the way already.

Cost and planning would scupper that though, I have no doubt

The only other way would be to demolish the Downs Pub (not a bad thing ) and build a second lane for right turns only

 

[webbyson]

Does this include improvements to the Falmer roundabouts as well?

The major problem coming off at this junction to go via Woodingdean is that the traffic from Woodingdean to Brighton has to cut across (at the first roundabout closest to Woodingdean ), rather than having a slip road to take it to the A27/A270. If this isn't improved, the road here is going to be an absolute nightmare.

It's a dangerous junction here at rush hour, as the traffic filters out from the A270 onto the A27, as other traffic is trying to get into the inside lane to come off the A27 into Woodingdean.

Stop moaningNIMBY............

 

[eastlondonseagull]

I love spelling mistakes in headlines







.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

The problem is the bypass. There was hardly any traffic on either end of the Falmer Road before the bypass. Now it is used by East Brighton and traffic for Saltdean and beyond.

 

[Bad Ash]

I love spelling mistakes in headlines

It's not like sheme is even a word, can't the Argus afford a spellchecker?

 

[queens park pete]

If the camber could be altered, any chance a mini roundabout could help?
Alternatively, how about an Italian style, white gloved policeman waving through park and ride buses on match days

 

[pasty]

i agree with you there i used to work in lewes and it used to take me 45mins to get home to queens park....

I can assure that it hasn't got any quicker. Mrs P does the same journey every day.

 

[pornomagboy]

I can assure that it hasn't got any quicker. Mrs P does the same journey every day.

i allways go down the lewes road now and go up coombe road around rush hour traffic so much quicker...

as some one said in the above post it would be a great idea for a mini round about and get rid of the lights all together... and just have zebra crossings in place for the general public

 

[pornomagboy]

If the camber could be altered, any chance a mini roundabout could help?
Alternatively, how about an Italian style, white gloved policeman waving through park and ride buses on match days

thought they was closing the falmer road all together on match days.... the round about would be a great idea

 

[queens park pete]

thought they was closing the falmer road all together on match days.... the round about would be a great idea

What have you got against the Italian Policeman idea? Would it be better if it were an Italian Ladee in police uniform, say Monica Belucci or a young Sophia Loren?

 

[pornomagboy]

What have you got against the Italian Policeman idea? Would it be better if it were an Italian Ladee in police uniform, say Monica Belucci or a young Sophia Loren?

nothing against that

but there would be a lot of crashes with that idea... but would be worth it

 

[queens park pete]

Some drivers might even be tempted to go round the mini roundabout twice, if male reactions in "Malena" were anything to go by!

 

[algie]

I love spelling mistakes in headlines







.

Paul has to take some of the blame for the spotting the obvious

 

[Lord Bracknell]

i allways go down the lewes road now and go up coombe road around rush hour traffic so much quicker...

What he said.

There's no reason whatsoever to use the Falmer - Woodingdean road at the moment.

Mind you, if everyone used Coombe Road, the locals would get pissed off very quickly, what with all the promises that were made to them when the traffic calming scheme went in.

If they permitted a left turn into Bear Road, of course ....

 

[queens park pete]

What he said.

There's no reason whatsoever to use the Falmer - Woodingdean road at the moment.

Mind you, if everyone used Coombe Road, the locals would get pissed off very quickly, what with all the promises that were made to them when the traffic calming scheme went in.

If they permitted a left turn into Bear Road, of course ....

........they would be cutting across a cycle lane and a soon to be extended bus lane going south across the gyratory. Scary enough cycling the A270 as it is!!!