New road could be built in Uckfield to combat congestion

Building a new road, either north or south of Bell Lane, Uckfield, is one of the ideas being considered to prevent traffic congestion becoming "unmanageable".

It would be part of a package of measures to prevent the centre of town becoming gridlocked.

An action plan for dealing with the congestion was agreed by East Sussex County Council last week.

A report to the Lead Member for Economy, Transport and Environment, Cllr Carl Maynard, said there were four large housing developments with planning permission in Uckfield which had “roof tax” agreements to secure £4.2m towards the cost of designing and implementing traffic improvements.

Wealden District Council, the planning authority, expects to receive the first of these contributions (£305,000) in the autumn with further large sums expected by mid 2012.

A further £41,140 has already been received from smaller developments in Uckfield.

The report said: “The cost of a traffic improvement scheme depends on its design and scale, but estimates at this stage provide a range between £5m and £16.5m. Further contributions are expected from future development allocations through Wealden District Council’s Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy.”

Extensive traffic surveys were undertaken in November 2010 in order to produce a transport model, known as Saturn.

The model study area covers the whole of the town and includes the by-pass.

“The model is a comprehensive tool representing existing peak-hour traffic conditions. It also provides forecast traffic flows to test different transport interventions taking into account the likely proposed development allocations brought forward through the LDF Core Strategy up to 2027.

“A detailed report summarising the Saturn model and the associated transport planning work undertaken to date is being finalised and will be made public in the summer.

"This will provide the background to explain the extent of and reasons for traffic congestion in the town centre and how these might be addressed,” the report to the Lead Member said.

Wealden council’s core strategy, which is yet to be finally approved, proposes an additional 1,000 homes between the Victoria Field and the by-pass, and 11,000 sq m of retail floor space in Uckfield.

The report warns: “Traffic levels in Uckfield town centre will become unmanageable as a result of developments permitted on the basis of the Wealden Non-Statutory Local Plan.

“This has led to congestion centred round the Bell Lane/High Street traffic signal controlled junction.

"Improvements to the signals have previously been implemented, but there is limited scope to make further significant improvements without additional land being available.

“Without intervention and implementation of town centre traffic management improvements, traffic congestion will continue to grow as the developments that are currently being constructed become occupied.

“The Saturn model will be used to test and evaluate the potential effects of a range of transport interventions including the effects on the potential reinstatement of the Lewes to Uckfield railway line.

“These interventions range from demand management to providing new highway infrastructure. Demand Management could take the form of a travel planning approach to limit the number of vehicle trips through the junction by provision of improved public transport or improvements in the way car parking is provided and managed in the town.

“New highway infrastructure could be a new road to the north or south of Bell Lane.

"Any proposal is likely to be supported by a package of measures to improve facilities for all road users which would benefit residents, businesses, shoppers and other interested parties.”

Public consultation and an exhibition are likely to be held early in 2012.

Have your say on traffic congestion in Uckfield in our Uckfield Traffic Survey.