BILLINGSHURST
HEALTHCHECK – TRANSPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
As a prelude to the main recommendations a
number of statements need to be considered.
1.Dominance of the car as a prime means of
transport needs to be “challenged”,
which can only come from :-
- improvements in public transport.
- Ensuring value for money from public transport
subsidies.
- Easier access to a coordinated system of
cycle tracks, including cycle security.
- Encouraging people to walk when and wherever
possible.
2. In considering transport matters a balance
between economic and environmental issues must
be borne in mind.
3. Transport/road safety issues must be considered
separately and in depth.
4. The ability to integrate further the hinterland
with Billingshurst is frought with problems
and cost.
5. The need to provide a public transport system
to take account of the need of young people,
particularly in terms of extra curricula and
social activity is also very difficult.
SECTION 1 – PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Trains - there is a need to encourage more
usage from non commuter traffic.
- disabled and elderly people need to have
boarding/leaving trains made easier.
- bus services need improved linkage with train
arrivals, together with better waiting facilities
- car parking in the area of the station requires
improvement and the whole area needs to be made
more presentable.
Buses – most hinterland villages/communities
are not adequately served.
- lack of low platform buses makes boarding/leaving
a problem for many.
- no evening services exist.
- Improve bus information, particularly print
clarity, cleaner glass and information on all
services.
Coaches – no services exist and, as such,
no need has been defined.
Recommendations
i) To carry out a review to consider how best
to increase rail usage. To include :-
- Ramping platforms to permit easier access/exit.
- Improve station parking facilities to allow
for daytime shoppers etc.
- Improve bus timetable linkage with a commitment
to meet some incoming trains. This will require
train/bus interface.
- Refurbish area around the station.
- Refer also to the “Road Safety”
heading.
ii) Carry forward a linked bus review to improve
service and usage. To include :
- Easier bus boarding/leaving via ramped areas
at bus stops.
- Consider daytime service and whether subsidy
per head is value for money.
- Consider one service per ?? in each direction
meeting a specific train in each direction.
Bus/rail interface will be necessary to allow
for late running of trains.
- Consider Dial a Ride service for hinterland
communities into Billingshurst.
- Include consideration of extra curricula/
social needs of young people.
- Make recommendations on ways to improve bus
and rail timetable information availability.
Better bus stop information is required.
SECTION 2 – GETTING AROUND.
Walking – within Billingshurst :-
- Need to improve safety of Clevelands/Church
path
- A network of signed footpaths should be created
within the Market Town
- The provision of a footpath linking both
main car parks is necessary.
- Consideration should be given to alleviating
the dangers on the pavement at the bottom of
East St..
- The pavement between Austens and the Kings
Head should be widened to allow for wheelchairs
and two-way foot traffic.
Walking – within the hinterland:-
- whilst pavements exist from Adversane and
Five Oaks to Billingshurst, they are extremely
dangerous due to narrowness in parts and the
speed/size of traffic. They need widening or
placing behind hedgerows.
- In general terms walking from other hinterland
communities is not an option for most people
due to distance and time factors.
Cycling – The ad hoc nature of cycle
paths, the lack of secure storage, plus the
dangers in cycling on the areas A road network,
all serve as a disincentive to the use of cycles.
The mix of pedestrian and cyclists on pavements
can be dangerous and is not liked by many walking
pavement users.
Cars – the car is an essential “tool”
in most peoples lives and is a key factor in
getting to school or work, in the local economy,
for social and leisure needs, as well as to
use public transport. It is, however, detrimental
to the environment, whilst remaining the first
choice of transport by most. Car use (and other
vehicles) create severe problems at certain
times of day, and in specific areas within the
locality.
For the majority the car is essential for :-
- Train use.
- Getting to/from work.
- Shopping.
- Infant/Primary school arrival/collection.
- Leisure purposes.
Pressure points within Billingshurst are :-
- The A272 through Billingshurst.
- The area around the Station.
Peak traffic times are :-
- 8a.m. to 9.30a.m.Monday to Friday.
- 4.30p.m. to 6.00p.m. Monday to Friday
- Shopping times, say 10.00a.m. to 11.00 a.m.
Thursday to Saturday, when car parking becomes
a problem.
Recommendations
iii) Review the current footpath network for
safety and develop a signed and secure path
structure throughout the Market Town. Such review
to consider footpath access between both major
car parks and ensure all pavements and paths
allow two way foot traffic and wheelchair access.
iv) Create a full cycle path network throughout
Billingshurst with separate “tracks”
for foot/cycle traffic whenever possible. Such
a system should include outlying parish communities.
To encourage cycle use secure storage should
be provided at all main points of need, i.e.
shops, library, schools, outside the Station,
and on all Industrial Estates, etc.
v) With a view to minimising the impact of
the car, whilst endeavouring to cater for the
growth in car usage, a thorough review of car
usage should be undertaken to include :-
a) Current parking requirements to ascertain
the extent of parking needs, edge of Market
Town parking for workers, short v long term
parking needs, parking restrictions within the
shopping area ( i.e. one or two hour maxima)
, and improvement in parking facilities at the
Station.
b) The Walking Bus scheme should be considered
for local schoolchildren with the aim of alleviating
traffic congestion around the infant/primary
schools at school arrival/departure time.
c) As part of an overall review of road safety
(See Section C) traffic flows should be analysed
to see if a “one way” system could
be introduced to the High St./Coombe Hill area.
Such analysis to include pedestrianisation of
Mill Lane.
SECTION 3 ROAD SAFETY.
From accident statistics there are a number
of clear accident points. The prime danger areas
are :-
- Adversane.
- Newbridge
- The level crossing area at the Station.
- Bottom of East St. facing Budgens.
Recommendations
vi) Adversane crossroads. The imposition of
the 40m.p.h. speed limit may have the desired
effect of reducing speed/accidents at this junction
but it is too early for trends to emerge or
statistics to become available. Should this
scheme not work to the desired effect then consideration
should be given to the introduction of a major
roundabout.
vii) Newbridge. The narrowness of the bridge
is such that it provides encouragement to two
way traffic without there being adequate width.
A “one direction” priority system
or traffic lights should be considered.
viii) Station level crossing. Being set at
an angle to the road, the level crossing is
too narrow to allow for easy two-way traffic
flow. Additionally large vehicles enter or exit
the Industrial Estate. Whilst traffic flow over
the crossing is slow, and thereby any vehicle
to vehicle accident damage slight, the real
danger is to pedestrians. Negotiations with
Network Rail should be undertaken with a view
to widening access to the crossing to allow
for two way vehicle flow and pedestrian pathways.
ix) A272 junction with the High St. The A272
access to the High St. is not only narrow and
a danger to pedestrians but is made more difficult
by traffic turning into Mill Lane/the Library
Car Park plus the needs of Budgens delivery
vehicles. To improve safety the following issues
should be reviewed :-
a) pedestrian traffic around the NWB corner
to be directed via little East St. and Rose
Hill
b) Restricting A29 southerly traffic down the
High St., from turning left towards Haywards
Heath.
c) Prioritising A272 traffic over High St.
traffic at this junction.
d) Pedestrianising Mill Lane thus stopping
the need for cars crossing A272 traffic flows
east.
e) Stop parking outside Budgens.
f) Stop pedestrian traffic from crossing between
Burdocks and NWB.
SECTION 4 – ACCESSIBILITY.
Adequate parking spaces for disabled exist
in the Library and Jengers Mead car parks, but
the area around the Station has no such facility.
Pavements are reasonable with dropped kerbs
and “bobble” strips being good.
The pavement outside “Monsoon” is
too narrow and should be improved in the planned
traffic calming measures in the High St.
Problems exist in getting on/off trains and
buses. Both are difficult for wheelchair, pushchairs
and cycle travel.
Whilst access to shops and public buildings
is fair, the library requires walking across
car park/road and a review should be carried
out into the “island site” nature
of the library position.
Only pedestrian crossings exist which have
been adapted with “bobble” paving
for those with impaired sight, which could be
improved through the introduction of pelican
crossing facilities.
Recommendations.
x) Provide disabled parking spaces and normal
parking facilities in the vicinity of the Station.
xi) Include broadening of pavement outside
“Monsoon” within the High St traffic
calming measures.
xii) Open negotiations with both Bus and Train
authorities to make access easier through the
creation of ramped on/off areas.
ixv) Consider installation of a pedestrian
crossing from the library to opposite pavement.
xv) Widen road linking the library car park
to Frenches Mead/Combe Hill.
SECTION E - VISITORS TO BILLINGSHURST.
Little exists to assist “visitors”
to Billingshurst in finding their way around.
No signposts, brochures, maps, or information
centre exists in what is an expanding Market
Town with substantial influxes of people to
live and considerable number of visitors to
Billingshurst for work, leisure, or shopping
purposes.
Recommendations
xvi) Create a system of “finger board”
signposts throughout.
xvii) Introduce an “information centre”
in the shopping area and near the station.
xviii) Have easily accessible maps available
pinpointing all main buildings/areas for visitor
retention.
ixx) Create a series of permanent map boards
at key spots.
xx) Ensure improved availability, with clarity
of information, of bus and train timetables.
All details to be available in all spots. i.e.
bus timetables to include train times and vice
versa |
