Lancing plagued by roadworks and temporary traffic lights on A259

Residents in Lancing are becoming increasingly frustrated with traffic jams and long delays due to roadworks and temporary traffic lights on the A259 and in a residential street.

There are temporary traffic lights in Grinstead Lane and on the junction of South Street and the A259 as well as a three-way temporary traffic light system in Brighton Road at the junction of Western Road, where traffic has been reduced to one lane.

MP for East Worthing and Shoreham Tom Rutland said he had been inundated with concerns from constituents about the impact the works are having on the village.

In a letter to Councillor Joy Dennis, cabinet member for Highways and transport at West Sussex County Council, Mr Rutland said the works have led to traffic jams and delays.

“As you may be aware, the works are significantly impacting the flow of traffic, leading to delays for people travelling to school and work and impacting residents’ ability to attend appointments,” he said.

“The traffic flow issues created by these works have subsequently impacted South Street, leading to considerable traffic jams and a blocked through route and I am concerned that the council has issued permits for concurrent works.”

The second set of roadworks on the A259 at Lancing (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

He urged the councillor to provide a schedule for the works and to explain why multiple permits had been given for the works.

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A West Sussex County Council spokesman said council improvement works to the pedestrian crossing at the junction of Western Road and Brighton Road are scheduled to finish on October 25 and work at the junction of South Street and Brighton Road by UK Power Networks is scheduled to finish on October 23.

The roadworks at Brooklands (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

The spokesman said: “We are aware of and understand the frustrations caused by the current volume of roadworks in Lancing and apologise to all residents and road users who have been affected.

“We make every effort to coordinate planned work on our road network to minimise the amount of disruption. Utility companies have the legal right to access, maintain and install their apparatus in the public highway.

“Every application for works is carefully considered taking into account other works in the surrounding area before a permit is issued. However, utility companies have a statutory right to undertake emergency works on the highway with little or no notice and the county council has no power to prevent the utility company from responding to such incidents. 

“We acknowledge the pressure placed on an already busy area of the network while the various roadworks are underway.”