Station Road Car Park, Heathfield

10 November 2011

Question

As you may be aware the public car park at Station Road, Heathfield, has recently been extensively refurbished and I am concerned, in this era of austerity, of the costs in relation to the benefits and I write to ask what in fact was the cost and what are the perceived benefits to justify those costs?

In addition to the total resurfacing of the site I note the demolition of the raised footpath between the rows of parking spaces and its replacement with a path now at the same level as the vehicles and marked by an extensive number of posts which afford less protection to pedestrians rather than more. I make this claim in light of the farcical scheme last year when some thirty or so similar posts were planted on the pavement outside the New Inn at Hadlow Down. Within a few months all but six had been removed and the pavement restored (at even more public expense) after many had been knocked down.

I should also wish to know whether there are any plans, approved or pending, for similar refurbishment to other car parks within your jurisdiction.

Yours sincerely,

C.E. Neill

Answer

Dear Mr Neill,

I hope you will be pleased to know that the Station Road Car Park at Heathfield has been funded by Sainsbury's and not by Wealden District Council. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with a key business and employer in the town to bring benefit to the community, and I am sure Sainsbury's feel such investment will be of benefit to their customers and other visitors to the town.

The raised area you mention, that was present before the car park was resurfaced, was not a designated footpath. It had been a section to divide the rows of cars and to install lighting for visibility and security.

The posts at Hadlow Down were erected outside The New Inn by East Sussex County Council at the request of the parish council. Poor visibility caused by vehicles parked on the pavement was creating a hazard for other motorists. I regret to say that the posts were vandalised in the months following their installation and had to be removed and the pavement reinstated.

The Council has a rolling programme of car park refurbishment to coincide with current legislation and to ensure our car parks continue to be safe and fit for purpose.

Regards

Bob Standley