Annual progress report 2002

Our aims

The second Annual progress report on our Local Transport Plan was issued in July 2002. In it we outlined four additional objectives for transport, adopted following the change in administration after the Council elections:

• highway maintenance – to look after and improve the condition, life and appearance of the highways; and to reduce the incidence of night-time crime and feeling of insecurity through an efficient and effective street lighting system
• traffic safety- to make the best use of available resources to reduce road traffic accidents
• environment – to maintain the environmental assets for which we are responsible
• passenger transport- to ensure that an effective system of public transport is available to meet people's needs.

Our achievements

• The condition of the network of principal roads was made stable.
• The target of reducing the number of children killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents by 2010 was achieved in advance.
• We made progress towards reducing the total number of road casualties.
• User satisfaction surveys marked a step towards achieving the public transport targets.
• We were developing three transport-related public service agreement targets for cycling, road safety and highway maintenance.
• We had developed a new rail strategy, which would act as a framework for developing rail passenger partnership bids. The emerging regional transport strategy would need to be considered.
• After consultation the local area-based strategies for Uckfield and Crowborough were revised.
• We made proposals for bus priority in Hastings.
• A controlled zone parking system for Lewes was agreed.
• The A27 Polegate bypass and A22 New Route opened to traffic.
• We purchased the land for the construction of the Newhaven port access road and in June 2002 began major environmental drainage works to facilitate phase one of the road.
• We acquired six accessible vehicles with Rural Bus Challenge funding, which are being used by community transport groups to improve social inclusion for people with mobility problems.
• A Quality bus corridor was developed along the radial route linking the A2100 Battle Road and the A21 Sedlescombe Road with St Leonards and Hastings.
• Parking in Lewes will provide improved access to shops and services for disabled drivers.
• The Air Rives-Manche Sante and Air Rives-Manche Sensibilisation projects have improved local air pollution monitoring, understanding and communication.
• We created new cycle routes and made alterations to certain roads to accommodate cycling, and promoted cycling among Council staff.
• We encouraged walking by improving facilities and making a safe and pleasant environment for journeys on foot.

We made less progress towards the economic growth and deprivation reduction targets. We were waiting for the outcomes of the South Coast Corridor Multi-Modal Study and of the Hastings Task Force.

You can read the full annual progress report 2002 here.