For Publication Sherwood timebomb - Courier 01-08-03
Changed 03-08-03, 08-11-03
Dear Sir,
Darrel Billingham's article on the £30M A21 dualling mentions 29
accidents so far this year. I don't recall the Courier reporting each
case? The Access to Hastings Multimodal Study of a few years ago
acknowledge the good safety record of the Castle Hill section of A21.
Crashes rates are higher on the
Sevenoaks the dual carriageway section, but the article exaggerates the
number of vehicles per day in the Castle Hill section which currently
is 46,500 vehicles per day compared with 25,000 in 1997.
The safest alternative is to use the train, we are fortunate to have a
central rail stations in Tunbridge Wells and High Brooms is convenient
for the industrial estate. I find Connex a good operator, they respond
well to complaints. It concerns me that the replacement to
Connex may not be as good. The Wealden Line Campaign are pursuing
re-opening the link to Lewes, and therefore making a direct journey
between Tunbridge Wells and Brighton possible. A recent email from a
visitor to my web space suggested that if the old curve from
Groombridge to Ashurst were reopened direct trains from Victoria to TW
via Edenbridge & Oxted would be possible again. A useful and fast
alternative route to the crowded Charing Cross line. It is unfortunate
that the Access to Hastings Study consultants were not permitted to
look at these rail points.
The perceived danger and so called "substandard bend" at Castle
Hill section may be the reason for the low
crash rate there being no fatalities in the last three years until
January. In that period there were 73 crashes
resulting in slight injuries, and 10 serious injuries. There has been 3
fatalities over the past 15 years. The title "Sherwood time bomb" came
from another visitor to my webspace
(http://www.andrew.h.lohmann.btinternet.co.uk/)
who emailed me. He was that traffic from the A21 presumably will go
through Sherwood and High Brooms?
Peacefully
--
Andrew H Lohmann
27-07-03
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