Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
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Norman Baker promises to question government over Polegate roundabout chaos
Local Lib Dem MP, Norman Baker, has promised to personally raise the problems plaguing the recently redesigned Cophall roundabout in Polegate as soon as Parliament returns next week.
This follows concerns voiced by Highways officials almost half a year ago regarding the safety of the roundabout and further recent revelations outlined in an internal Highways Agency report which lists a catalogue of serious problems with the including:
- Newly installed traffic lights (installed at a cost of £600,000) have caused significant tailbacks, largely because of an overly short green phase which has sometimes been as little as 7 seconds
- A number of teething problems has meant that the new traffic lights have had to be turned off until they can be resolved
- One of the exits to the roundabout was sufficiently badly designed to be described as dangerous
- The two computerised control centres for the north and south sides of the roundabout have failed to communicate properly.
Commenting on the issue, Norman Baker said:
"Throwing a light on the history of works at this roundabout has revealed an astonishing catalogue of ineptitude, mismanagement and bureaucratic bungling. It has been perfectly obvious to my constituents in Polegate, and indeed those beyond, that this roundabout had features that were seriously flawed, and yet still, matters have not been properly resolved. This indicates faults both in the design and construction processes, and in the haphazard response of the Highways Agency after the faults became apparent. I shall be tabling parliamentary questions to the Transport Secretary next Monday when Parliament reassembles."