Tag: politics

What do we need in our next MP?

The constituency of East Worthing and Shoreham currently has no MP. Parliament has been dissolved and, until the general election on 4 July 2024, the people of Shoreham and Adur have no representation at Westminster. On 5 July, a new MP for our area will begin preparations to take a seat in the Commons.

You might think that the struggle for easier, safer transport choices is a local matter, and you’d largely be right. But our MP has two important roles to play in this journey:

  1. National policy guides many of the decisions and investments that are made at a local level. Legislation around planning, air quality, highways and design is decided by HM Government in London, though the impact – for good or bad – is felt at a local level. We need an MP who will play a positive role in these important decisions, pushing national Government to enable and resource positive local change.
  2. Even at a local level, our Member of Parliament has input into decisions that are made, particularly by our county council. The approval of our MP is often sought, whether formally or informally, as West Sussex County Council makes decisions around improvements and street designs. A ‘Yes’ or a ‘No’ from our MP can make or break the efforts of our local authority to improve the journeys and the lives of people in our area. With this in mind, East Worthing and Shoreham needs an MP who will display leadership, supporting change where needed – and not shying away from changes that may invoke some debate or objection. Our MP should seek to build understanding and address misunderstandings. They should not let short-term political caution get in the way of leadership and a long-term mission to improve the lives of their constituents.

Importantly, our MP must have the integrity to deliver on their stated intentions. It is not enough to express positive-sounding words around ‘Active Travel’ if there is not a willingness and an ability to back this up with leadership and conviction where it counts.

This is a significant matter. So we are currently speaking to our fellow community groups in the Adur district, looking at ways to encourage the important conversation that is starting about who will represent East Worthing and Shoreham in the next Parliament. We’ll share more soon. 

Making walking (and cycling) safer and easier around The Triangle

Two improvement proposals are being planned in Shoreham, and West Sussex County Council is looking for your feedback.

First up is the busy, problematic junction between Upper Shoreham Road and Buckingham Road – sometimes known as The Triangle.

This is primarily a scheme to make walking easier and safer, particularly for schoolchildren. However, there are also some benefits for people driving and cycling.

The main points are:

  • a pedestrian crossing over Upper Shoreham Road
  • next to this, a crossing for people on bikes
  • a simplification of the road layout when turning from Buckingham Road into Upper Shoreham Road

We are supportive of this scheme. Though we are generally very cautious about any project that uses any level of shared-use space for foot and bike, we’ve discussed this with WSCC and we understand why, in this location, options are limited and this could be the best way to make this area safer in the short term.

While we support this new proposal, and look forward to the benefits it will bring, particularly to people on foot, it is very separate to the long-planned and already-consulted cycleways that Upper Shoreham Road needs to enable safe journeys by bike. We look forward to WSCC reviving this important – but very different– scheme when they are able to do so.

There is a secondary aspect to this current consultation, and that involves some minor cycling improvements to Middle Road, which we describe in another post.

Do complete the WSCC consultation, and play your part in improving the USR/Buckingham junction. We know the people of Adur have been asked to fill in so many consultations in recent years, and that it can be frustrating when we see more more consultation than we do action – but realistically, this is the way the system currently works, and it’s important for local residents to show their support for measures that make cycling (and in this case, walking and driving) easier and safer.