On 1 October 2026, Councillor Deborah Kirby met Cllr. Mel Winn, Worth Forest Division, to discuss pedestrian safety, parking, mobile connectivity, childcare and the 272 bus service.
Pedestrian safety and traffic speeds
The potential crossing locations previously assessed with West Sussex County Council (WSCC) Highways were reviewed. The discussion recognised the difficulty of finding suitable crossing provision within the required criteria.
Cllr. Winn offered support for an appropriate Traffic Regulation Order to address traffic speeds or a Community Highways Scheme. The recommended next step is to seek advice from WSCC Highways on a workable proposal.
Ardingly Parish Council is initiating a systematic analysis of data from its two Speed Indicator Devices.
Overnight parking at Selsfield Layby
The discussion considered whether a “no overnight parking” sign would address prolonged parking. Concerns about enforcement and the possibility of vehicles moving nearby suggested that signage would be unlikely to resolve the problem. Appropriate vehicle reporting routes were discussed as an alternative.
Residents can use the following reporting routes for vehicles on a public road: · Check tax and MOT status: use the vehicle enquiry service linked from GOV.UK: check MOT status. · No tax, or declared SORN while on a public road: report the vehicle to the DVLA. · No current MOT while driven or parked on a public road: report the vehicle to Sussex Police. Apparently abandoned vehicles should be reported to the Mid-Sussex District Council with supporting evidence of abandonment such as moss growth, flat tyres or indications of prolonged disuse.
Mobile connectivity
Cllr. Winn agreed to explore options for improving mobile connectivity with the relevant WSCC Cabinet Member. The possibility of approaching the South of England Showground about accommodating a mast was raised for consideration.
Childcare and local buses
Cllr. Winn offered to investigate possible funding sources for the pre-school once its needs have been established.
She also agreed to look into concerns about the 272 bus service, including whether it receives WSCC funding.
Coordination of events and traffic
Subsequent correspondence clarified that WSCC’s involvement in events is limited to actions affecting the highway, while event safety coordination is addressed through the Mid Sussex Safety Advisory Group.
A practical recommendation was for the South of England Event Centre to provide WSCC with its calendar of events and approximate attendance figures. This would help the County Council plan roadworks around events and support traffic coordination. The Parish Council will consider how to take this recommendation forward.
Photo by Matt Seymour on Unsplash