Following a very large number of complaints from local residents in East Grinstead Nicholas Soames took up the case immediately with the Director of Infrastructure at WSCC and subsequently with the Chief Executive and Leader of West Sussex County Council.
Letter to the East Grinstead Courier and Observer
Monday 14th May, 2012
I see that you covered that story in the Courier last week about the really deplorable traffic situation in East Grinstead; in the light of your report I thought you would like to know what I have done about this.
I received a large number of emails and calls last week about the appalling inconvenience that people are suffering in East Grinstead as a result of ill-thought out and ill-managed road works.
After consulting with local councillors and the Town Clerk I have been in touch with the Director of Communities and Infrastructure at West Sussex County Council, whose line responsibility this is and subsequently, since I believe the matter is so very serious, Kieran Stigant, Chief Executive of WSCC.
It is quite clear that the situation is untenable; that there was exceptional incompetence in the failure to consult the Town Council within an acceptable and proper timeframe, particularly given the scale of the works, and that no proper satisfactory warning was given to local people of what was inevitably to come.
I want the following from the County Council;
The sequence of the road works to be re-fixed and the traffic situation immediately improved.
A thorough inquiry into how this matter was allowed to happen and the casual way in which the County Council dealt with the Town Council and the residents of East Grinstead.
An explanation as to why a lot of these works cannot be undertaken at night and at weekends thus relieving the pressure.
A detailed report on the level of joint consultation with Surrey County Council on cross boundary or near boundary road works.
Finally, a full apology and an assurance that far more trouble will be taken in the future over road works to a Town who down the years has suffered more than its fair share of debilitating road works to the disadvantage of its long-suffering residents and businesses.
Yours sincerely,
Nicholas Soames MP