Urgent repairs to Pulborough road after young children just avoid crash

John Rogers was walking along the A29 Church Hill with his two young grandchildren when a car mounted the pavement and hit a wall just behind them.

Since the incident, a spokesperson for West Sussex County Council has confirmed that part of the road will be resurfaced this week.

Mr Rogers explained he was heading to Pulborough Brooks with his two-year-old granddaughter and four-year-old grandson on Monday February 29 when the incident happened.

He said: “I can only explain the situation as one of sheer horror, real horror.

“The children were terrified and crying and I was really shaken realising what could have been.

“Three innocent people nearly lost their lives.”

He explained that the driver, who was ‘apologetic’ and ‘concerned’ for their wellbeing, was travelling southbound at just 20mph, before the mini-roundabout connecting the A29 and A283.

The driver swerved to avoid a pothole and skidded on loose tarmac, before the car came to rest against the wall.

Mr Rogers said: “I heard a vehicle behind me braking and scratching across loose gravel.

“Aware that something was really wrong I just ran dragging my grandson behind me on the ground.”

After the near miss, Mr Rogers inspected the road surface, and said he believes it is unsafe for vehicles.

He added: “When any vehicle travelling at the correct speed is coming down a hill it requires the maximum amount of grip on order to stop.

“Because of the holes and the loose debris of the breaking road surface, safe braking is impossible.”

A spokesperson for the county council said: “We have been aware of this issue for the past few weeks. Although the potholes are shallow we can clearly see there is an issue to highway users.

“We are planning to resurface this section of road between Wednesday and Friday night.”

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