Families’ fears over ‘danger road’ after Southwater footpath closure

Residents say their daily lockdown walk has become a danger trek after a footpath between Oakhurst Business Park and Martindales was fenced off in October in preparation for nearby development work.

But, say residents, little work has since taken place and the footpath remains shut - leaving families to walk instead along a dangerous stretch of Blakes Farm Road which has no pavement.

Concerned resident James Sanderson said: “With the current lockdown and schools closed this is a huge hazard to local families and it’s not a case of ‘if’ an accident happens, but ‘when’.

“There are people walking, people pushing prams along that stretch and people running - with trucks going past to the business park.

“Everyone is worried about an accident happening. We have seen a number of near misses and figure it is just a matter of time until someone gets hit by a car.”

He said residents had been told a footpath would be built in the area back in 2014 using developers’ S106 funds but that it was not clear what had happened.

Another concerned resident added: “With no footpath we encounter danger every time we do this walk as we have to jump into the bushes to dodge cars and lorries easily driving at over 40mph.”

A spokesman for West Sussex County Council said: “Footpath 1669 is a designated Public Right of Way that is temporarily closed to protect public safety while building work takes place.

“The development was granted under planning permission and the footpath has been closed under a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order, due to end on 28th April 2021.”