Date of East Street public inquiry announced

West Sussex County Council put the experimental TRO in place last summer to stop vehicles driving in East Street and Market Square between 9.30am and 4.30pm.

The order meant two parking bays for blue badge holders were relocated from East Street to the Carfax outside the King’s Head (ASK restaurant).

The changes were put in place to encourage a café culture for East Street.

However a number of objections were made about disabled access, disabled parking, and access and loading for delivery vehicles.

A Public Inquiry will be held at Horsham District Council, Park North, North Street, Horsham, RH12 1RL at 10am on Tuesday, June 18.

The inquiry is expected to last three days and the Inspector will be Alan Boyland.

The county council will use the Inspector’s recommendations, as well as the views of the local community, to make its final decision.

West Sussex County Council’s Head of Highways and Transport, Geoff Lowry, said: “The county council decided to hold a public inquiry to make sure we get independent advice before any decision is taken on making the order permanent.

“There is a balance that needs to be struck between the benefits to the amenities of Horsham and the interests of those objecting to the proposal.

“We look forward to hearing the outcome.”

Ahead of the inquiry, statutory notices will be published confirming the full details of the venue and how interested parties can make representations.

Relevant parties, such as those who made comments to the experimental TRO during the formal consultation period, will be contacted in due course.

If the Inspector recommends the proposal should be supported, the TRO will be formally approved by the North Horsham County Local Committee in September.

If the Inspector recommends against the proposal, the TRO will revert to previous restrictions for East Street, which permits loading and disabled access to East Street all day, from September.