Agenda item - Items referred from Council

To consider items referred from the last meeting of Full Council

(a)           Petitions

(1)           Falmer Pond

64.1      The Committee considered a petition referred from Full Council requesting increased maintenance of Falmer Pond.

64.2      The Chair provided the following response:

“I am pleased to let you know that the council has secured Phase 1 National Heritage Lottery Funding as part of the ‘Downs to the Sea’ partnership led by the South Downs National Park.

This funding is to employ a consultant to carry out the necessary survey work and submit a phase 2 bid to fully restore Falmer Pond. The partnership project is aiming to submit the overall Phase 2 application by late 2023 or early 2024 and it is hoped that if the bid is successful, work will begin on restoring the pond early to mid-2024. These dates are subject to change.

The South Downs National Park have a press release regarding the partnership project that this bid is part of. It is on their website and I can ask Democratic Services to circulate the link with the minutes”.

64.3      Resolved- That the Committee note the petition.

(2)           Petition for two new pedestrian crossings in Woodingdean

64.4      The Committee considered a petition referred from Full Council requesting two new pedestrian crossings on Falmer Road and Bexhill Road.

64.5      The Chair provided the following response:

“The location of Bexhill Road by the skate park was assessed via the pedestrian crossing priority list in 2022 and the outcome reported to ETS committee in November 2022; the initial assessment found this location was below the threshold to progress to the second stage of assessment for a pedestrian crossing.

This location was also assessed in 2013/14 and failed to meet the required threshold. This location can be referred to Safer, Better Streets programme for assessment if approved later in the committee meeting.

Falmer Road was the subject of a stakeholder engagement meeting held in July 2021.  A design was proposed for a crossing facility however this was not progressed due to the physical constraints in the area preventing preferred design option.  It was therefore agreed to keep a watching brief on this location. This location is due to be assessed in the coming weeks via the Pedestrian Crossing Priority programme, this location can also subsequently referred to the Safer, Better Streets programme for assessment if approved later in the committee meeting”.

64.6      Resolved- That the Committee note the petition.