Woodfield Road, Northgate - Council giving "misleading" information

2.45.20pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 19th Sep 2006

Using the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act Northgate Councillors Gordon & Linda Seekings have discovered that West Sussex County Council (WSCC) has been giving out "misleading" information concerning road safety in Woodfield Road, Northgate.

Within the last month West Sussex County Council, at a recent public meeting of the East Crawley Area Committee, gave the impression that road traffic speed have recently been reduced. Also, in a Planning Application for flats at 151 Woodfield Road discussed last night, it was reported to Crawley Borough Council that "…. the Head of Transport Services comments that since the highway safety scheme was constructed in early 2003…traffic speeds have been reduced."

Under papers Gordon & Linda acquired under the FoI this shows that this is NOT correct - in fact the exact opposite is the case and speeds have increased.

What is even worse is that WSCC have known that for ages and have seemingly not only been hiding that information but also creating the impression that the speed reduction measures that have done are working.

Gordon presented the evidence to the Committee discussing the planning application for the demolition and erection of flats at 151 Woodfield Road last night. Although the Committee agreed the Planning Application Crawley Borough Council Officers have agreed to seek an explanation of this "misleading" information.