Big lorry + small Rye streets = problems. Michael Camier was caught up in traffic on the A259 through Rye and wonders why nothing is done to keep things moving.
On Wednesday 26 November, just after 9am, I followed a large lorry loaded with a static caravan along Fishmarket Road.
The first hazard it encountered was stopping at the traffic lights (no evidence of any work). The driver had to leave his cab and physically move bollards to allow sufficient width for his truck and load to proceed.
The second hazard was the incessant illegal parking in South Undercliff after 8am, with four vehicles causing an obstruction. Having safely negotiated past two of the cars, and as he tried to negotiate past another of the parked vehicles, the driver then caught his load on an overhanging tree, ripping off part of the gutter and downpipe of the static caravan.
This in turn broke off a bough from the tree blocking the road even further. My wife had to jump out of our car and remove the obstacle from the road to allow not only us to proceed, but the traffic building up behind and coming in the opposite direction. The poor truck driver then had a further parked car to negotiate before reaching a wider section of the road on The Strand.
I phoned 101 and reported the illegal parking, however the call centre at Sussex Police were not particularly helpful and not interested in sending a patrol to investigate (probably not one within 20 miles!). They stated that they had not received any other complaints about the parking obstruction. How many calls or complaints does it take? Oh for the days of a functioning Rye Police Station and regular local patrols.
This perhaps raises two questions.
Firstly, illegal parking in South Undercliff, part of the A259 trunk road, surely there should be NO parking along this road with the current volume of traffic.
Secondly, should there be a width restriction through Rye on the A259 for wide loads diverting these trucks onto wider roads? Even with an escort vehicle as was evident here.
If there were no parking on South Undercliff the truck could have made it through without incident or damage. However, do these wide loads have to file a route plan with Highways or the police?
The direct impact is further and unnecessary traffic congestion on the main through road and a hazard to the emergency service vehicles that potentially could be caught up in an incident putting lives at risk.
The lorry finally made its way out of Rye toward Winchelsea.
An interview with a spokesperson for National Highways, who maintain the A259, will be published soon.
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