500 members and growing for new road safety group

A new social media group has been set up to try and improve safety on the A267 between Mayfield and Horam. To date the Facebook page, A267 – Road Safety Group has more than 500 members and the list is growing fast.

It was started following the fatal crash on October 1 near the junction with Mayfield Flat. A sewerage lorry travelling north was in collision with a car travelling south.  There were four people in the car, one of whom died at the scene and the remaining three were taken to hospital by air ambulance, with what were described as ‘life changing injuries.’ The lorry driver was uninjured.

Local resident and public relations consultant Sarah Jones ran to the scene to comfort traumatised witnesses. Later Sarah, together with Sussex Express community columnist Melvyn Butcher and reporter Susan King set up the A267 – Road Safety Group on  Facebook.  Their aim is to encourage and support any action which can reduce the distressing
level of road traffic crashes and collisions on this stretch of A-road.

In March 2022, an elderly man also died on the A267 near the Isenhurst fuel station. But there have also been serious road traffic accidents at the junction with the A272, at Little London near Horam and Wellbrook Hill near Mayfield.

Members of the group have already made presentations to parish councils and more are planned on specific dates. And support has been pledged by district councillors. Sarah says: “This is not a talking shop. We can sense the massive support for any action that can reduce the distressing level of road traffic crashes and collisions.

“People say drivers are at fault but it remains the case that more accidents appear to have happened on this stretch of road than others in the county.”

When a petition to improve safety at the Isenhurst junction was submitted to East Sussex County Council (ESCC) two years ago, Heathfield Parish Council was told the site was number 53 on their priority list. Efforts are being made to discover the location of the other 52. Information has been sought from ESCC. 

The group is now appealing for information about areas of the road which, residents feel, need additional safety measures. And presentations have been lined up to Hadlow Down and Mayfield Parish Council. Horam Parish Council has also been asked for support. Many people have responded to the request for information about the road. The group hopes to organise a formal tour to provide the detail needed.

Regular posts are being made to the dedicated page. If anyone would like to know more, visit Facebook and join: A267 – Road Safety Group.