The Issue: A Documented Hazard 

The rapid development across the Six Villages has led to a significant increase in traffic at the Eastergate War Memorial junction. As local residents, we see daily how this route, joining Fontwell Avenue and Barnham Road, is heavily congested with commuters and construction vehicles serving housing projects in the villages and Bognor Regis.

This heavy traffic has led to the constant damage of the historic landmark, the Eastergate War Memorial which has been struck by large HGVs unable to turn this tight junction. If they can’t avoid hitting the roundabout its follows they won’t be able to avoid hitting a child. 

Official planning records acknowledge that this junction already operates over its capacity at peak times. This has created a hazardous environment for our community, particularly for the children attending Eastergate Primary School and Ormiston Six Villages Academy. A formal planning precedent has established that heavy traffic on the A29 corridor creates a high perception of risk and acts as a strong disincentive for students walking or cycling to school. Parents are currently caught in a dangerous cycle: they are reluctant to let their children walk due to documented hazards, yet driving them only adds to the gridlock at this failing junction.

The Solution: Zebra Crossings 

We are calling for the immediate prioritisation and installation of zebra crossings as the primary safety feature of the promised improvements at this junction. This roundabout is a critical crossing point not only for students but for dog walkers, the elderly, the disabled, and families with buggies and prams.

A safe crossing is a simple, vital measure to slow traffic and provide the protection we desperately need. By installing zebra crossings, the authorities can remove the strong disincentive to walking and finally support the Council’s own vision for sustainable transport and community wellbeing.

The community should be aware that the need for a fix to this junction has already been recognised. The S106 Legal Agreement for the Woodgate Centre (AL/107/21/PL) specifically mandates a project titled the "A29/B2233 War Memorial Roundabout Interim Junction Improvement".

This safety scheme was deemed so critical that the developer is legally prohibited from occupying more than 90 dwellings until these highway works are completed to the satisfaction of the County Council. Furthermore, the legal agreement mandates these works must undergo Stage 1, 2, and 3 Road Safety Audits. While current engineering plans (Drawing No. 20-061-044) are listed as "indicative," the final design is yet to be settled. We therefore seek for pedestrian Zebra Crossings be added to the final plans.

A Collaborative Path Forward

We understand that major road realignments take time, but our children's safety and the safety of our most vulnerable residents cannot wait for long-term regional infrastructure. This petition is an invitation for our local representatives and highway officers to join the residents in securing these safety measures. By delivering these crossings now, the authorities can fulfil existing legal obligations and protect the most vulnerable members of the Six Villages.

We also demand the Council takes urgent action to safeguard our heritage, by repairing the War Memorial, and junction improvements to ensure this landmark is protected for current residents and future generations.