Covered with Tarmac

Rupert Clubb may not have noticed that there's a live debate across the UK (and certainly in East Sussex) as to whether or not 'growth, growth, growth' is the right way forward. By my calculations, after 10 years of "50%" more growth than forecast, our county will be simply packed with roads, by-passing the failed by-passes of the previous ten years.

“With the right transport infrastructure in place to support a high-growth future, we’ve identified the South East economy could grow by 50% more than currently forecast.”

Rupert Clubb, TfSE lead officer #DrivingEconomicGrowth @CIHTUK @WSP_UK pic.twitter.com/W3fnWKt3ye

— TfSE (@TransportfSE) March 21, 2019

Careful

Some stats from January 2018 to January 2019

Collisions along the A27 between the Falmer and Southerham junctions - a 4.6m stretch of dual carriageway - 20, of which six were deemed serious.

Collisions along the A27 between the Southerham junction and the first lights at Polegate - a 10.4m stretch, mainly single carriageway - 32, of which five were deemed serious.

Explain to me again how a new dual carriageway would reduce accidents....

By the way...

Today saw the announcement of funding for more than 100 railway stations across the country to deliver step-free access. Only one station in East Sussex got the investment this time - Crowborough, which just happens to be in the Wealden constituency of Nus Ghani, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport.

Rupert's Way

Busy council official and transport thought-leader Rupert Clubb has set out a personal manifesto for his all-new quango, Transport for the South-East.

"In the first few months of this year I’ve spent a significant portion of my time talking to stakeholders – politicians, transport operators, business leaders, sometimes journalists – about Transport for the South East."    Anything missing from that list, Rupert.  Think hard.