Campaigners in Lewes have launched a petition calling on East Sussex County Council to act to make a frequently used pedestrian route safer for schoolchildren and families. The plea centres on the junction where the Piggy Steps meet Offham Road, a narrow stretch that links Blois Road to routes used to reach local schools.
Concerns over an informal crossing
The online petition, hosted on the county council’s own website, says parents, teachers and local residents have repeatedly raised alarm about the danger posed by the informal crossing at the top of the Piggy Steps. Campaigners warn that some families are changing their routines — either walking a longer, less direct route or driving short distances — to avoid the crossing, a response the petition argues is increasing local traffic congestion.
“The lack of a safe crossing on Offham Road poses a daily risk to children and families. Installing a pedestrian crossing will reduce danger, encourage sustainable travel, and improve the wellbeing of the community.”
As of publication the petition had attracted more than 260 signatures and is expected to remain open until the end of the year. It asks the county council to either approve and fund a formal pedestrian crossing at the site or consider other measures to improve safety.
What petitioners want
The petition sets out several possible responses for the council to consider, including the installation of a formal crossing, the employment of a school crossing patrol, and traffic-calming measures. Specific options highlighted by campaigners are:
- Introduce a pedestrian crossing on Offham Road at the top of the Piggy Steps;
- Provide a school crossing patrol to assist children at busy times;
- Reduce the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph on this stretch of road;
- Install radar-activated speed signs and a crossing island to slow vehicles entering the town.
The petition argues that a crossing would not only improve safety but also encourage more parents and children to use the walking route, supporting active travel and reducing short car journeys into Lewes.
Local consequence and council decision
For residents in the immediate area, decisions by the county council will determine daily routines for children walking to school and for families who use the route to access town facilities. There is also a wider implication for traffic and parking in nearby streets should more parents continue to drive short distances to avoid the crossing point.
East Sussex County Council is the authority responsible for road safety measures, speed limits and the funding of pedestrian infrastructure in this part of Lewes. The petition uses the council’s democratic platform to press for an earlier review of the site and for consideration of the alternatives it lists.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Top of the Piggy Steps, Offham Road (links Blois Road to Offham Road and Hill Road) |
| Current speed limit suggested for change | From 40mph to 30mph |
| Signatures | More than 260 (at time of publication) |
| Deadline | Petition expected to run until the end of the year |
Campaigners are urging the council to consider quick, interim measures as well as longer-term engineering changes. A school crossing patrol or temporary signage, they say, could provide immediate assistance while a decision on a permanent crossing or speed reduction is assessed.
Residents seeking to follow the petition or add their support can find it on the East Sussex County Council petitions page. The council has not yet published a formal response in relation to this specific request; any proposal to change speed limits or install a crossing would normally require assessment of traffic data, road safety audits and funding approval.
For many parents in Lewes the issue is simple: they want a safe, direct route so children can walk to school without parents feeling they must drive for short distances to avoid a hazardous crossing. How the council responds will shape both the safety and daily patterns of movement through this part of the town.
