Controversy over the safety of the A26 at Paygate Cottages has taken another twist with figures uncovered by local MP Norman Baker suggesting that East Sussex Council is underestimating the number of serious crashes on the this stretch of the A26.
County Council statistics for 2004-2005, supplied to the MP, show that it recorded THREE accidents which where either fatal or deemed serious on the stretch of the A26 between the Cuilfail Tunnel and the junction with the A22 south of Uckfield. However East Sussex Fire and Rescue's figures, secured by the MP, show that over the same period, they were called to a total of FIVE incidents on this stretch of road which required individuals to be extracted from their vehicles.
Similarly, comparison of the figures for 2005-2006 show that the Fire Service recorded THREE incidents where individuals needed to be extracted from their cars, while the County Council recorded only ONE incident that was deemed serious in the same period.
Speaking on the issue Norman Baker said:
"I find the discrepancy in these figures very worrying. It does appear that the County Council is underestimating the number of crashes on this notoriously dangerous road.
"East Sussex County Council rightly puts considerable weight on the accident record on individual roads when deciding its priorities. That makes it even more important that the integrity of their statistics is absolute. Worryingly, that seems not to be the case. I am therefore asking the Council to re-examine their figures, explain the discrepancies and accept finally that urgent work needs to be undertaken to improve road safety at Paygate Cottages. In my view, the road should be realigned to bypass the houses."
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