Decision due on Newhaven speed limit

Monday, 9 February 2026 08:00

By Huw Oxburgh, Local Democracy Reporter @V2RadioSussex

Avis Road in Newhaven. Image credit: East Sussex County Council.

Plans to lower the speed limit in part of Newhaven are due to go in front of county councillors next week.

On Wednesday (February 11), East Sussex County Council’s planning committee is due to consider proposals to change the speed limit of Avis Road.

The proposed change would see the speed limit of part of the road — between its junction with Avis Way and its junction with the A26 — reduced from 40mph to 30mph.

In a report to the committee, a council highways spokesman said: “The proposed 30mph speed limit aligns with current average speeds of vehicles travelling on Avis Road.

“Speed surveys taken during the design stage of the project confirmed that most vehicles were already travelling at or below 30mph, in both directions. This suggests that the proposed 30mph limit is more appropriate to the road environment, which encourages drivers to naturally be travelling at the lower speed.

“Formal introduction of the proposed 30mph limit will encourage the small percentage of drivers that are travelling too fast relative to the characteristics of road to adopt an appropriate speed.

“This will lead to people feeling more comfortable to walk, wheel and cycle for all, or part of their journey, or to access public transport services using Avis Road.”

Despite writing to local residents and businesses, the council only received a single written response to the proposed change.

According to officers, this respondent had objected to the proposals “on the basis that drivers should be concentrating on the road rather than looking at their speedometer.”

The council received no objections from statutory consultees, while Sussex Police confirmed its support for the proposal.

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