WSCC rejects bid to lower speed limit in village centre
West Sussex County Council (WSCC) has rejected the application by Graffham Parish Council (GPC) for a traffic regulation order (TRO) that would have seen the current 30mph limit in the village centre cut to 20mph with “buffer zones” lowering the speed restriction on the approaches to the village.
Published: 8 May 2026
WSCC described GPC’s proposal as too complex for a TRO and advised that the council should instead seek the changes via a “community highways scheme”. On its website, the county council says these schemes – which are agreed on an annual basis – can deliver speed limit zones and traffic calming features.
GPC had earlier been advised that a TRO would be the best approach as it was quicker and simpler to implement.
Its Chairman Gillian Charlesworth will be contacting WSCC to discuss the most appropriate next steps.
In its TRO submission, made after exhaustive consultation in the village and following planning approval to expand The Woodcote, which will increase incoming traffic, besides reducing the limit along The Street to 20mph, GPC also proposed replacing the current national speed restriction on Woodcote Lane with 30mph, from the Pound junction with The Street to Snakey Lane.
It also sought 40mph “buffers” approaching the village, from near the Cathanger junction to the east, from around Hoyle Farm to the west and from Selham End to the north. There has been talk separately of Selham also seeking a speed limit through its village so this 40mph restriction could be extended further north.
In addition, the current anomaly whereby the national speed limit applies to the final 50 or so metres of The Street at its far southern end would end, with the new 20mph limit applied up to where it meets Seaford College’s West Gate and the bridleway up to Graffham Down.
As part of its new village plan, GPC also proposes to introduce ‘gateways’ with signage, designed to be appropriate to our rural setting, at each entrance to the community, to make it apparent to visiting motorists that they are entering a village.
GPC continues to work, too, with neighbouring parish councils, too, to have the limit on roads between them and the A285, A286 and A272 to the east, west and north cut to 40mph, discouraging motorists and sat navs from using these lanes as rat runs and making them safer for walkers, horse-riders and cyclists.