The Bridge the Downs Link campaign was featured in the December issue of the All About Horsham magazine.

Campaign Chair Hilary Jubert was interviewed, along with local businessman Rob Bookham, Councillor Sue Kornycky and Olympic runner Jake Wightman.

Hilary, who gave evidence at the inquest into the death of Pathushan Sutharsan who was killed at the crossing in July 2020, explained that the tragedy led directly to the launch of the campaign with support and endorsements from amongst others the British Horse Society, West Sussex Cycle Forum, Horsham District Cycling Forum, Rudgwick Parish Council, Slinfold Parish Council, Rudgwick Preservation Society, Cranleigh Chamber of Commerce, Partushan’s family and local Olympians.

A page from the All About Horsham article (©AAH/Alan Wright)

Rob, who runs the popular Milk Churn café in Rudgwick, said the Downs Link is crucial to the success of his business since the route draws increasing numbers of people to the area but that the A281 crossing is “an obvious blackspot”.

Sue Kornycky described the crossing as “an accident waiting to happen” and said many people simply turn around and retrace their steps rather than risk crossing the road.

Olympian Jake Wightman regularly trains on the Downs Link but often has to drive to another stretch of the path in order to feel safe.

In its editorial titled “Time to make the Downs Link a safer place” the magazine says the A281 crossing is “the one place where the need for a bridge is blindingly obvious” and that building a bridge there is a “no brainer”.

You can read the full magazine here (editorial on page 5, main article begins on page 19).