Highways England last week published details of their preferred route for the Arundel by-pass which can be seen here:-
https://highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/south-east/a27-arundel-bypass/#latest- updates
Highways England will now will carry out extensive surveys and investigations to help them design the scheme in more detail and will work with key stakeholders, including local authorities and statutory environmental bodies over the coming months to ensure this consultation is suited to local needs. They will publicise the details of the consultation and how the public can take part in due course.
Our MP, Andrew Griffith has written to Bury Parish Council following the announcement and his comments can be seen here: –
“I am pleased to share with you the news that Highways England have today announced a preferred route for the A27 Arundel By Pass. It will reduce congestion, enhance air quality, improve road safety and support much needed employment and economic growth across the whole of West Sussex.
“This is one of the largest Government investments ever made in West Sussex and I am pleased to have worked with the Secretary of State for Transport and the Chancellor to secure the necessary funding for Highways England to proceed. As you may know this is a project that has been off and on since the 1950’s when it was first suggested. The current single lane road around Arundel is a regular bottleneck operating way above its design capacity and will only get worse if nothing is done.
“For residents of Bury this will take some traffic away from the local single carriageway roads. In particular it should reduce the number of inappropriate heavy good vehicles seeking to avoid the current peak time congestion at the Crossbush junction near Arundel and those ‘rat-running’ motorists shaving a few seconds off their journey by speeding on quieter country roads. By reducing congestion this should significantly improve air-quality with parishes such Storrington having been an Air Quality Management Area due to high levels of NO2 air pollution since 2010.
“Whilst I support this project, I am disappointed that the alternative routes which would have had less impact on the residents of Walberton, Binsted and Tortington were blocked by certain areas having protected status and by the failure of the South Downs National Park to endorse any route within its boundary. I am committed to supporting these local residents in getting the best noise mitigation, road design and where appropriate swift compensation although of course nothing can ease the pain of this decision on those whom it most affects.
“Once the finer details of the route have been developed there will be a full statutory consultation and I hope the parish council will respond to that in addition to publicly welcoming the announcement today. Some question whether we need to improve our roads at all. Whilst I support a rapid switch to cleaner and quieter vehicles – and the UK is a leader in this respect – they will still need roads to drive upon and there is nothing environmentally friendly about pollution caused by congestion.
“The current pandemic highlights the importance of supply chains and whilst long distance commuting has declined, the usage of local roads has if anything increased.
“Please would you share this message with local residents and businesses via any local email distribution lists or social media sites? Going forward I will share all the latest information on this topic at www.andrewgriffithmp.com/A27.”
