Battle lines drawn at A27 bypass talk

About 300 people turned up to the meeting in Maltravers Street, which was organised by the Arundel branch of the South Coast Alliance on Transport and the Environment (SCATE).

It was in response to plans to secure funding from the Government which could see a new bypass being built at Arundel.

The town hall was full to the rafters with almost 200 residents having to be turned away due to a lack of space.

During the night, Dr Tony Whitbread, chief executive of Sussex Wildlife Trust, said there would be dire consequences for the county’s ecology – notably Binsted Wood – if the bypass was constructed.

“Having a road go through here and taking a swathe out of the biggest wood in one of the coastal plains in Sussex is going to be the worst loss of ancient woodland in Sussex for 20 years.”

Chris Todd, of Campaign for Better Transport, explained which routes the bypass could take.

He believed simply constructing a new road to try and alleviate current congestion was not the right course of action.

Mr Todd said: “We can’t keep building our way out of this. We need more intelligent solutions, rather than just looking at how we can move the problem on elsewhere.”

Arundel and South Downs MP Nick Herbert was not at the meeting but supports the bypass scheme. He believes a majority of people are in favour of the plans and that improvements to the A27 could boost trade in Sussex.

“I appreciate that some may have a different view,” he said.

“It’s right to discuss the issues fully, and I will always listen carefully to what my constituents are saying.

“However, it’s clear that some of the opposition to upgrading the A27 is being led by anti-roads green groups who, frankly, oppose every and any new road scheme, and these groups organised the meeting.

“Most of my South Downs constituents would be stranded without cars, and I am concerned about the local economy and the environmental damage of rat-running through the historic town of Arundel and the South Downs.”

However, Dr Whitbread felt the economic argument for a bypass ‘simply didn’t stack up’ and was ‘extremely shaky’.

“It isn’t just a matter of the environmental damage versus the economic gain,” he said. “More roads brings more traffic. More traffic brings more congestion and more congestion means we need more roads. It’s a treadmill that once we are on is very difficult to get off.”

Kay Wagland, chairman of Arundel SCATE, suggested more sustainable transport was needed.

She said better cycle and pedestrian routes should take priority, alongside improved public transport links and the promotion of car-sharing schemes.

However, Mr Herbert said: “We don’t have to choose between sensible road improvements and investment in public transport such as rail – both are important.”

SCATE is planning more debates and is urging people to get involved.

For more details see here.