West Sussex County Council is calling on the government to address the issue of severe congestion on the A27 through the County following an announcement earlier this year to cancel plans for a bypass at Arundel and the failure to tackle serious congestion at other bottlenecks along the route.
The issue was debated by county councillors across all political parties in response to a notice of motion at Full Council on 18 October.
The majority voted to seek a meeting with the Highways Minister to discuss long-term solutions on what is a major route supporting the economy of the south east.
In addition, the council will write to the Prime Minister expressing concern over the lack of consultation and viable alternatives strategies following the cancellation of the bypass for Arundel.
Councillor Joy Dennis, West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport said: "The government’s decision to cancel plans for the Arundel bypass without proposing alternatives is deeply disappointing. The congestion along the A27, particularly near Arundel, has been a long-standing issue for residents and businesses alike, who have been waiting for a solution for far too long.
Councillor Steve Waight, Cabinet Member for Support Services and Economic Development added: “We remain committed to securing a sustainable, long-term resolution that supports our goal of a prosperous local economy, while also protecting the environment, as outlined in Our Council Plan. I would like to thank Cllr Simon Oakley for raising the motion at Full Council and all councillors who supported this important resolution. We hope the government will now work with us to develop real and lasting improvements to the A27 corridor."
The A27’s ongoing congestion and safety concerns have long been a priority for local businesses, which consistently cite improvements to the road as essential for boosting productivity and economic growth in the region. There is growing concern that significant traffic issues will worsen, particularly in light of housing development proposals for the area with nothing from the Government to address this.
