A27 PROPOSALS – HAVE YOUR SAY

Highways England have launched a new consultation with 6 possible options for the A27 bypass. These routes are colour-coded on the map that you can link to here:
A27 Arundel Bypass Further Consultation brochure

During the consultation period that runs from now until 24^th October 2019 you will be able to obtain a hard copy of the Highways England brochure explaining these options from Arundel Town Hall, the Arundel Library, by visiting one the public consultation exhibitions or online at: A27 Arundel Bypass Further Consultation brochure

HAVE YOUR SAY

It is important that all Arundel residents do express their views in this consultation because Highways England will be strongly influenced in their decision by the preferences expressed not only by residents of Arundel but by residents of other communities such as Binstead and Walberton, who will have their own local interests. 

Residents can vote for their preferred route by posting the response form that accompanies the brochure to a Freepost address

or online at: A27 Consultation Response Form

POINTS TO NOTE

The information provided by Highways England is not easy to navigate so here is a short guide to the 6 colour-coded options.

Beige and Cyan Routes

As you will see from the map, the Cyan and Beige options are not by-passes at all. They both run straight through the town. These routes increase the width of the A27 between Crossbush and the bottleneck  on the A27 just west of Arundel where the dual carriageway narrows to a single lane. In the Cyan option a new fly-over would be built over the Ford Road roundabout. 

Whilst these are the lowest cost options, they do not meet any of our town’s requirements. They leave Arundel divided by an even bigger, noisier road, they adversely affect a large number of Arundel properties, including houses in the conservation area, and have a significant  impact on woodland and the South Downs National Park.  All of these detrimental effects are clearly shown on pages 16-17 of the Highways England brochure.  

All in all, these routes are damaging to Arundel, remembering that our town is often described as the ‘jewel in the crown of West Sussex’ and the ‘Gateway to the South Downs’. 

In an extraordinary Arundel Town Council meeting on the 4^th September, all 12 Arundel Town Councillors voted unanimously against supporting these 2 options.

Crimson Route

The Crimson route has the greatest environmental impact on ancient woodlands and the South Downs National Park.  Whilst Highways England have included this as a theoretic option, it would almost certainly be rejected for these reasons.

Grey Route

This route is attractive from an environmental viewpoint because it does not run through the South Downs National Park and has the lowest impact on ancient woodland. However it is the longest detour, the most expensive to build and is likely to be highly unpopular with our neighbours in Walberton. 

Magenta and Amber Routes

Both these routes achieve the goal of genuinely by-passing Arundel.  They do not affect properties in Arundel (in fact these routes affect relatively few properties outside Arundel, too).  They do substantially less environmental damage than the Beige and Cyan options. 

Magenta and Amber are in fact close to the original Highways England recommendation in 2018. Assuming that the Grey route is ruled out by cost, these two routes save the most driving time and have the most positive effect on increasing safety. 

HIGHWAYS ENGLAND A27 PUBLIC CONSULTATION EXHIBITIONS

One of the best ways to find out more about their proposals and have your say is to visit to one of Highways England public consultation exhibitions. You will be able to find out more about the scheme and speak to members of their project team who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Date	Location	Time	Address
Friday 30 August	Cathedral Centre	17.30-20.00	London Road, Arundel, BN18 9BA
Tuesday 10 September	The White Swan	15.30-20.00	Chichester Road, Arundel, BN18 0AD
Wednesday 11 September	Whiteways car park, South Downs National Park	11.00-13.00	Bury Hill, Houghton, BN18 9FD
Wednesday 11 September	Impulse Leisure Centre car park, Storrington	15.00-18.00	Spierbridge Road, Storrington, Pulborough, RH20 4PG
Saturday 14 September	Fontwell Park Racecourse	10.30-14.30	Arundel Road, Fontwell, Arundel, BN18 0SY
Thursday 19 September	Coronation Hall, Slindon	14.00-20.00	Reynold’s Lane, Slindon, West Sussex, BN18 0QT
Saturday 28 September	Walberton Village Hall	10.00-17.00	The Street, Walberton, Arundel, BN18 0PJ
Tuesday 1 October	Littlehampton Town Council – Manor House, Littlehampton	14.00-20.00	Manor House, Church Street, Littlehampton, BN17 5EW
Tuesday 8 October	Mill Road car park (near Arundel Castle), Arundel	11.00-14.00	Mill Road, Arundel, BN18 9PA
Saturday 12 October	Arundel Town Hall	10.30-16.00	Maltravers Street, Arundel, BN18 9AP

Highways England will also hold unstaffed exhibitions, where visitors can view some of our consultation materials and collect printed copies of the Consultation Response Form. These exhibitions will be held at the locations below, during normal opening hours.

Date	Location	Address
Monday 16 – Tuesday 17 September	Bognor Regis Town Hall	Clarence Road, Bognor Regis, PO21 1LD
Wednesday 25 September	Storrington Library	Ryecroft Lane, Storrington, Pulborough, RH20 4PA
Wednesday 9 October	Yapton Village Hall	Main Road, Yapton, BN18 0ET
Monday 14 – Friday 18 October	Arun Civic Centre	Maltravers Road, Littlehampton, BN17 5LF