Sunday 1 October 2017

Battle Stations

The fight is on to save the area around Binsted village from a new section of multi lane dual carriageway.
Both West Sussex County Council and Arun District Council have agreed in meetings over the past week to say in response to the Highways England consultation on A27 major works that 5A is their preferred option.
As expected that decision has been met with dismay and some anger with Mike Tristram representing the Binstead community commenting:
“Four of the five community groups gave WSCC good traffic, environmental and community reasons why the officers’ recommendation to support Option 5A should be rejected.  Appalling damage to Binsted Woods, Binsted Park, the village communities using the National Park in this area, and Tortington, were all cited”. 

Dr A Whitbread. Chief Executive of the Sussex Wildlife Trust on hearing the news said:

‘If it goes ahead this road will draw in more traffic from elsewhere, will generate extra car journeys, increase car dependency - more traffic, more traffic jams.  To say nothing of the ongoing destruction of irreplaceable habitat, the loss of landscape and ecological connectivity and decimation of populations of internationally protected species’.

So what can be done to alert the public to what is likely to happen to this wonderful iconic area of English countryside? Well the locals are not going to stand by and let the bulldozers gouge out cuttings or build massive embankments through our cultural heritage – future generations would never forgive us if we allowed it – therefore:
On Sunday 8th October, come participate in the big Save Binsted Demonstration, and help highlight the event by joining our one hour walk to Binsted from Arundel. Let Highways England know that we don’t want our precious landscape destroyed by a big bypass!

The demonstration begins at 1:00pm at the Flint Barn, Binsted BN18 0LL. Full details below. Bring a green “A27 Better not Bigger” poster to show your support for Binsted and the Arundel countryside.

The one hour walk from Arundel will go through the South Downs National Park, past areas threatened by Arundel bypass Options 3 and 5A, arriving in Binsted in time for the Save Binsted Demonstration. Dogs on leads and children able to walk for an hour are welcome. Meet at the junction of Dalloway Road – Torton Hill Road, Arundel at 11.30 am.

We expect this to get a lot of press coverage, so even if you can’t join us on the walk, please come to Binsted and participate!