When we wrote a piece in
December 2015 (see archive) for this Blog little did we know that in just a few
months the scenario we outlined then was starting to take shape.
Clearly
there was a sigh of relief from the communities that form an arc around the
north of Chichester such as West Broyle, Lavant and Strettington, who were on
or near the line of a northern bypass option for the A27, when they heard it
was suddenly removed by Highways England (HE). Yes
joy around the diner table for those in the north but horror in the Villages
off the original southern bypass.
Sadly
since then, this decision by HE has turned a once harmonious and happy
Chichester into one very much divided with groups supporting either a new
northern bypass or a serious expansion of the old southern bypass. Both sides are
now engaged in a serious social media and letter writing battle.
As
well as numerous Parish councils there are groups such as The Chichester Ship
Canal Trust, and Environmental organisations. Then there are others who support
the growth of Chichester through a transparent and ethical process. Another is
supporting an improved A27 that benefits the city and the area as a whole.
Another Supporting locals of Chichester who disapprove of the current Highways
England 5 options for the A27 and so on.
All
this came to a head on Thursday 15 September when the WSCC’s Environmental and
Community Services Select Committee sat to debate the councils Response to the HE
Consultation on plans for the A27 at Chichester. We won’t go through it all as
you can watch proceedings here:
All we
will say is councillors were none to pleased with what HE had come up with and
rejected the lot.
So
what is to be done? As we said in our December 2015 piece a divided campaign is
a lost cause, no-one is going to be happy with the end result because unless groups work together HE will submit their preferred option to the Secretary of
State for approval, and the chances are he will approve it.
HE is
not really interested in your problem of how to get in and out of the City or
on or of the A27. Their masters only want to improve the capacity of the road
to improve inter regional connectivity. That means more and faster polluting
traffic affecting everyone north and south as well as your neighbours east and
west. Stand firm don’t allow them to inflict that upon you – or us. What is
needed is an integrated transport system with all modes of moving people and
goods about being employed. Trouble is, as HE have said many times ‘We are
Highways England and that’s what we do, Highways’.
