On Thursday 4 February 2016, I attended the third meeting of the local A27 Working Group chaired by Councillor Major Tom Wye at the Ricardo offices in Shoreham. The group was set up last year and consists of around 40 members, representing all political parties at all the local councils (West Sussex County, Adur District, Worthing Borough, Lancing & Sompting parishes), MPs, local resident groups, businesses, the Chamber of Commerce and others. About 25 members attended the meeting to hear a presentation by the local manager of Highways England, Peter Phillips, to update us on the progress of the proposed A27 upgrade.
As I have previously reported and as has been extensively covered in the local press, the Highways Authority carried out extensive research into the extent of the problems on the A27 from Chichester to Shoreham and £350m was granted by the Government when the upgrade was included in the Roads Plan in December 2014. Initial scoping for a bypass through the South Downs was rejected early on for environmental reasons given its National Park status, whilst a tunnelling option would cost in excess of £3bn making it unaffordable. The A27 Working Group was formed on this basis. After initial scoping, it was decided that options for an online route (i.e. following the existing A27 through Shoreham, Lancing, Sompting, and Worthing) would now be worked up.
At the meeting, Mr Phillips confirmed considerable work was going on behind the scenes to produce various online options and that there would be no significant developments until November 2016 when the ‘Options Identification’ phase is over, after which there will be a public consultation in Spring 2017. I have attached a very useful timeline that envisages construction between 2020 and 2023.
During the meeting, I recommended that the timetable be brought forward and for construction to start before the general election in May 2020, so as to avoid a situation whereby a change of government resulted in a change of policy on the A27.
The A27 Working Group will be at its busiest during the ‘Options Selection’ phase in 2017. The group will be suggesting amendments and hopefully coalescing around an effective and agreeable option. If the group decides the best option is one not currently budgeted for, then we may need to have further negotiations with the Government. At that stage we will want to facilitate maximum public consultation too.
Mr Phillips suggested that the road would most likely not be an ‘expressway’ and could have a speed limit of 50mph. Highways England were tasked with producing a full ‘dual-ling’ solution and they have almost completed their work in that area. They are aware that any plans to create a dual carriageway would need better crossings for the pedestrians and equestrian users, as well as parallel cycle routes and improved connectivity into the National Park. Mr Phillips stated that plans would also involve road widening in places, although no decisions on compulsory purchase of properties have been made yet. Members of the A27 Working Group urged Mr Phillips to have this work done as quickly as possible, so as to reduce the prospect of blight.
Members asked a number of questions, including whether or not it would be possible for ‘cut and cover’ tunnels, especially on the Arundel Road in West Worthing. Mr Phillips reminded the group that around 60 per cent of the traffic using the road is local, which requires access into and out of Worthing and the surrounding area.
Full minutes of the meeting are attached below and the next meeting is scheduled for May 19th.
