Poor solution to housing crises

As a possible solution to the housing crisis, the A29 realignment must rate as one of the poorest solutions on grounds of social satisfaction, transport, environment and economics. For why? please read on.

1.0 No social satisfaction.

1.1 Currently typical twobedroom new houses in this area start from £275k with average salaries in West Sussex at £30-£35K, even with two people working the deposit will require to be at least £60k. Where is the independent survey defining who these houses are being built for?

1.2 It is no secret that the Woodgate level railway crossing, to some councillors, appear as a block to industrial development of Bognor Regis. Perhaps the councillors would do better to concentrate on tourism for Bognor Regis, avoiding the need for heavy articulated lorries to gain access to the town.

1.3 Stress has become part and parcel of the average doctor’s visits. This A29 re-alignment planned to be built through the very centre of Eastergate village will do nothing to alleviate their stress. How much extra human stress is WSCC prepared to acknowledge as acceptable due to this development. This A29 realignment plan passes that close to newly built homes that a noise reduction barrier

is to be considered.

1.5. The construction of this road through the middle of Eastergate with the school, doctor’s surgery, church, village hall and public house on one side and much of the village population on the other, will make the journey on foot for these residences so much more difficult and dangerous that a car journey will almost be the only solution, adding to the congestion.

1.5 Construction of a new main road through a housing estate with a 50mph speed limit to facilitate the upgrading of industrial estates is hardly a convincing argument for the requirement of new homes let alone a new road.

2.0 Transport.

2.1 How much estimated time will be saved by a new road with seven roundabouts over a period of 24 hours over the existing A29 journey time including the B2233 where it will cross the new A29?

2.2 How have the emergency services reacted to this plan?

2.3 Dutch roundabouts work well in Holland on residential locations where cyclists are more the way of life. Vehicles give way to cyclists when turning on and off the roundabout.

Most continental roundabouts have a negative camber making vehicles travel slower at roundabouts. where as in the UK positive camber is used leading to faster vehicle speeds at roundabouts.

So far in this country there is a Dutch roundabout planned for a residential location near Addenbrookes Hospital Cambridge and a one day trial at Borehamwood testing ground.

In summary lorry drivers found that cyclist where often in their blind spot when turning off the roundabout at the point where the lorry driver had, in theory, to give way to the cyclists.

Don’t get me wrong I am very much in favour of cyclists being accommodated on our roads but safely and perhaps it would be better first to build a Dutch roundabout on the Cambridge residential road rather than a main highway that is planned to accommodate 40 ton articulated lorries. In what section of the UK’S Highway Code, 2017, do the rules for road users appear in how they must conduct themselves whilst negotiating a Dutch roundabout?

2.5 Commendable though it is with provision for cyclists along the side of the new

A29, what provision is to be made where the new joins the old A29, especially at the Shripney end. If nothing, then please do not be surprised if few cyclists use the new section of cycle path, as the road at the southern end leading into Bognor Regis will remain or become even less safe for cyclists.

3.0 Environment.

3.1 Loss of top quality farm land. The fields that will be lost to this development are some of the best in the country and blessed with hours of sunshine.

It beggars belief that the planning department sees the building of 3,000 houses on this land as a solution for the good of the nation.

3.2 Carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (NO) emissions are, we are told, one of the prime causes for the increase in global warming and health risks. Reducing CO₂ emissions is a prime aim for the country, the A29 re-alignment with the successive stop/starts as the vehicles negotiate the seven roundabouts will do nothing to alleviate CO₂ emissions.

No emissions from diesels engines will increase dramatically.

The planned roundabout crossing at the B2233 will result at times in queueing traffic not more than a few dozen meters away from existing housing to the east of the traffic. Many people choose to live in the country for health reasons.

The occupants of these west-facing bedrooms will be exposed to traffic noise and pollution. Anyone with experience of an asthma attack will know how scary it is to have one.

A road planned in this proximity for asthma suffers must be truly agonising as to know what to do. What is the advice from the council.

3.3 Railway bridge construction. The construction of the bridge will have an added CO₂ impact.

Most bridges will be constructed from top quality concrete. The cement used in the production of the concrete releases an estimated 950kgs of CO₂ for every 1000kgs of cement.

How much CO₂ will be released from the materials used for the construction of the railway bridge.

4.0 Economics.

Yes I know there is a need for further appropriate housing but there are better ways of achieving this than spending £50million plus on a new road just so that 3,000 houses may be built on green fields.

When logic for such developments such as this is greeted with ‘it’s Government policy’.

When directors of house building companies receive £70million in remuneration. When there are empty accommodations units in towns and cities.

When good land used for food production is used for housing, it is time I believe for town planners to look at alternative means of working us out of the housing crises for the good of all of us. ROY CAMPBELL MCIBSE C. ENG Downview Road, Eastergate