Link road will be destructive
I am prompted to write after reading the Chichester Society’s letter in the Observer (Opinion, June 24) in which the chairman sets out the society’s position on site AL6 and the Stockbridge Link Road.
I disagree profoundly with the support expressed for the Stockbridge Link Road for numerous reasons.
The link road will have to be built a minimum of 1.5m-3m above the current ground level due to flooding.
This will totally destroy the magnificent views of the cathedral spire for those driving off the Manhood Peninsula – a view much treasured by many and in particular residents as they drive into Chichester.
The road will have to be lit and the light pollution from such lighting will be hugely damaging to the natural environment.
The Chichester
Conservancy has a policy on dark skies – regrettably, unlike the South Downs National Park, the Chichester Harbour AONB is not a designated
Dark Sky area because of light pollution from the considerable growing development in and around Chichester. A link road will destroy much of the Harbour Conservancy’s good work on dark skies and will have a harmful effect on the environment as a whole.
The link road does not stand on its own. It comes with new roundabout layouts along the A27, with no right turn onto the A27 from the south, increasing the traffic flow through Chichester.
This work will lead to environmental devastation with the works required leading to inevitable gridlock for years.
The purpose of the link road is so that more houses can be built on the Manhood Peninsula.
The Manhood Peninsula Action Group and many others are campaigning to protect the Manhood from overdevelopment.
In our existing local plan, the inspector states that they could limit the annual number of homes to be built because of transport constraints that have not changed.
The Stockbridge Link
Road is needed so that the district council can approve more house building on the peninsula.
JOAN FOSTER
Chairman, Manhood Peninsula Action
Group Southover Way
Hunston