Significant changes to roads are needed to cope with new housing

Since coming out of lockdown and driving further afield through the county with my new found freedom and visiting friends again – I was shocked at just how much new housing feels like it has suddenly appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. As a county that already suffers badly with congestion – to which anyone that has to use the A27, A24 and A259 during peak times can attest – I’m left wondering how our roads and local services are going to cope with all these new homes, with significantly more to come in the future in this area. Recently a proposal from WSCC caught my eye for a ‘multi-million-pound jigsaw of investment in Arun’s highway infrastructure’ which began consultation on June 21 and runs though to July 25 – see the WSCC website for details: yourvoice. westsussex.gov.uk/a259

As a former resident of Middletonon-sea, I was happy to see that they are finally proposing to place a roundabout on the A259/B2132 (Comet Corner) which is something I can recall many people suggesting for at least the last 20 years with the council making various excuses as to why a roundabout couldn’t be placed there. I wonder what changed?

I’ve personally seen many accidents, near misses and heavy congestion at this junction, and it’s for that reason that I actively avoid it where possible, so I really hope this part of the proposal is successful as it’s desperately needed there. The proposals also include adding a roundabout at the Oystercatcher junction as well, so if you live in the area or commute that way, then please complete the survey.

However, whilst these plans might reduce congestion at some of the junctions, they’re not going to increase capacity, so will simply shift the congestion somewhere else, as we’ve found with many of these road improvement schemes in the past.

If anyone was hoping that the new ‘work from home’ was going to significantly reduce the traffic volumes in our area, it doesn’t appear to be the case with the traffic now seemingly back to prepandemic levels already.

I often find it faster to drive through Chichester than using the A27 and I’m sure other locals do as well. That can’t be right. If we’re going to keep building like this then we’re going to have make some significant changes to our roads to increase capacity rather than just moving the congestion around, that means additional lanes to existing roads like the A27 and A259 or new roads being built.

Otherwise, the number of cars on the road will need to be reduced and that will mean further anti-car measures like tolls, congestion charging, car-pool schemes or the like and that will further harm the already struggling high streets.

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