Major changes to West Sussex A-road are broadly welcomed by councillors as consultation extended

Major improvements planned to the A259 have been broadly welcomed by Arun district councillors.

West Sussex County Council is consulting on changes to ten different junctions between BognorRegisandLittlehampton beforeitappliesforgovernment funding.

The proposals were discussed at the latest Arun DistrictCouncilplanningpolicy committee meeting, where issuessuchascongestion,speed limits, school access and the safety of cyclists were raised.

Paul Eagle, principal transport planner at West Sussex County Council, said: “There is a fine balance here in this corridor between traffic volumes, safety, speed, access for cyclists and access for public transport.

“In the solutions we have come up with, that is the sort of balance we are trying to create here so that everybody has got some sort of benefit. There may be some losers, but overall cyclists, traffic from the side roads and safety aspects should all be vastly improved through these proposals.”

Committee chairman Ricky Bower (Con, East Preston) said he was concerned new roundabouts could increase journey times. He questioned whether the changes would keep traffic moving, and added: “I appreciate it’s a difficult balancing act but is the A259 not up to standard and should it be a dual carriageway?”

Mr Eagle said modelling did not show large queues at the roundabout as a result of the proposed changes. He added that an ‘uncertainty log’ takes account of all current and future ‘hypothetical’ housing developments along the route.

Several councillors expressed their support for reducing the number of arms at the Wick roundabout from five to four, due to its proximity to Morrisons. Mr Bower called it a ‘disastrous roundabout’ and put it as his highest priority next to Comet Corner.

The meeting heard how the county council was keen to maintain the existing cycling links and the authority would try and make the roundabouts as easy for cyclists to use as possible.

Martin Lury (LDem, Bersted) said: “As an active cyclist I am concerned and nervous of cyclists being on these roundabouts. If anyone has tried to cycle on the BognorChichester roundabout, it is an absolutenightmare–it’sactually quite difficult for a car, let alone a cyclist.”

Henry Jones (LDem, Yapton) felt the roundabouts were an ‘excellent idea’ even if they did slow down some of the traffic flows given the accident records of both the Comet Corner and Oystercatcher junctions.

Biodiversity and planting surrounding the works was also raised by Ms Thurston and, according to Arun’s officers, there will be opportunities for ‘significant landscaping and improvements’.

The consultation has now been extended until August 15 – visit yourvoice.westsussex.gov. uk/a259

A report is expected in October and officers aim to submit an outline business case by October, 2022.