County council amending plans for Lyminster bypass

In a new statement, the council claims the application for the bypass, which will connect the A27 to Littlehampton town centre, has needed amendments to the original design, and say that the new road will be built over the next two years.

The bypass will help to stop congestion at a level crossing on the A284 towards Wick, while making it easier for the traffic flow from the North Littlehampton housing development, which will include 1,260 new homes, a 100 bed hotel, a 60 bed care home, and a new school and community centre.

The council states it has secured £3 million in funding from the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership towards the scheme.

Lucy Monie, interim director for highways and transport, said: “Having carefully considered the views of both objectors and supporters of the scheme, we have decided to withdraw the planning application for the A284 Lyminster Bypass. This will let us make some minor amendments through a new application.

“The new application will deal with those issues to make sure the scheme secures the widest possible support. We are listening and responding to local opinion, and this will help reduce the risk of delays later in the process.”

Town councillor Derrick Chester previously said he was ‘mystified’ by the decision.

He added: “The Lyminster Bypass is key to Littlehampton’s future economic prospects. It is great to see the commitment to it and funding for it is in place and secured by the county council.

“Slippage in delivering it still concerns me. We need this infrastructure delivered in a timely and coordinated manner. All stakeholders are, I am sure, working flat out to overcome any obstacles in the way of delivery.”

The bypass will form the northern section of a new road route from just south of the A27 at Crossbush to East Street in the town, and will connect Lyminster village to Toddington Nurseries to the south.

The council has said it will also provide the road capacity for 700 new jobs at the Toddington development site.

It has appointed private developers Jackson Civil Engineering Group Ltd to design and build the new road over the next two years.

John O’Brien, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Now the full funding package is in place we can see this bypass become a reality. It is something we have been pushing for over many years.

“Improved transport links between Arundel and Littlehampton will encourage new housing and new jobs.

“It will make the existing village quieter and reduce queues at the level crossing in Wick.”

Read the original story here.

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