Video shows severity of flooding on A29; West Sussex A-road reopens ahead of schedule
The A29 has reopened after a severe flooding incident.
A29 Lidsey Road had been closed both ways – from Woodgate Road to Lidsey Caravan Park – since around 7pm on Sunday (December 7). Local buses were diverted, whilst they were unable to serve Westergate, Woodgate, Lidsey and Shripney.
The road had reopened by Wednesday morning, after successful works to ‘alleviate the flooding’. Building site workers are said to have assisted at the scene.
Video footage at the top of this page, courtesy of Retro Finds Michelle, showed the severity of the incident whilst it was ongoing.
This comes amid speculation locally that a new housing development contributed to flooding along Lidsey Road – where several private homes were said to be affected.
Work has been taking place on land adjacent to Woodgate Nurseries in Lidsey Road, Aldingbourne (planning references AL/129/21/OUT and AL/143/24/RES).
Permission was granted in August 2022 for a residential development with up to 95 dwellings (Use Class C3), informal and formal public open space, landscaping, drainage and other associated works.
A spokesperson at Barratt David Wilson Homes Southampton division: “The flooding near Barratt's Woodgate site is historic and is due to blocked ditches outside of our boundary so not in our control.
“The site underwent a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and was designated as suitable for development by both the local planning authority (LPA) and the Environment Agency (EA).”
The developer was recently instructed by the local authority to stop work at the building site – due to a ‘breach of planning control’.
Arun District Council issued a temporary stop notice to Barratt David Wilson Homes (Southampton).
A spokesperson for the council said: "The development in question is not built within the defined flood plain. We do not have any information to conclude that there are any links between the scheme that has recently been commenced, the significant levels of rainfall and any flooding issues.
"The council has issued a stop notice on the developer because they have not discharged the requisite conditions before commencing.
"This does not relate to any diversion of the Lidsey Rife and, after multiple site visits, there is no evidence that this has taken place."
West Sussex County Council confirmed on Tuesday that works to alleviate flooding on the A29 at Lindsey have now been completed, and the ‘water levels have receded’.