N Bersted faces three years of lorries

The procession of large lorries will work out at about two an hour going into temporary access off Chichester Road into the new development.

The vehicle movements can be doubled for those leaving the access and the builders' compound.

That figure can be doubled again for light vehicles such as those carrying staff and sub-contractors.

This is likely to make 150 in and out daily movements for the next three years.

The access is being sited abut 25m north of 350 Chichester Road, opposite Highgate Drive.

The permanent access to the housing will be some 50m further north.

Permission for the temporary access to lead to 337 of the 650 homes which comprise part of the site six scheme was given by councillors amid concerns about the effect of such a concentrated movement of vehicles along the already busy A259.

Cllr Elaine Stainton (Felpham West) said: "The A259 through Felpham and along Chichester Road is already a nightmare.

"Who is going to control this construction traffic and how is it going to be controlled?"

Cllr Sylvia Olliver (Bersted) said the effect of so much additional traffic could be serious on people already struggling through traffic jams to get to work.

Cllr Ricky Bower (East Preston) said it was important the vehicles did not go through central Bognor Regis to reach the development site.

Strict controls should be implemented indicating the route traffic should follow.

As chairman of the site six advisory group, on which councillors and residents meet with the developers, he said he would ensure the issue of traffic routes was high on the agenda.

"We have a good dialogue with the developers on both the North Bersted and Felpham sites.

"They are listening to us and adjusting their plans accordingly.

"Traffic management plans will be on the agenda very soon, if not at the next meeting next week," he stressed.

Council planning officer Stephen Cantwell said the temporary access had been designed to enable lorries to enter and exit from the north.

Only smaller vehicles will be able to approach from the opposite direction.

"This is intended to deflect HGVs away from the northern suburbs of Bognor Regis," he stated. He added that studies had shown the roads around the access could cope with the expected number of vehicles using what will effectively be a large building site.