LETTER: Total chaos on crowded A24

Already these and other new developments have added to local traffic congestion and there’s going to be even more traffic in the area when all the 2,000 new dwellings at Wickhurst Green and Highwood are finished and occupied (and let’s not even think about the impact the infamous North Horsham proposed development would make on traffic chaos in the area).

John O’Brien, the county council’s cabinet member for highways and transportation, said he hoped the new road scheme would ‘alleviate some of the rush hour traffic and allow traffic to get on the A24 easier’. He also said, ‘I think one of the key things going forward is when there is a demand for housing, having an appropriate infrastructure in place is very important.’

All well and good, but have I missed something, or are the local councils and highway authorities still studiously ignoring the elephant in the room which is the narrow, twisty and notoriously dangerous stretch of the A24 from Great Daux roundabout up to Capel?

Maybe the new road scheme west of Horsham will improve matters for people trying to get on and off the A24 at Broadbridge Heath, but when they are actually on it, it’s going to be something of a nightmare.

Why don’t the local authorities get their heads together right now and decide to upgrade that stretch of road to a dual carriageway. After all a plan for that has been on the cards for the last 40 years at least.

In fact it was given planning permission back in 1997, but (oops!) they missed the five year deadline for starting the works. Isn’t it about time they delved into their dusty old files, found the plans and actually did something about it before we are all faced with total chaos on the A24 due to ever increasing numbers using it.

Oh, and while they are at it, why don’t they insist that the developers (who are making huge profits from building all these new houses so close to the dangerous A24) cough up some of those profits to put towards the costs of the new road (of course, the North Horsham development is now NIL rated for Community Infrastructure Levy, so they must find some other way of ensuring that the American developer Liberty contributes to the costs).

SHEILA WHITE

Dorking Road, Warnham

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