Plans will create a dangerous rat run

Arun District Council recently deferred the Courtwick decision to consider Courtwick Lane as a second entry/exit route. Developers have now submitted their report and, I think, their case is poorly made. Even the figures quoted seem unrealistic – look on Arun’s website for yourself.

Developers propose using bays for vehicles to pass one another – including cars, buses, lorries and agricultural vehicles. Using Courtwick Lane like this (rather than only for local residents, buses and emergency vehicles as originally planned), will create a dangerous rat run.

The point is frequently made that any north Littlehampton development will lead to chaos on the roads (the A259 specifically). Because of that, Courtwick Lane would become the bypass for Littlehampton bypass! Impatient drivers will soon abuse the overtaking system with obvious consequences! The minimum result? An even bigger traffic jam!

Arun must reject this ludicrous proposal.

More importantly, deferral allowed Arun to avoid a simple “for” or “against” vote. In view of the level of public opposition and the fact that only the developer was “for” the development, a proper vote should be taken.

Councils are blinkered by and can see no further than the money to be provided by developers – and also, don’t forget, by central government! They think it’s the only way Littlehampton’s infrastructure will improve.

I (and many other residents) firmly believe that such developments are hugely detrimental to Littlehampton’s future – especially when there are so many examples showing that developers rarely do what they promise! Courtwick is the thin edge of a wedge that will not help Littlehampton – it will have exactly the opposite effect.

If Littlehampton is to attract industry (the key to the future), it must have “proper” roads. No company will move to an area to join road chaos so bad that neither products nor people can get anywhere in a sensible time. They may prefer Shoreham – five minutes to the A27, eight to the A23 (leading to the entire motorway network) and 12 to Lewes. In that time, you might get to Crossbush or Sainsbury’s from Littlehampton.

Continue protesting! If you have written to Arun before, do it again. If you haven’t, write – it’s important to your future!

Ray Blunt,

Linnet Close

Wick