Retail park woes

YOUR comprehensive article on plans for a new retail park in Rustington (Gazette, September 26), and county councillor Dr James Walsh’s subsequent report to the joint eastern area committee, indicate that it’s highways and transport working group’s negotiations with developers, to provide a business park on the south side of the A259, west of Mill Lane, are proceeding without due regard to planning policies and highway safety.

Although Arun District Council’s planning policies are to keep land, adjacent to the highway, undeveloped, there is a tacit assumption that planning permission will be agreed.

Serious traffic dangers necessitated West Sussex County Council, at considerable public expense, to provide traffic signal-controlled access to the Rustington Retail Park, in New Road, from the A259.

However, the proposed uncontrolled access for the new business park, where traffic speeds are notably higher, is nonetheless considered acceptable.

The formal planning views of Arun District Council, based on a professional assessment by its planning officers, and the expert advice of Sussex Police, regarding the traffic safety issues relating to the proposed access, and the efficient functioning of the A259, are imperative before negotiations proceed further.

Kenneth Grimes

Broadmark Avenue

Rustington