A27 Arundel Bypass: Labour plans to defer 'poor value' project in favour of pothole repairs

Labour said it plans to fix one million more potholes every year and ‘take action on soaring costs’.

Keir Starmer’s party said its costed plan will save drivers ‘up to £250 in lower repair costs alone’.

A spokesperson said: “Labour’s plan to fix up to one million additional potholes a year will be paid for by deferring the controversial A27 Bypass – which offers poor value for money – and spreading the £320 million funding for this project to local roads repairs across the country.

"Plans to break down planning barriers will help speed up other projects, including other planned upgrades along the A27.”

Louise Haigh, Labour’s shadow transport secretary, said drivers have been ‘totally failed’ by this Conservative government.

She added: “Cars are a lifeline for millions up and down the country. They get people to work, allow parents to get kids to school and help carers support relatives.

“The Conservatives have left Britain’s roads plagued with potholes and have sat back as car insurance costs have spiralled out of control.

“Labour is the only party truly on the side of drivers. Our plan will fix up to a million more potholes every year, saving drivers hundreds of pounds in lower repair costs, and will crack down on soaring car insurance costs.

“We will make our roads safer for all who use them and remove the barriers which bog down our planning system, speeding up infrastructure improvements and cutting costs for taxpayers.”

As of March 9, 2023, the Arundel Bypass scheme has been pushed back to the 2025-2030 period, with the government blaming environmental and design issues.

National Highways, which is leading the project, said: “The Department for Transport has confirmed that this scheme will be deferred to RIS3 (covering 2025 to 2030) to allow time for stakeholders' views to be fully considered.”

Andrew Griffith, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Arundel and South Downs, has voiced his concern after Labour’s announcement this week.

He said it is ‘incredibly bad news for West Sussex’, adding: “The decision condemns motorists across the county to endless delays as well as villages including Storrington, Arundel, Pulborough – who will suffer the continuing misery of congestion that causes pollution and rat running.

“Labour’s announcement today is an attack on our rural communities, and this is just the beginning. They clearly don’t understand what is needed to help the local economy grow, and to protect our rural villages.

“It is also ludicrous for Arundel SCATE to say that new roads bring more cars onto our roads. Dual carriageways and bypasses do not create traffic, they take fast and heavy traffic away from quiet rural roads. We must make roads safer and we must keep the Arundel Bypass in the roads delivery programme.”

Chichester MP candidate Gillian Keegan also voiced her opposition to Labour’s plans.

The Conservative MP candidate said: “Chronic traffic on the A27 has blighted the lives of Chichester constituents for years.

“Labour’s plans to cancel the A27 bypass around Arundel show their complete lack of understanding and care for our communities.

“The government has already provided funding for potholes, with over £5 million in the last two years alone to West Sussex County Council and a guaranteed £67.5 million over the next decade. Whilst work is weather dependent, this is already underway.”

Mrs Keegan said the move could also jeopardise plans for a consultation she has secured on the future of the A27 around Chichester.

She added: “I’m proud to have secured a commitment from the Department for Transport for an all-options consultation on the A27 in Chichester. It’s vitally important that all voices are heard on this issue so that we get a workable solution that our community can unite behind.

“However, it’s obvious that Labour do not have the interests of people in our communities at heart, particularly when it comes to providing upgrades to much-needed road infrastructure. This threatens the progress we have made on the A27 in Chichester and should be of grave concern to every voter in our constituency.

“It’s clear that a vote for the Conservatives at this election is the only way to ensure we get long term decisions and a fair deal for our area.”

Reform UK’s Arundel & South Downs candidate David Thomas has also had his say.

He said: “As a local resident, I understand that building a bypass will upset some or all lot of people. However, we need to move forward with this project and think creatively about minimizing its impact on our beautiful area and community.

“It's typical for Labour to avoid making tough decisions, which seems to be their election strategy—to avoid upsetting anyone. But sometimes, hard choices are necessary. With our growing population, it's essential to proceed with this project, and we need substantial funding to do it properly, as its effects will last for decades.”

Richard Allen, the Liberal Democrat PPC for Arundel & South Downs, has a different view.

He said: “My understanding is that the hugely expensive investment in the road was deferred by National Highways back in 2023 under the Conservative Government in which Andrew Griffith served as a minister. It is bizarre that he should now raise this as an issue.

“As Liberal Democrats we know this is an issue that divides the local community. Further consultation is required, but we would only support it if it makes environmental and economic sense.

"My instinct is that the majority of the constituents in Arundel desperately want to see a workable and viable solution to the traffic chaos. We would propose to start a fresh conversation, including study of the Arundel alternative, which is much cheaper, and better, more sustainable local transport options.”

Labour said Britain's roads – under the Conservatives – have become ‘symbolic of the state of our country’.

A spokesperson added: “They are plagued with potholes that damage vehicles and push up insurance costs for drivers. There are now 100 times more potholes on our roads than there are craters on the moon.

“This is a cost-of-living issue that matters to millions of people. Pothole damage cost drivers almost £500 million last year, with the average damage worth £250.

“Car insurance costs have also spiralled out of control, increasing by more than £200 on average in just two years. This has been driven by damage from pothole-ridden roads, soaring inflation and rising car thefts.

“As well as bringing down costs for drivers and turning the tide on 14 years of neglect of our local roads, Labour’s plan will break down bureaucratic barriers that leave projects bogged down in Britain’s broken planning system.”

Labour’s ‘plan for drivers’ will fund local authorities to fix up to one million more potholes per year – ‘improving the state of our local roads’ and preventing the damage to vehicles that is ‘costing drivers hundreds of pounds in repairs and higher insurance costs’.

The party said it will also tackle soaring car insurance costs by calling in the regulators to ‘crack down on the causes of soaring costs’.

The spokesperson added: “[We will] break down planning barriers holding back infrastructure upgrades: to ensure vital upgrades to our roads are delivered on time and to budget.

“Labour will also end the sticking plaster approach to roads repairs by providing multi-year funding settlements to local leaders. This will change the way local authorities repair roads, supporting them to deliver longer-lasting repairs to local roads, prevent potholes forming in the first place, and secure better value for money for the taxpayer.

“The party’s wider plans for better transport will also deliver for drivers by accelerating the electric vehicle charge-point rollout, reducing traffic on our roads by providing better buses and trains, and delivering a new road safety strategy to prevent tragic deaths and injuries.”

Chris Philipsborn, Labour PPC for Arundel and South Downs, said Sussex residents will be ‘delighted to hear’ Labour will ‘prioritise fixing the roads we've already got’.

He added: “Like so many local people I'm pleased Labour will defer the expensive and unworkable A27 bypass proposals and develop plans for proper improvements to this crucial road, whilst using the £320m saved to fix Britain’s pothole crisis, saving drivers hundreds of pounds in repair bills.

"For too long the Conservatives have allowed our roads to fall into disrepair, with more potholes on Britain’s roads today than there are craters on the moon.”

Green Party candidate Steve McAuliffe said Labour’s comments are ‘essentially meaningless’ as there is ‘no budget for the road at present’.

"So they’re proposing to extract £320 from a budget that doesn’t exist,” he added. “The statement is clearly smoke and mirrors.

"Whenever I speak to residents the consensus if for a traffic solution to the peak-time delays and rat running that blights the villages at these periods.

"The vast majority of residents do not want a damaging and unsightly bypass in this historic and ecologically rich location.

"Residents consistently tell me that they want a reasonable and workable traffic solution that allows local traffic to filter off towards Arundel whilst allowing through traffic to continue unhindered.

"We had the Arundel Alternative proposed which was a sensible solution that came from local people and was supported by local people. This option can be delivered at a cost that is reasonable and limits the environmental and social impacts.

"This option should be back on the table and residents should be fully consulted on whether they would welcome this proposal rather than their choices being limited to a highly destruction four-lane bypass that would scar this beautiful and sensitive part of the country.”