Splitting of North Bersted road labelled 'a disgrace'

An historic road through North Bersted is to be severed in half for good.

Shripney Lane, which dates from the 13th century, will no longer be a through route.

The route which has lasted for almost 800 years is to be cut in two by the 1.7km (just over a mile) long western section of the Bognor Regis northern relief road between the A259 and Rowan Way.

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Legal permission to split the still rural lane has been advertised by West Sussex County Council to take effect from Monday.

Shripney resident Tony Kemp said: "From my personal point of view, it's an absolute disgrace this is happening. Shripney Lane is an historic road.

"From what I understand, it's possibly one of the oldest wagon roads that is left in the country because it has been there for several hundred years."

Mr Kemp said he feared the 'new' Shripney Lane with its two dead ends connected only by an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing over the relief road would become a favourite dumping ground.

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"A few months ago I did a survey of a random stretch of 100m of the lane and found a washing machine blocking a culvert, a TV set, an industrial vacuum cleaner and bags of rubbish.

"My concern is that this problem is going to magnify. What they are going to do to Shripney Lane is a mistake," he said. Mr Kemp, who is

Bersted Parish Council vice-chairman, has lived on Shripney Road for 18 years after he moved to the Bognor Regis area in the 1970s.

He said: "It's a lovely area and the new road will completely change its character.

"It will be the biggest alteration it has known."

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The relief road is an integral part of the site six development of 650 homes in North Bersted and 700 in Felpham, where an eastern section of the relief road will link the A259 at Flansham with the A29. The temporary closure comes into force on Monday and will shut it from 95m south of the entrance to the electricity sub-station southwards for 285m.

A council statement said: "This order is needed to allow the construction of the new Bognor Regis relief road to begin.

"When the new road is completed, it will bisect Shripney Lane at the location."

The temporary order will be followed by a permanent closure order.

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