VOTE: Traffic fear for North Bersted

The multi-million pound route was at the heart of the agreement for forging a total of more than 1,300 new homes across two locations '“ at North Bersted off the Chichester Road and in the east of the town off Flansham Hoe.

But after hard-fought negotiations to ensure the group of three developers, Barratt, Berkeley and Persimmon, started constructing the much-needed relief road within two years, they are are now seeking an extended time span.

From the original agreement of two years to complete the road, they are insisting this be extended to three years '“ or risk the potential collapse of the housing deal, on which it is proposing to start work in March 2010 at the Felpham site.

However, residents fear if the road is delayed longer to a late stage in the development of the two sites, then there may be little preventing those behind the schemes from attempting to push the schedule back even further.

In a report being presented to an Arun District Council development control meeting on Wednesday, developers argue market conditions have changed considerably since the housing agreement (known as 106) with Arun in 2005.

It also claimed the firms were not in a position to secure a bond for the entire cost of the relief road, set at around 29m (23m at Felpham, 6m at Bersted).

But instead, Barratt Homes is proposing an initial bond of 5m which would then be topped-up at intervals in relation to the number of new homes built '“ which was not originally part of the deal.

They are also proposing to delay contributions

The move was criticised by Bognor Regis MP Nick Gibb, who said the delay would cause a significant impact on residents.

He said the proposed siting of the relief road this week suffered flooding for the second time this year, at North Bersted Street '“ which the environment agency claimed would be 'a one in 100-year event'.

Mr Gibb said: "The only reason the people of Bognor Regis and Felpham gave their consent to these houses being built was the promise of the relief road, which has been talked about for the past 25 years.

"If this decision is made to extend work on it, it will make people even more suspicious of extravagant promises of developers for future developments including Chalcraft Lane."

Bersted parish councillor Martin Lury said the developers' attempts left residents in an 'absurd situation' and it was a matter of honour for the property firms to complete the road scheme as agreed.

West Sussex county councillor Simon McDougall, who is also a Bersted parish councillor said: "While relaxing the 106 agreements may be the best way of securing the entire relief road, there is a real possibility the eastern section may not be built.

"A western relief road will give relief only to Bersted, but would cause added misery to motorists and Felpham residents.

"That is why, when I was chairman of Bersted Parish Council, I united with all neighbouring parish and town councils in the area campaigning for the road to be built before the houses.

"It would appear our worst fears could potentially be realised if there is any further delay from developers because of the economic climate.

"A relief road to nowhere with 650 houses is a senario that goes against everything we have campaigned against for the past 15 years."

Have your say

Would delays to a Site 6 relief road cause traffic chaos in the area?

Vote yes or no in the panel to the right of the screen.

What do you think? Send a letter to [email protected] or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click here to add yourself to our readers' map.