VOTE: Worthing needs a bypass... not fiddling around with the A27

Borough council leader Keith Mercer described as an "insult" plans to revisit the 2007 report of a West Sussex County Council task force, and said: "We are back where we were 30 years ago."

Mr Mercer was commenting on West Sussex County Council cabinet member Lt Col Tex Pemberton's meeting with roads minister Tom Harris.

Lt Col Pemberton, who handles the county's highways and transport portfolio, said the meeting made significant progress towards tackling congestion and pollution on the A27, and the minister was asking the Highways Agency and county council to start work in the next financial year to draw up options for improvements.

"The minister agreed that options will explore the 2007 report, which looked at a wide range of possible measures, including relief roads for some parts of the A27, flyovers at the bigger roundabouts, major improvements to the bus network, and park-and-ride schemes for Worthing."

Mr Mercer told the Herald: "I don't think this is enough. What we want is a bypass for Worthing.

"It is going to cause enormous problems trying to fiddle around with the existing road, and there has even been a suggestion of creating a third lane in Upper Brighton Road '“ just think of all the upsets that would cause to residents there.

"I think it is an insult to Worthing that the minister is not prepared to bite the bullet and ask for a new bypass to be designed."

Lt Col Pemberton said: "The minister was well aware of the problems of congestion, pollution and accidents that we face on the A27 and A24, and I do believe that we are much closer to some realistic solutions."

Included in the meeting agenda were improvements to the A24 between Ashington and Southwater.

Although the scheme is listed towards the end of the 2011-2016 programme, work may get underway sooner.

Herald comment

HERE we go again! Yet another stab is being taken to address Worthing's A27 congestion nightmare.

But we fear the Whitehall dilly-dally brigade lacks any sort of real commitment to solve this mess in the best way possible '“ a decent Worthing-Lancing bypass.

We learn this week that a further look is being taken at improvement plans drawn up in 2007, which, although containing some useful ideas, don't tackle the basic problem of too much traffic on an inadequate road.

All too often, traffic is nose-to-tail from Lyons Farm, all the way to the Coach and Horses pub.

For decade after decade, over the past 40 years, we have seen ambitious schemes formulated '“ even started, in the form of homes being compulsorily purchased '“ and then shot down by penny-pinching governments, who are also influenced by the green lobby.

Yet how "green" is our lifestyle at present, considering all the pollution being pumped out in residential areas by those queues of lorries, buses and cars?

How much of a "disaster" has the Shoreham and Brighton bypass been, taking into account the relief to people living along the coastal roads, and the wonderful downland vistas opened up to drivers.

Judicious use of tunnels will also limit the environmental impact. After all, the result of the A27 Southwick Hill tunnelling certainly can't be equated with the less-successful M3 Twyford Down cut-through near Winchester.

Have your say

Would you support plans for a bypass for Worthing?

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

What do you think?

Would a bypass solve the problem?

What "green" solution would reduce traffic flow along smaller roads?

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You can also write to the Herald at Worthing Herald, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA.