Arun councillors call for brakes on new houses until A27 bypass is completed

They criticised regional proposals for an extra 9,300 homes in Arun over the next 20 years and the suggestion that a full bypass should be ditched in favour of smaller-scale improvements to cut peak-time jams.

Councillors launched their attacks during a debate at last week's full meeting of the council, when the South East England Regional Assembly (Seera) draft South East Plan was discussed. It maps out proposals for new housing, transport links, the economy and the environment until 2026.

In the Arun district, an average of 465 homes a year would need to be built over the two decades.

Arun councillor for Arundel, Paul Dendle, described the A27 issue as "a scar on this district" and warned that the proposed new housing should not be allowed before the transport links were improved.

Councillor Dr James Walsh said there was no point investing in bypasses at Havant, Chichester and other places along the south coast if there were going to be bottlenecks at Arundel, Worthing and Chichester.

Dr Walsh said hundreds of millions of pounds had already been spent on these other bypasses and that that money would effectively be wasted unless the government connected the missing links along the A27.

Good transport links were vital for the Arun district, not only for its residents and businesses but also for its visitors, he insisted.

"We need to say in the strongest possible terms to the government and to Seera to get the A27 scheme completed.

It's getting beyond a joke how long it's taking to complete."

He added: "We've really got to dig our heels in. In particular with regard to the development aspect of this and say to the minister that we will do anything in our power to block the development of the Arun district until the A27 has been completed."

The council agreed that a bypass was the only option to relieve traffic congestion around Arundel and along the current A27 route, and to underline the point in its formal response to the South East Plan.

Comments from Arun and other councils in the region will be considered by Seera before the final version of the plan is submitted to the government by this spring.

Once approved by the government, the plan will be legally binding on Arun and the other councils.