Council leader says A27 meetings with Goodwood took place

West Sussex County Council held a couple of '˜closed door' investigative meetings with Goodwood as part of the battle to secure a better A27, the leader Louise Goldsmith explained yesterday.
Members of the design group gathered for an update on A27 processMembers of the design group gathered for an update on A27 process
Members of the design group gathered for an update on A27 process

Responding to questions at a meeting of the Build A Better A27 (BAB27) group, Mrs Goldsmith said: “We have had a couple of closed doors meetings with Goodwood, investigative meetings.

“There was discussion I will be absolutely clear.

“It was a proposal that Goodwood had put [forward] that was their northern route.”

Group facilitator Ash Pal called for unityGroup facilitator Ash Pal called for unity
Group facilitator Ash Pal called for unity
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Her comments at the busy Chichester Baptist Church in Sherborne Road were in response to questions from Jeremy Dry of Chichester Deserves Better.

He said: “Where is the transparency in people from West Sussex County Council having behind closed doors and those conversations also resulting in northern routes coming on the agenda?”

Singling out Mrs Goldsmith, Mr Dry asked: “Has shee been in meetings were the northern route has been discussed behind closed doors?”

With over 3,700 responses to the A27 survey in the Observer and online, the council said they had not been able to process the results in time for the meeting.

The meeting took place at Chichester Baptist ChurchThe meeting took place at Chichester Baptist Church
The meeting took place at Chichester Baptist Church
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As a result a further meeting will take place in the coming weeks so members can begin sifting through the long list of routes.

Group facilitator Ash Pal spoke about the importance of uniting and not repeating history and having Government funding pulled.

He said: “We were on the floor, knocked out. No scheme. No meeting.

“We need to get ready, this is going to be a dash.

“We are going to have a very short period of time [to do it].

“This is our shot.”