Walberton Parish Council Walberton, Binsted and Fontwell

A27 Arundel Bypass - Grey

Thank for telling National Highways what you think.

This page is still being updated regularly.

The National Highways feedback form is rather restrictive - our lawyers suggest emailing or writing a letter.

Select your Topic and click the + next to the heading
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You are free to comment about anything regarding the consultation, not just what is on the feedback form.

Biodiversity +

The route impacts a number of protected species, including voles and several species of bat (PEIR Section 8.5.18, p8-16). National Highways acknowledge that construction and operation of the scheme will have a negative impact on these.
- The road cuts across their commuting routes to foraging and roosting
- The increase in noise level will interfere with their peaceful lives and drive them away
- Proposed generalised methods to mitigate impacts may not be sufficient
- Alcathoe bats forage along the Binsted Valley and Rife. They have been documented by National Highways in their Bat Radiotracking Baseline Survey, section 3.2.1.7 on page 3-35. This has been described as one of the rarest mammals in Britain by the University of Sussex. The PEIR document fails to mention them at all.
- Mitigation measures to protect a rare species whose requirements are poorly understood are unlikely to be effective.
- A recent paper shows that there has been very poor evaluation of the efficacy of oft-cited measures referred to in guidance documents (only 10%).
- Increased air and water pollution will poison their homes
A number of ancient and veteran trees will be lost due to construction of the scheme (8.5.32-41). The Government's National Policy Statement for National Networks 2014 in section 5.32 (page 53) states, "Aged or veteran trees found outside ancient woodland are also particularly valuable for biodiversity and their loss should be avoided."
Section 8.6.28 states that habitat compensation calculations are made using the obsolete Natural England Metric 2.0. This has been superceded in 2021 with version 3.0 and will generate different results.
The impact on protected species and the general ecology can be dramatically reduced by selection of a different route, such as the Arundel Alternative.

Traffic data +

Traffic figures quoted are from the National Highways consultation brochure, pages 36-37.
Fontwell roundabouts are already over capacity and no mitigations have been proposed despite the figures showing a 9% increase in traffic (4,400 vehicles per day). National Highways wrote to Arun District Council (copy of publicly-available document from ADC Planning Portal) stating that, "the junction is already over capacity as it is severely impacted by traffic in the peak periods".
The scheme will lead to a marked (42%, 1,300 vehicles per day) increase in traffic through Walberton - a rural village and a conservation area. A proportion of this is due to rat-running to avoid congestion at Fontwell. National Highways' own description of the rat run can be seen on a map here.
Closure of the westbound access to Arundel Road from the A27 will force HGVs to travel through Fontwell Village to reach the industrial areas.
Tye Lane will be closed off Northbound
Worthing is already a traffic nightmare so 31% (11,700 vehicles per day) east of Crossbush will not help.
The journey time quoted for the dual carriageway stretch looks lovely, but does not take into account the extra delays at Fontwell (consultation brochure page 36, bottom-centre)

Pollution and Air Quality +

During construction (3 years) dust, rubble and disruption to the air and area you live in.
Permanent reduction in the fresh/clean air levels of our villages
Air quality reduced around Walberton school, Pre-School and Community Play Centre
- The proposed route passes within 170 metres of Walberton and Binsted Church of England Primary School. Pollution may have an adverse effect on children.
Greater traffic volume on our quiet streets means more air pollution
Pollution run-off from more vehicles and road surfaces polluting local streams, ponds and waterways.
Queuing car engines backed up at bottlenecks in villages as ‘rat runs’ are more frequently used

Cultural Heritage and Views +

This route will slice Binsted village in two with 16 houses south of the new road and 23 to the north
This route will destroy and remove many of the local views and vistas across the villages
The setting of St Marys Church (Grade 2* Listed) will be scarred and changed permanently
National Highways do not seem to have properly considered the effects on the Church in their preliminary assessment
River Arun, Torrington and Binsted Rifes cut over by the road accessible only by underpass
Undermines our Neighbourhood Plan which protects our landscape
Loss of ancient trees and treasured landscapes

More detail on the heritage impact can be read here.

Noise +

Increased heavy machinery movement and noise during construction
Heavy lorries diverted across all roads in the area permanently
Volume of traffic increased across the area permanently
Impact to protected and fragile wildlife species
Incessant background noise disturbing quiet village life and schools
Dangerous, noisy and destructive to our quiet roads and footpaths

Yapton Lane overbridge - online or offline? +

We feel that an online option (ie using the existing route and going straight over the A27) would be preferable.
- Yapton Lane would remain at the same level, reducing noise and visual impact.
- The A27 would be deeper into a cutting, further reducing the noise levels.
We also want the A27 to remain in the deeper cutting longer than NH propose to the west of Yapton Lane
- We want the cutting to remain deeper until Tye Lane and gradually return to normal ground level
- This reduces the noise and visual impact to the north of the village

Avisford Park Golf Course - 9 or 18 holes? +

Our opinion is that an 18 hole course, maintaining the existing scale, would be preferable.
However, the proposed location is NOT appropriate and an alternative should be found.

Population and human health +

Increase in road traffic in the village will mean more noise, more pollution, and less safe roads
This will impact all village users including horse riders, mountain bikers, cyclists and walkers
The proposed route passes within 170 metres of Walberton and Binsted Church of England Primary School. Pollution may have an adverse effect on children.
A27 grey could mean no more fireworks night, peaceful golfing and cricket, or enjoying your private garden undisturbed

Objections in Principle +

The information supplied in the consultation is extremely limited and often out-of-date.
- Many questions that have been asked of NH remain unanswered
- We feel that this lack of data renders the consultation not fit for purpose
It is our opinion that the scheme does not adequately meet the objectives set out by National Highways. You can read our explanation here.
We are disappointed that proposals which better fulfil these objectives at much reduced cost and environmental impact have not been considered. You can read more about the Arundel Alternative here.