The proposals are highly damaging to the natural environment and the setting of the National Park and Arundel.The recent ‘End of the Road? Challenging the road-building consensus’ report by the CPRE found that road-building is failing to provide the congestion relief and economic boost promised, while devastating the environment.
We believe that there is a lack of joined up thinking by Government in respect of current road policy and this is reflected in the proposals for a bypass at Arundel. A new big road is based on outdated practice. The consultation brochure for the Arundel [PDF] bypass justifies this road by stating that other options for travel infrastructure are limited. We are very disappointed that the proposals for improving walking and cycling are so thin on the ground. It is a wasted opportunity for the objectives of the scheme to be so narrowly focussed on just building a new bypass at Arundel.
Other more cost effective options should be explored. We believe that modelling should have been carried out for smaller scale road improvements in combination with co-ordinated investment in public transport, walking and cycling.
Arundel bypass options are outdated thinking
CPRE Sussex believes that the Arundel Bypass consultation is a missed opportunity to do something really innovative and forward-thinking to reduce congestion and improve air quality.
