Government and the Arundel A27

The South Downs National Park Authority

LATEST:  Click here to read the National Park Authority's comments on A27 improvements strategy and the National Park. 

Before the South Downs National Park was designated, an A27 Arundel Bypass on the Pink/Blue route (now 'Option A') had been proposed - and rejected by Alastair Darling on environmental grounds, stating that the damage to the Arundel watermeadows area would be unacceptable and a different solution must be found.

On 25th June 2014 the Chief Executive of the National Park Authority wrote the letter you can read here, explaining the emerging approach of the National Park Authority on this issue. On 28th October the National Park Authority Members finalized their Position Statement on major transport infrastructure proposals which you can read here.

The boundary of the National Park in the Arundel area can be seen on the two maps available here and here.  It is important to understand that the Section 62 statutory duty of the Highways Agency to have regard to the Purposes and Special Qualities of the National Park aimed primarily at conserving and enhancing the countryside, does not stop at the boundary line of the National Park. How this applies to the landscape south-west of Arundel has been set out as evidence by ABNC Secretary Emma Tristram in a paper sent 12.10.14 to the South Downs National Park Authority, which you can read here.  

The land traversed by Options 3 and 5A has protected National Park status.     

• Option 5A damages the integrity of the mediaeval parish landscape of Binsted, which straddles the Park boundary – a landscape which fulfils many of the seven ‘special qualities’ which the Park’s policies are designed to protect.  
• Option 5A would bring more noise on the SW prevailing winds from faster-travelling vehicles into the Ancient Woodland of Binsted Woods, within the Park, with all its well-loved footpaths.   It would also sever the mixed woodland landscape from its adjacent communities in Binsted and Walberton, neighbouring villages Yapton and Barnham, and coastal communities (Bognor is now connected to Barnham via a cycle track).   All these communities at present enjoy access on foot, horse or bicycle into the Park without crossing major roads.

MP for this area Nick Herbert has publicly stated that he does not support Option B, in the letter to residents of Walberton Binsted and Fontwell which you can read here.  The established process by which government takes decisions on major trunk road changes can be read by clicking here.

Arun District Council are in process of reviewing their Local Plan policies includingTransport policy which currently includes a policy to safeguard the line of the A27 Pink/Blue route (referred to now as Option 3). Councillor Norman Dingemans, in his capacity as Arun District Councillor, has taken on board the need to represent communities in Arun by keeping all options open at this stage whether offline or online. The policies currently in the Arun Local Plan were subject to review at its Examination In Public and the comments submitted by Emma Tristram for consideration at the EIP can be read on these links: 

          Matters&Issues 2.4   Matters&Issues 6   6App1  6App2   6App3   6App4   6App5   6App6   

Elected representatives

Click here to read what the candidates in the 2015 General Election said about the A27 and the Arundel Bypass