Action urged over Butlins traffic chaos

Councillors have agreed to write a letter to county highways officers calling for a review of the situation.

Long queues of traffic around the roundabout entrance to Butlins, where the A259 Felpham Way and Upper Bognor Road meet, are a frequent sight most weeks. A plea for action was made by Felpham resident of the past 24 years Tony Packman.

He urged Arun District Council members, as they began their brief debate about enabling a second hotel to built in Butlins, to remedy the vehicle snarl-ups.

Mr Packman, of Ferndown Gardens, said the A259 was always busy, especially around Butlins where it formed the only route from Felpham to Bognor.

"I'm not against Butlins, or anything they might want to do on their site," he said, "except, at present, at peak times on arrival days, they seem unable to deal with a sudden influx of guests efficiently.

"Cars travelling in an easterly direction trying to drive into Butlins' entrance fill it up and soon stack up on the roundabout causing unnecessary delays and tailbacks on the roads for some time afterwards.

Councillors on Arun's development control committee backed Mr Packman's comments. Cllr David Biss (Bognor Orchard) suggested asking highways officers to look at the situation and was supported by the rest of the committee.

He said: "If Butlins wants to remain good neighbours, they should look at making improvements to the entrance to the site on those busy days."

Keith Wheway, an Arun planning officer, said he had experienced the frustration of being caught in a long queue of traffic outside Butlins. "I have been held up in some of those queues, particularly at 4.30-5pm on Fridays," he stated.

He explained that highways officials had backed the Spa Hotel scheme because it led to an overall reduction of 62 beds once it had replaced 256 chalets.

The officials told Arun: "On that basis, the proposal is unlikely to have any material impact upon the highway network and no alterations are required or sought to the existing site access on to the A259."

Mr Wheway said: "If the chalets had been remaining, the highways officers would have taken a slightly different view of the proposals."

But he added it would be impossible for Butlins to operate a system of staggered arrival times. Their guests came from around the country and would be unable to meet such a strict timetable.

Traffic problems on the A259 were among the issues raised in the three letters of objection to the latest Butlins hotel which Arun received.

One letter of support was sent in along with a letter making comments about the holiday site's future. Bognor Regis Town Council made no objection.