Battlelines drawn over bypass

Twelve campaigners have arrived at woods in Tortington Common and have begun making tunnels, treehouses and aeriel walkways so they can protect the area from being developed.

A decision on the bypass is expected within the next few weeks, when Transport Secretary Alistair Darling gives his verdict to sweeping proposals for a package of transport schemes along the south coast.

Two routes were originally suggested for the bypass: the blue-green route running close to Arundel, and the blue-pink, which cuts through woodland at Tortington Common and nearby Binsted Wood.

Independent consultants Halcrow made the recommentation that the Arundel bypass should go along the blue-pink.

But the campaigners say the preferred blue-pink route should not go ahead, as it would destroy one of only two large areas of surviving ancient woodland in the coastal plain of West sussex.

Arundel Town Council gave its backing to the blue-pink route because the resultant traffic fumes would be further away from the town than those of the blue-green route, so would not have such a detrimental effect on the town's air quality.

A member of the council said: "Arundel Town Council is backing a bypass because it is desperately needed."