First phase of A29 realignment opposed by parish councils

The 1.3km of new single carriageway road would connect the A29 south of Eastergate Lane to the B2233 Barnham Road west of Downview Road.

A second southern phase would come forward separately.

According to the application submitted by West Sussex County Council, the realignment of the A29 aims to create capacity for expected traffic growth, reduce congestion, improve the reliability of journey times and support thousands of new homes and commercial development proposed in the area.

A number of objections have already been sent in by residents.

One said: “If the council cares at all for the people of Barnham, Eastergate and surrounding areas, then this preposterous and destructive A29 plan will be denied planning permission. It’s crystal clear that the road has more to do with covering the surrounding farmland in over-expensive houses than with the traffic.”

Another added: “Building just to satisfy out-of-date government housing targets, set before Covid, is a grave mistake, it would have a huge environmental impact on the area. Quality of life in the villages would be seriously adversely affected. Please reconsider this disastrous project.”

Arun District Council has agreed its consultation response supporting the project, but requested increased planting for screening and better placemaking as well as extra information on how the junction’s design with Fontwell Avenue will affect traffic flows at the nearby junction with the A27.

But both Barnham & Eastergate and Aldingbourne parish councils have objected to the application.

In its detailed objection Barnham and Eastergate PC (BEPC) raises concerns about the environmental impact of the new road and safety of non-traffic users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

It also highlights the local concern that the new road, most of which is elevated to a degree above the surrounding land, would ‘effectively dam the natural flow of ground water and increase flooding risk for existing dwellings’.

BEPC says it and many residents are ‘frustrated that so much detail is missing from the appendices’ and feels there is little or no evidence of pubic consultations resulting in ‘ameliorations’ to the plans over the last two years. One example of this given is requests to move the road further west away from properties in Murrell Gardens.

The response concludes: “We in this community live everyday with the current traffic levels and environmental impact and don’t see how this road isn’t going to have an unacceptable impact on the community if certain things in the proposal are not properly addressed.”