Home PageA24
Alliance
For
Immediate Release
23rd May 2003
‘A
White Van Man Rat-run that’s what Broadbridge
Heath Village will become if the proposed A24 road scheme(1)
becomes a reality’. That was the stark warning given to the latest meeting
hosted by the A24 Alliance(2) in
Broadbridge Heath.
It
was explained by several drivers involved in the freight industry, that the
extra traffic attracted to a faster A24 from the coast would cause gridlock at Horsham’s
northern roundabouts. The result would be that drivers on timed deliveries
would avoid the area and instead use the alternative route north through
Broadbridge Heath and Warnham villages.
Speaking
after the meeting Peter Finch for the A24 Alliance said: “Once again our
meeting has proved so valuable in gathering crucial local information. What we
have done over the past 5 Months, is what West Sussex and Surrey County
Councils should have done before designing such a monstrous scheme for the
A24. Clearly they should have consulted the local people, after all it’s
they who have to put up with the grief the road causes and it’s they who
need to use the road daily. The proposed scheme is not only unpopular with
local residents and unlikely to solve any of the problems, but many think it
will make things a good deal worse and cost the taxpayer millions”.
Finally
Peter Finch said: “Even a this late stage we urge the Councils to take
seriously the views of the villages and the residents who live along the route
of the A24. They don’t want confrontation but we have seen many at meetings
determined to stop the A24 being turned into a superhighway. Lets all hope
wise decisions are taken”.
ENDS
Notes
for Editors.
(1)
The A24 Alliance has been holding meetings since January with residents
of the Villages along the length of the A24 to gauge opinion on the future
role of the road. The Councils plan involves a new section of road from Capel
to Horsham and grade separated junctions (flyovers) at various crossroads and
cross-over’s from Horsham to Washington. It will also include closure of the
various cross-over gaps and installation of lengths of crash barrier.
(2) The A24 Alliance was formed in January 2003 by a number of residents who live in the various villages and individual locations along the A24 from Dorking to Worthing.
The
next meeting of the A24 Alliance will be held at the Crown Inn, Dial Post, on
Wednesday the 4th
June starting at 7-30pm.
Directions
and details of the next few meeting can be found at: http://www.a24alliance.co.uk/