Home PageA24
Alliance
Press Release
For
Immediate Release
24th February 2003
M24 Opponents to meet this Thursday, February 27 at the Sports Pavilion, Church Lane (off London Road, the old A24) Ashington at 7.30pm.
Newly formed residents action group A24 Alliance(1) have branded proposals to turn the A24 into a Motorway standard road as 'outrageous'. At a previous standing room only meeting(2) there was general agreement that the County Council's plan for this superhighway was unacceptable. Members are convinced that by building a new section of road from Capel to Horsham, coupled with schemes to build flyovers at junctions and stop up gaps etc all the way down to Worthing, the road will become the preferred choice for long distance traffic heading for the M25. Because of the impact such a road would have on their communities, members decided to take their meetings to venues along the whole length of the road from Worthing to the M25 and make their presence known to councillors in the run up to the May elections.
Speaking for the Alliance Peter Finch said: "This superhighway plan would dramatically increase the volume of traffic heading for the A27 at Worthing from the M25. Such a scheme would have consequences detrimental to quality of life and the environment, be excessively expensive, not necessarily reduce fatal or serious accidents and create the opportunity for large-scale housing development. Even at present the speed and volume of traffic is causing serious safety and environmental problems for residents of the many communities along the route".
Continuing Peter Finch said: "However it was made clear at that meeting by all who spoke that there were very serious concerns, not just at the Worthing end, but all along the road right up to the M25. It was feared that this once local road was being turned into a national superhighway. Members agreed to campaign on a long list of concerns including the speed and volume of traffic and the safety of residents from the many villages along the route who need to cross or join the road. A common thread throughout the meeting was that the road should not be a regional route used by long distance traffic, but instead classified as a road serving local communities."
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Notes for Editors.
(1) 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.
(2) 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.
Directions and details of the next few meeting can be found at: http://www.a24alliance.co.uk