A24 Alliance

 

Press Release

 

For Immediate Release                    3rd September 2003

 

At a meeting kindly hosted by Coolham Parish Council, Mr Duncan McGregor Project Engineer for WSCC, explained how far they had got with their A24 plan, and described the latest design features of the various underpasses and flyovers proposed for the road. There then followed a question and answer session.

 

In answer to a question regarding the problems being experienced by residents of Southwater in accessing the A24 at present, and what was planned to improve the situation, the meeting was taken-back by the dismissive attitude of Mr McGregor. Despite residents first hand knowledge of the situation, he rejected there was a problem. Mr McGregor explained that even with the extra traffic (WSCC own figures) generated as drivers switched from other roads to the A24, there were no changes planed for either the north or south access on to the A24 from Southwater.

 

As for safety, the reported reason for the road scheme, a resident raised the point that with police findings into many crashes indicating in-appropriate speed to be a major factor, surely a better use of taxpayers money would be to strictly enforce speed limits rather than spend the vast sums of money the proposed road works would cost. Mr McGregor rejected the argument, saying the scheme would improve safety.

 

Speaking for members of the A24 Alliance⁽¹⁾ present, Peter Finch said: "Clearly West Sussex County Council seem destined to repeat on the A24 the same folly as the years of bits and pieces of road building they under-took along the A27. The two roundabouts at Southwater will cause the same grief on the A24 as do Arundel and Worthing on the A27 - namely gridlock at peek times".

 

The facts are plain for all to see. WSCC's  plan for the A24 will do nothing for local residents, in fact just make maters worse. This scheme, if allowed to proceed, will create a high speed, high volume stretch of commuter carnage road, from Worthing to the north of Buck Barn, then a crawl and road rage as traffic negotiates all the roundabouts".

 

As to the cost of the scheme, Peter Finch said: "From what we understand, £112 million is the likely cost for the various works from north Horsham to Washington. If the end result is more grief for the local taxpaying resident, they will not be best pleased. Clearly local councillors should be concerned for their future in politics. At this time of rapidly rising council tax and worsening services £112 million must be spent more wisely".

 

~ends~

 

 

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. 

 

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