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For Immediate Release 9 June 2003
Worthing's Commuters Blamed for A24 Grief
Enough is enough! it's like living next door to a seriously anti-social neighbour. That was the depressing fact of day to day life portrayed by the residents of Dial Post Village at the latest meeting(1) hosted by the A24 Alliance(2).
The meeting heard that the neighbour - the A24 - was making normal village life impossible as it severed the village, effectively preventing safe travel between the two halves. The neighbour was also responsible for noise, fumes, stress and even deaths, if it were a person then all the enforcement agency's would have acted long ago to end its reign.
Speaking for the A24 Alliance Peter Finch said: "Understandably there was clear desperation exhibited by the residents at the meeting. Despite numerous meetings with officers of West Sussex County Council and their consultants over many years the problem is getting worse. Even with the new traffic calming scheme, speeding on the A24 remains a serious problem. Speeds of over 85 mph - even in the section with an advisory 60 limit - have been noted. The meeting was strongly in agreement that a series of speed cameras must be installed to control motorists as they were being grossly irresponsible. Several residents also commented that despite a massive hike in the police authority budget taken from the council tax payer, police patrols were a rare sight on the road to enforce traffic regulations".
Continuing Peter Finch said: "After speed, the relentless rise in the volume of traffic using the road was seen as a major problem. It was believed there was a serious health risk due to exhaust fumes and stress caused by the constant noise. It was claimed that Worthing was the villain generating all the extra traffic, with the towns expanding housing estates producing many long distance commuters using the A24 to get to the M25 and beyond. Also noted was the worrying trend for employers to move in-land and away from the coast as road links improved, hence making this long distance commuting necessary".
Finally Peter Finch added: "Clearly you have to agree with Dial Post. What is infuriating is that they have to suffer all this traffic grief from places with excellent public transport links, yet this village doesn't even have a bus stop. Without doubt beleaguered A24 villages like Dial Post will welcome Transport Secretary Alistair Darlings announcement this week that a nationwide congestion charging scheme is likely. Like us he is convinced more road building is not the answer in combating congestion. One now only hopes that West Sussex County Council gets the message and scrapes the proposed map-cap A24M scheme.
The next A24 Alliance meeting will be held in the Methodist Church Hall, High Street Partridge Green on the18th June starting at 7.30pm".
-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-overs 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.