A campaigner has withdrawn her legal action against Highways England, after the body announced a second consultation over its plans for the A27 Arundel bypass.
Dr Emma Tristram initially put forward a crowdfunded judicial review in September, contesting that the original consultation from that last year contained several errors which unduly influenced the decision.
Highways initially announced in May that route 5a had been chosen for the £250 million project, which runs through part of the South Downs as well as the villages of Binsted and Tortington.
However, it’s now announced that the choice between options has been re-opened after new information came to light.
“In October Highways England announced that they are running a new ‘non-statutory public consultation’ in 2019 on the same three options as before.
“As a result of further legal negotiations, Highways England have also now undertaken to correct the errors in the 2017 consultation, and to conduct a procedurally fair consultation.”
Mike Tristram, Arundel Bypass Neighbourhood Committee (ABNC)
The ABNC added that the decision by Highways was an admittance that the original consultation contained significant errors.
“We will be observing the new consultation carefully to make sure it is conducted lawfully and the assurances given to Dr Tristram are kept.
“Last time, Highways England gave Arundel preferential treatment over Walberton parish, although as a town it is in the same tier of local government as a parish and they should have been treated equally.”
Bill Treves, ABNC
It’s the second time that legal action against the plans has been withdrawn.
The South Downs National Park Authority had also applied for Judicial Review of Highways England’s decision, on the grounds that impacts on the Park, and options with less impact, had not been properly considered in the consultation.
They announced they would be withdrawing their own legal action last week.
“The Arundel bypass scheme remains a much-needed scheme with strong popular support which would improve journeys along the whole of the Sussex coast.
Drivers on the A27 suffer daily delays and the congestion there holds back the whole region and pushes traffic into small, less suitable roads through the South Downs National Park.
“Highways England remains committed to finding a solution to this problem, which has blighted Sussex and communities across the south coast for decades.”
Alan Feist, project lead for Highways England
However campaigners consider that severe problems remain around the process, including Highways England’s determination that the Arundel scheme should be a dual carriageway.
“Highways England continues to push for a long, damaging dualled offline bypass through the precious Arundel countryside.
“The locally-supported New Single Purple Route, a short, wide, single carriageway bypass following an approved route, would solve traffic flow and safety issues, is affordable and deliverable and would meet even HE’s projected traffic needs, minimising new traffic and without destroying landscape and wildlife.”
Kay Wagland, Arundel SCATE
This article originally appeared on SpiritFM
The Institute cannot confirm the accuracy of this story or confirm that it presents a balanced view. If you feel this is inaccurate we would welcome your perspective and evidence that this is the case.
