Lord Bracknell
On fire
... throws out six schemes in Sussex (on environmental grounds) -
A27 Worthing Tunnel
A27 Chichester Bypass Improvements
A27 Arundel Bypass
A27 Selmeston Bypass
A27 Wilmington Bypass
A27 Beddingham improvement – Secretary of State has asked for revised scheme
Extracts from Alistair Darling's announcement:-
"As I have said before, unless there is an overriding public interest in a scheme, there should be a strong presumption against building roads through Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or other sensitive sites. We have a clear duty to do everything we can to preserve the environment.
The Arundel bypass would cut across water meadows damaging an area of outstanding beauty.
I am rejecting this proposal as well as proposals to expand junctions with flyovers on the Chichester bypass and the proposal for a tunnel at Worthing. Each, in my view, has environmental consequences that are unacceptable and avoidable. And at an estimated cost of over £500 million there are question marks over the Worthing Tunnel’s affordability.
There are problems on these roads, and I am therefore asking the Highways Agency to identify alternative solutions, recognising the need to support planned economic growth.
Also on environmental grounds, I am asking the Agency to take a hard look at other recommendations to see if there are less damaging alternatives.
For example, I accept the need for safety improvements at the level crossing on the A27 at Beddingham. But this road already runs through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and I am asking the Agency to redesign the scheme to reduce its impact on the surrounding landscape".
But a new hourly rail service between Ashford and Brighton will be introduced in 2005.
A27 Worthing Tunnel
A27 Chichester Bypass Improvements
A27 Arundel Bypass
A27 Selmeston Bypass
A27 Wilmington Bypass
A27 Beddingham improvement – Secretary of State has asked for revised scheme
Extracts from Alistair Darling's announcement:-
"As I have said before, unless there is an overriding public interest in a scheme, there should be a strong presumption against building roads through Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or other sensitive sites. We have a clear duty to do everything we can to preserve the environment.
The Arundel bypass would cut across water meadows damaging an area of outstanding beauty.
I am rejecting this proposal as well as proposals to expand junctions with flyovers on the Chichester bypass and the proposal for a tunnel at Worthing. Each, in my view, has environmental consequences that are unacceptable and avoidable. And at an estimated cost of over £500 million there are question marks over the Worthing Tunnel’s affordability.
There are problems on these roads, and I am therefore asking the Highways Agency to identify alternative solutions, recognising the need to support planned economic growth.
Also on environmental grounds, I am asking the Agency to take a hard look at other recommendations to see if there are less damaging alternatives.
For example, I accept the need for safety improvements at the level crossing on the A27 at Beddingham. But this road already runs through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and I am asking the Agency to redesign the scheme to reduce its impact on the surrounding landscape".
But a new hourly rail service between Ashford and Brighton will be introduced in 2005.