MAJOR housing and commercial developments earmarked for a six-mile stretch of the A259 have led to calls for a new bypass for Littlehampton.
Three new supermarkets, a hugely expanded garden centre and housing schemes providing almost 2,000 new homes have either been approved or are under consideration, for sites between Ferring and Wick.
Last week, Arun councillors granted permission for a 47,500 sq ft Morrisons supermarket, with a petrol station and “enterprise hub” on the former Body Shop headquarters site on the A259 at Wick.
Later this month Sainsbury’s is expected to submit proposals to the council to double the size of its supermarket at Rustington, and Asda has revealed plans to open a store on the former Country Fayre garden centre site at Ferring.
Add to those plans for 600 homes at Courtwick, 1,200 homes at North Littlehampton, both approved by Arun and close to the A259, together with the new Fitzalan extension road and the soon-to-reopen enlarged Haskins Roundstone Garden Centre, and councillors fear the road network will be unable to cope with the extra traffic generated.
Ricky Bower, Arun cabinet member for planning, raised his concerns during the debate on the Morrisons supermarket at last week’s development control committee.
He said: “If this planning application gets approval, we will have to start screaming for a new Littlehampton bypass.
“Frankly, that’s the only way we are going to get the A259 flowing again.”
He suggested the A259 should be re-routed north of its existing line.
Arun’s local development framework sub-committee, which is drawing up the council’s planning blueprint for the future, last month called for the A259 to be included in a transport study which will be included in the plan.
Speaking yesterday (Wednesday), Mr Bower said he would like to see the A259 become a dual carriageway all the way from Goring to Felpham.
For a full report on the road proposals and latest planning applications, see this week’s Littlehampton Gazette (out today, Thursday, February 9).
With all the major housing and commercial developments taking place along the A259 from Ferring, through Angmering, Rustington and Wick, does the Littlehampton area need a new bypass to get traffic flowing again?
Cast your vote by clicking on the poll at the top right of this story.
Alternatively, have your say by emailing letters@littlehamptongazette.co.uk or commenting below.
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