West Sussex County Council is formulating plans in order to tackle Chichester’s A27 traffic nightmare. The council says it plans to deal with traffic torture on the A27 itself after growing weary of waiting for Government help

West Sussex County Council has promised “incremental, achievable and affordable” improvements to the A27 at the three major traffic bottlenecks, but accepts that a major revamp may remain decades away.

WSCC yesterday announced plans to build up proposals to reduce congestion around Chichester, Arundel and Worthing, with short-term changes that can be implemented over the next five years.

The Council states it still has long-term desires for a bypass along the South Coast’s busiest road but accepted that Government funding may well not be forthcoming until 2015 at the very earliest.

Speaking at the recent meeting, Mr Pieter Montyn, our cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said that the A27 congestion was damaging local businesses and discouraging companies from relocating or expanding in the Sussex area.

He added: “The difference this time is that in the past we have been pushing for major schemes.

“It is clear that major schemes will not happen now and we will have to wait and our economy will not wait. That is why we have to do something quickly.

“The strategic group will be looking at achievable options, brought in incrementally and that are affordable through pooling of finances.”

Apparently support could be united from the Highways Agency, which is responsible for trunk roads, the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership, the Coastal West Sussex Partnership as well as district and borough councils.

The announcement was made during a council meeting in October 2012, following a motion by Lib Dem councillor Derek Deedman, who urged the council to consider all possible funding options to help pay for major road improvements.