Leader asks for longer to consider A27 Chichster congestion plan

Louise Goldsmith, the leader of West Sussex County Council, has written to Highways England requesting an extension on the public consultation due to be held this spring on plans to ease congestion on the A27 in Chichester.

It is scheduled to last six weeks but Ms Goldsmith wants that doubled.

In the letter she said: ‘We, along with a number of concerned local residents, feel this is an insufficient period of time to enable the completion of an effective consultation, necessary to substantiate any future decision on the A27 Chichester Improvement scheme.

‘We recognise that consideration must be given to the impact on the overall programme of extending the consultation.

‘However, to enable the options contained in the consultation to be presented with coherence and clarity, we consider it will be necessary to extend the consultation period beyond the six weeks that are planned, particularly as the consultation is likely to take place over the Easter period.’

There are new routes on the cards which could see diversions from Fishbourne through Lavant.

And there are also proposals for a major new junction which would join the A286, run through Goodwood and rejoin the current A27 just before Tangmere and Boxgrove.