Lyminster villagers outraged by bypass route change

Campaigners from the recently-formed Lyminster Bypass Residents’ Group are appealing to change plans for a potential new road layout through the village.

The application, which was revealed during a recent Lyminister and Crossbush Parish Council meeting, shows the suggested route for a proposed slip road on to the bypass between Littlehampton and Crossbush – one which would cut right through the bridleway that joins onto the A284.

The group says this option was proposed without any consultation with the residents in the village and was announced in March this year. They added it looked to be the more favoured idea by planning officials.

However, there is a second option, which long-time resident Clive Newman – who lives next to the bridleway – says would avoid all the problems and wouldn’t cut off the homes on either side of the 200-year-old passageway.

“I can’t agree for one second with this new plan, that has seemingly been thrust upon us, with no prior consultation,” he said.

“The route, as it is proposed in this second option, would completely destroy an ancient bridleway, as well as chopping down trees next to my property.

“The other option, which had been in the books for more than 30 years, would see the access road built further north – which is a much better plan. It won’t blight any homes in the village.”

Andrew Diack, who lives with his elderly mother Elizabeth in their family home, would be one of those who would be cut off and surrounded by a “sea of roads” as a result of the suggested route.

He said they weren’t against the bypass, only the second option.

A spokeswoman for Arun District Council said: “The two proposed routes for the Lyminster bypass are part of an evidence-based document that has helped inform the Draft Local Plan. Residents are able to have their say on the proposed routes as part of the Local Plan consultation. Links to the survey as well as dates, times and locations of upcoming information days are all online at www.arun.gov.uk/localplan. The consultation does not close until September 10.”