Roads to ruin

Derek Waller’s response (Gazette letters, July 24) to my comments in the story ‘Building new roads “will not solve” A27 problems’ (Gazette, July 17) misses many points and in the process makes my case for me.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Aug 2014, 12:00 BST
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On points of fact, he is incorrect regarding Binsted Woods and Tortington Common. Both are ancient woods and this is not diminished by the fact that parts have been replanted – ancient woods often are. This is symptomatic of a wider issue of ignoring environmental concerns in order to push through a favoured solution.

The broader strategic issue remains. Building roads draws in extra traffic (not just traffic that was already there), and this drives congestion in other places. Mr Waller welcomes the extra traffic the A27 will attract, but ignores where that traffic will come from or go to.

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Relieving perceived congestion in one place simply encourages us to use the car more, instead of public transport or simply by adding extra journeys. If congestion is relieved around Arundel, then congestion will simply increase in other areas.

Promoters of the bypass should come clean on this and tell us what plans they have to relieve the congestion they wish to create in Worthing, Ford, Storrington, Chichester and elsewhere that would be created as a result of this bypass. Increased congestion elsewhere will result in more demands for more bypasses. We will be back on a treadmill, rather than solving the problem. Attempts to build our way out of the problem are no longer a solution.

Mr Waller is stuck in the past with old fashioned solutions. The only long term solution is to reduce the need to travel. With the IT revolution over the last 20 years, remote working, teleconferencing, information technology are all having a huge effect on driving prosperity whilst reducing the need to travel.

Smart solutions to development, integrating planning with public transport, companies rationalising supply lines to reduce travel, industry based on high quality rather than high volume, are all ways of living within sensible means.

Dr Tony Whitbread

chief executive, Sussex Wildlife Trust

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