Tinkering with the A27 has to stop

I have lived on the A27 for the past six years, both in my house and in the car, and it just gets busier and busier.

In the past few months, there have been several serious accidents near my home. To my knowledge, at least two people have been killed.

The A27 is vital to the regional infrastructure. The people of Worthing and the south deserve better than short-term measures which appear to be a waste of money.

This "tinkering" just leads to more congestion while the work is carried out and as we have seen at Grove Lodge, have little or no effect in improving the situation.

Ask anyone who tries to get out from Broadwater Street West onto this road at peak times what it is like and they will soon tell you.

New developments are popping-up all around Worthing.

The new superstores at Lyons Farm have not helped and these have created more dangers for drivers trying to leave Argos and turn right onto the A27: only a matter of time before another accident I feel.

Also, we are to expect a major extension to Worthing near Titnore Lane.

This will also impact on the major south coast route as many new residents may work in employment centres such as Brighton and beyond.

How about saying "no" to vast new schemes such as West Durrington, which will only make the problem worse '“ surely that is one of the strategies to be considered by the task force?

Sadly I feel it may not be. I can only envisage more queues of traffic, accidents and pollution coming our way.

It is time to take action for a Worthing and Lancing by-pass which would rid us of through traffic, help keep it moving and help reduce the threat of accidents and pollution.

I lived in Hove when the Brighton by-pass was muted and experienced the years of congestion there.

I also listened to the views of campaigners for and against.

To date, this road has done what was said it would.

The tunnel at Southwick is a success and the road is sympathetic to its downland setting.

I am sure the same could be achieved for Worthing and Lancing. Imagine what the A27 will be like in 20 years time if no by-pass is built?

Taking away grass verges and building flyovers will not solve the problems '“ they will attempt to increase the speed of the flow of traffic in a residential area which is a recipe for more accidents and a lowering in the quality of life for the people who live there, not to mention segregating large parts of Worthing.

How much more of our money is going to be thrown at this road before the real solution happens?

Stuart Gladwell

Worthing