The new Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, made her first statement to the House of Commons regarding Labour’s assessment of the UK’s economic situation. She announced that savings would be needed to fill what she called “a £22bn hole in the public finances” left by the previous administration.
One project that will not go ahead is the proposed A27 Arundel bypass. The decision has been slammed by a Sussex MP
Andrew Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Down said: “I have previously warned that rural communities will pay the price for Labour’s ‘command and control’ approach to planning. Now we see them attacking the local communities by cancelling the much-needed dualling of the A27 at Arundel whilst offering no funding or ideas for alternatives.
“Residents of West Sussex are getting the worst of all worlds, continued congestion, rat running and pollution on our roads, whilst taxes go up and the money is diverted elsewhere.“
However, environmental groups welcomed the move but cautioned that they needed to know the details and whether the move was a permanet cancellation or a temporary delay.
CPRE Sussex (Council for the Protection of Rural England called the move “a win”.
The charity wrote on Twitter/X: “When the most recent route proposal was agreed in 2020, we said: ‘The new road would cut through Binsted Valley, passing close to the village’s 12th Century church, natural wetlands and a rare chalk stream. This unnecessary road is a new dual carriageway, trashing beautiful villages and countryside, and encouraging car use in a climate emergency.’
“That’s just as true today as it was then and we are pleased that the Chancellor has agreed.
“Now Arundel should get the investment in transport it deserves – lower-impact congestion-smoothing measures as part of a low-emission, co-ordinated transport plan, including public transport, walking and cycling.”
