News Release : 29 October 2001

GOVERNMENT HEEDS ASSEMBLY ADVICE ON IMPROVEMENTS TO A27 WORTHING-LANCING

THE SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO GOVERNMENT in favour of improvements to the A27 trunk road corridor through Worthing and Lancing have been accepted by the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR), it was announced this week.

Assembly members voted for the recommendations from the A27 Worthing-Lancing Integrated Transport Study to be implemented as soon as possible, when they considered the matter at their Annual General Meeting (AGM) in July this year.

The proposed strategy seeks to implement £10 million of investment in the Worthing and Lancing area over the next five years. Recommended schemes include:

• Junction improvements at key A27 roundabouts;
• Provision of improved facilities to cross the A27 for cyclists and pedestrians;
• Environmental management and traffic calming measures on routes adjacent to the A27;
• New bus service routes and frequency improvements;
• New taxi bus service to Worthing and Lancing stations;
• Rail infrastructure and accessibility improvements.

The Assembly's formal recommendations were sent to the Secretary of State at the end of July. Whilst they supported the improvements to the A27 trunk road corridor, they also drew attention to the fact that 'a significant element of revenue funding for the strategy was required from West Sussex County Council to deliver improvements to bus services within the area'.

The Assembly also noted that 'current budgetary arrangements did not allow for those increased revenue allocations, restricting the likelihood of delivery of the measures proposed'.

The DTLR response to the Assembly, in a letter received this week, stated that the department, in conjunction with West Sussex County Council, was considering the funding issues.

The DTLR also thanked the region's planning body for 'arranging the speedy consideration of this study'.

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
   
   
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
   
   
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
   
   
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
   
   
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007

Copyright © 2004 SEERA Limited. All rights reserved.