Highways England A27 Arundel Bypass Consultation

[David M]

Having registered my objections last autumn, I duly received the letter below at the weekend.

In it, it states that "a modified version of Option 5A has been chosen".

Not being familiar with the area, could anybody comment on what detrimental impact this might have?

[Katrina]

Does this help
https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/news ... ion-making

[Neil Hulme]

Hi David

From an environmental (and cost:benefit) POV it's not the very worst, but very far from the best option. I suspect there'll be a judicial review of the decision, because the consultation process was fundamentally flawed. Personally, I think people have the right to say "I care more about shaving a couple of minutes off travel time than I do about the environment", but they should at least be given the facts on which to base that sad decision.

BWs, Neil

[David M]

Thanks, Katrina. Yes, that does better inform me but from the local reaction, it looks as though people still feel pretty strongly about it.

Precious natural habitat permanently destroyed to reduce vehicle journeys by approximately 4 minutes!!

As Neil says, it hasn't been completely rubber-stamped yet, but the government generally gets its way so my default position is one of resignation unfortunately.

Good luck with any future campaigning.

[Cotswold Cockney]

Done, Neil.

Further to Guy's comments: (WARNING: Lengthy preamble about Brits & cars!) I have a bee in my bonnet about the UK car registration plate - it's fairly uniquely LARGE, and openly advertises, for all who care to notice, the year of manufacture of the vehicle. I've long believed it to be an important driver behind this country's new car obssession (just look at the number of new cars sold in this country each year, and compare with other countries, per capita). So, I contacted an old friend, who now works for the Green Party, and enquired whether they had anything in their manifesto about this (changing the form of the UK reg.). He confirmed that it had been discussed, and that they were aware of considerable opposition from within the whole, massive loose conglomerate of those who benefit from new car sales. He couldn't remember whether it was current policy (there's a lot in the manifesto about transport, of course). But, to put it succinctly, he said, the GP's aim was to dissuade people from making unnecessary journeys by car - and that, it seems to me, hits the nail on the head. More bypasses simply == more (unnecessary/casual) car journeys, because people will not think twice about going 'out for a drive' (in their '67'-reg. car) - if they believe the road ahead is bigger. (Have you ever seen a car advert, where the shiny new beast is sat in a traffic jam?)
Sorry for the long preamble, but I'm leading-up to the bombshell Do you (UKBers, BCers, etc.) think twice before packing the camera in the boot, and driving 200 miles to see a Lulworth Skipper / Black Hairstreak / etc.? If you don't, then you're inevitably compromised, when it comes to the debate about more/bigger roads. Especially when those proposals are not on your door-step (but may be on a route you will be taking, occasionally).

I only travel distances, to see 'flies, if can get there by train / bus / bike / walk. If I can't, then I will leave those rare, beautiful jewels to the people who are fortunate enough to live nearby, and the 'the professionals'. I've voiced the opinion before on these forums (with no visible support, so I'm obviously not tuned into the zeitgeist!) - how can anyone who claims to be any sort of modern Aurelian, justify 'bagging all 59 species in a year'? How many car/plane miles does that involve?! Presumably, a certain amount of finger-crossing is involved, hoping that some new bypass, somewhere en route, has opened. And why not top it off, with a 500-mile round trip to catch the LTB sighting that was reported in S.E. Kent?

Apologies - that turned into a rant. I'll get me coat.

Jon

Good read that Jon.

Third only to my main interests of Family and Natural History come a love of old cars, particularly British designed and manufactured ones. I get nearly as much pleasure wandering around local car breaker yards as I do when wandering along a ride in an English Broad Leaved Woodland with the chances of seeing a Purple Emperor or Honey Buzzard.

Cars. For several decades, I have been a regular visitor to my local scrap yard where as a small schoolboy back in the 1950s, my father first took me there to obtain a mechanical Fuel Pump as the pump's diaphragm had become fatigued and worn out in his Talbot Roadster. Had many wonderful memories of that car with trips to the fabulous Forest of Dean, Symonds Yat and elsewhere.

Anyway, my scrapyard visits demonstrate what a very wasteful Nation us Brits have become. Some of the fine cars thrown away nowadays, and for at least two or more decades from my observations, defy belief. Hugely wasteful and does little for the well being of our UK very limited environment. I correspond with car enthusiasts worldwide and many would pay much to have such cars so many Brits throw away for scrap metal value. Used car dealer operating constraints designed to protect buyers play a part in this making these fine old cars no longer regarded as "nice little earners" so meet a far too premature demise by the Arthur Daleys of the UK car selling world taking them in part exchange for peanuts. Those constraints designed to protect the consumer mean car consumers pay far more for their motoring than would otherwise be the case. I have bought many new cars both privately or company car supplied over the years and doing so no longer is the pleasure it was when I was much younger ... for a number of reasons. My membership of car enthusiast clubs and web sites means folks know of my interest. I'm occasionally offered a fine old car ( I specialise in MGs and Rovers ) by other members who know my penchant for breathing new life into these fine old cars. I'm retired now so have the time. Those cars would otherwise be on their way to China as scrap metal although that trend has declined recently as the planet is awash with cheap recycled metal which has depressed scrap metal values..Even the very nice Jaguar F-Pace is much of recycled alloy construction apparently.

What really annoys me is those MSM media and Westminster Politico types who look to consumer data returns as a reliable indicator of a the economic health of the Nation. WRONG! They often remind us that they are far more clever than us plebs and pay themselves well OTT accordingly. Here I particularly have in mind those media smoothies in the guaranteed revenue stream broadcasting organ formerly known as the British Broadcasting Corporation. Still finding ways to pay themselves even more from that guaranteed revenue stream. All that whilst ignoring the more reliable indicators on the health of the Nation. If I were King there would be BIG changes ...

I suspect few here need verbal diagrams to appreciate the impact such waste has on all aspects of our environment. However, those we entrust to the Nation's well being are both ignorant of such things and largely being cushioned against the reality of the longer term harm years of poor decision quick fixes have made for the rest of us.

Green issues. The Government I once was pleased to vote for, unlikely ever again, were keen to be seen doing the "Right" green thing nearly twenty years ago. They accepted without question expert findings on the Diesel v. Petrol scenario. Plonkers! Back then on various web-sites, I banged the Diesels are Harmful Drum many times. Simply because of observations of Diesel vehicles being Emissions MoT tested. They've been cluelessly measuring the WRONG stuff. Only recently has that bovine excrement hit the MSM fan ... at long last. Every one of those responsible for creating that Diesel Good, Petrol Bad emissions scenario should be made to stand behind their diesel cars whilst they are being emissions tested. Ideally whilst taking deep breaths in case the message has not yet got through. Then ask themselves how the hell any pass the Mot ... but, they do pass.

Currently have PM's questions on TV as I type this. Again many examples of asking the wrong biased questions whilst ignoring those questions about the longer term harmful decisions of the past. What a shower.

Now it's my turn to apologise for a long rant, but, it must be obvious that I feel strongly about such things. I have seen too many fine habitats destroyed in the interest of the Nation...or, more accurately, parts thereof.

I shall close looking on the bright side with the following. My father died thirty five years ago. However, thanks to a freak coincidence series of events on one of the car web sites I frequent, I discovered my father's old Talbot still survives. Not only that, it is in remarkably good shape having been fully restored at some stage. Here it is. An enthusiast sent me this picture he took of it a few years ago.



My father was a keen Natural History enthusiast. He was an original East End "Delboy" always ducking and diving working hard not to work hard... ... Here he is back in the mid-1960s with his Mini-Van workhorse.



Here's the latest car I've saved from the scrapyard. It had some problems and the previous owner was offered little money for it so knowing my interests, offered it to me for around scrap value. Another fine MG saved and not wasted. Now my daily driver. The Agricultural Plant in the background is the contractors I employed to clear overgrown scrub from my own little nature Reserve. Been meaning to get that done for over ten years. :~

[Katrina]

Someone wrote a great letter re Binsted Wood. I didn’t see the original letter to which she was replying.
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/16267971 ... not_small/

[jonhd]

BBC coverage of the issue, today: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44657118

Jon