A27 Arundel Bypass Neighbourhood Committee (ABNC)
Local groups have campaigned against the Grey Route and for better solutions at Arundel, and remain vigilant:
Walberton: Facebook / Twitter Binsted: Facebook / Twitter Arundel: Facebook / Twitter
Arundel Bypass Neighbourhood Committee: Facebook / Twitter/ Web
ALL CAMPAIGNING TOGETHER AS:
National Highways' schemes for a gigantic Arundel Bypass 'Grey Route' through the countryside threatened a rare rural heritage. The Arundel watermeadows and western wetlands. In the western wetlands, the peace and rural setting of the quiet old villages of Tortington, Binsted and Walberton would have been trashed.
Many would have lost their homes. The landscape that would be severed and blighted is an oasis for wildlife, and was good enough to be eligible for inclusion in the National Park. (It was left out of the National Park only because politicians wanted to have the option to put a motorway through it - the threat we must now fight in earnest.) The area threatened by the aptly named Grey route is a survival of traditional England in today's crowded Sussex coastal plain.
Taking Binsted as example: writer Valerie Grove says of its threatened village and countryside:
"Binsted is a wonderful, mystical place, a little gem held in the past, vitally important in the life story of Laurie Lee, most of whose poems were inspired here.
"Here is an extraordinary example of a parish unblemished by the modern world, with woodlands and wildflower meadows, and the exquisite little Norman church whose timeless quietness and beauty must surely be left undisturbed in the 21st century."
Click here to download this 'Say No to Grey' poster for printing.
The Grey Route comes on a raised viaduct, 70mph dual carriageway speeding within about 25 metres of Binsted's 12th-century village church, a place where the villagers have come together for approaching 1000 years. It also tears through the midst of the village, separating it almost half and half.
For a full analysis of the threat to Binsted's heritage, see https://www.binsted.org/heritage-under-threat. This heritage, and the community which it draws and who hold it together, would die. But there's fight in them yet, with encouragement from so many!
Watch this short video for reasons why a specialist historian considers Binsted's Grade II* listed church so important:
The fascinating full film version of the talk in the video above, can be viewed on this link.
This 4-minute film reveals the beautiful landscape and vibrant community of Binsted Village, which Highways England have sought to hide and bury under Amber (Option 5A) or Magenta of the Arundel Bypass scheme.
Click this link, or click on the picture below:
(click bottom right of the video for full screen)
Take a drone tour over the village
Binsted is a marvellous assembly of diverse habitats. The houses surround the central open fields as they did in Saxon times and many important wildlife species breed in the woods and forage in the fields. Its peaceful variety and continuity would be destroyed by the Grey Route.
For information on the natural and historic environment of the area which is being studied, conserved and enhanced by local community based charity Mid Arun Valley Environmental Survey, click here:
For information on the community life and rural environment of the western part of this area around Binsted village, click here:
People from beyond Binsted come to record its beauty in photographs, eg click here
Come and visit to see for yourself - and eat a fabulous lunch in Binsted's Black Horse pub.
#SaveBinsted!
1. It would ruin a beautiful area of the South Downs National Park where Binsted Woods (250 acres, ancient, broadleaved, huge, wonderful and mysterious) meet many good footpaths leading from coastal villages and towns; such as Binsted Park (see video above).
2. It would severely impact the very rich wildlife of Binsted Woods by destroying woodland and cutting off the Woods from their connecting mosaic of hedgerow and wetland habitats.
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3. It would destroy the peace, tranquillity and beauty of this area and the unity of its historic cultural heritage.
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4. It would be cut through a much-loved wooded and farming landscape where the village of Binsted, with 10 listed buildings and a 12th century church, lies partly within Binsted Woods and partly in lovely rolling countryside.
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5. It would destroy the village of Binsted as a special place by demolishing 4 of its 38 houses and severing and blighting others.
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6. It would cause the present good recreation and learning activities in the area to cease, such as the Binsted Arts Festival, the Binsted Strawberry Fair (an event that has raised £100,000 over 30 years for charities and the fabric of the church), Ratpack Archers crossbow club courses within the woods, and the Forest Knights countryside experience business within the woods.
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7. It would put an end to the present wildlife surveys and education/volunteering activities provided by the Mid Arun Valley Environmental Survey group (Arun Countryside Trust CIO).
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8. It would destroy a much-needed ‘green lung’ near the crowded Sussex Coastal Plain which is rapidly changing with more and more housing development so will need it more than ever.
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9. It is the wrong solution to Arundel’s traffic problems which need a holistic approach with improved public transport and better facilities for non-motorised users.
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10. It is money thrown away at great environmental cost, as reports have shown that new roads soon become congested.
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11. It would attract more traffic to this section of the A27 which would cause even greater traffic jams at Chichester to the west and Worthing to the east. Chichester recently lost its bypass improvement scheme due to lack of agreement and Worthing has a scheme simply to improve junctions and add traffic lights.
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12. It is being promoted by Highways England with a biased consultation full of errors, which nowhere makes clear the damage to Binsted Village or Binsted Woods.
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For more info see:
www.arundelbypass.co.uk www.binsted.org www.maves.org.uk
www.a27arundel.org www.ArundelAlternative.org Tortington Local Community website
For information on the wide-ranging community impacts of the Binsted Options, see www.binsted.org .
If you would like support us, then send us an email with your contact details.
We will keep you in touch with Arundel A27 affairs by e-newsletter.
