A27 Improvement

Overview

The proposed improvement scheme for the A27 has been a contentious subject amongst constituents. Gillian has met with constituents and businesses through the Community Workshop Programme organised by West Sussex County Council and Chichester District Council. Gillian has also had meetings and conversations with the local authorities on over 30 occasions, to fully understand the different perspectives and keep the process moving forward.

The Build a Better A27 group put forward two options to Highways England, a mitigated northern option and a mitigated southern option, in a report produced by Systra. Both local councils supported the proposed options before they were sent to Highways England who carried out an affordability and viability study. Both of the proposed options were rejected by the highways authority. The Chichester MP responded to this news by saying:  

I am very disappointed that Highways England were unable to support either of the proposals put forward by the BaBA27 group and Systra. It is clear any scheme will need the approval of the councils and Highways England before we are able to secure funding, so I have requested a meeting with the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, to discuss the next steps for the Chichester A27 upgrade. Highways England, as the national road building authority, have offered to come and present their findings to the community and I hope they will attend and further explain their position at the next meeting.

Discussions with Highways England and the Department for Transport are ongoing. The Chichester MP has met and corresponded with officials frequently since being elected and has continually made the case for funding in Chichester. She has said that she will ‘continue our conversations to push for progress.

Gillian has since requested a meeting with Jesse Norman, Minister of State at the Department for Transport, and the Council leaders to discuss next steps.

You can read more about the community action and the work Gillian has been doing in the updates below.

News

Joint release on the A27 from WSCC, CDC and Chichester MP

Gillian Keegan, MP for Chichester, Councillor Tony Dignum, Leader of Chichester District Council, and Louise Goldsmith, Leader of West Sussex County Council, met last week to discuss how to respond to the disappointing letter received from Highways England.

Open meeting focused on A27 and Brexit - Chichester Observer

The weekend before the meaningful vote I was in West Wittering Village Hall holding an open meeting. The meeting was slightly different to my previous ones as it was dominated almost entirely by two subjects; the A27 and of course Brexit.

Chichester MP holds an open meeting in West Wittering

Gillian Keegan MP held another open meeting at West Wittering Village Hall to take questions from the local community. The meeting was of two halves, with the first hour of questions focusing on the recent news regarding the A27 and the second predominantly on Brexit.

Highways England rejects new A27 options

Options put forward by the Build a Better A27 group to improve the A27 have been rejected by Highways England it has been announced today.

MP statement on A27

We are waiting to receive the official report from Highways England to understand why they judge the two options presented by BABA27 group and SYSTRA to be unviable and unaffordable.

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Transport Questions

6. What assessment he has made of the effect of operationally efficient transport infrastructure on levels of productivity.

Update on BABA27

Many constituents have been in touch to ask questions about how the representatives of the Build a Better A27 (BABA27) group have been decided or because they have been told that they will not be able to attend the community meetings at this point in the process.