A259 Bognor Regis to Littlehampton Corridor Enhancement Scheme Public Consultation Summary Report and update (September, 2023)

Map image showing route A259 from Bognor Regis to Littlehampton illustrating 9 proposed changes to the route at: 1. Comet Corner Junction 2. Public Rights of Way (Footpaths 166 and 165) 3. Bairds Business Park Junction 4. Oyster Catcher Junction 5. Church Lane Roundabout 6. Ferry Road Junction 7. Public Righs of Way (Footpath 206) 8. Clympwick Foot and Cycle Bridge 9. Bridge Road Roundabout. A warning triangle is used to signify locations 2. Public Rights of Way (Footpaths 166 and 165), 3. Bairds Business Park Junction, 7. Public Righs of Way (Footpath 206) and 8. Clympwick Foot and Cycle Bridge which are removed from the new improvement package.

Updated proposal package for A259 Bognor Regis to Littlehampton Corridor Enhancement Scheme (Key is a warning triangle to represent locations removed from original enhancement proposal package)


Consultation and Feedback

Various mechanisms were used to promote the public consultation, including:

  • Your Voice Engagement Hub website (opens in new tab)
  • Email: A259B2L@wsp.com
  • A survey questionnaire formed part of the consultation materials.
  • Letters were delivered to more than 14,500 properties and businesses.
  • Hard copies of consultation materials were made available upon request and available in local libraries.
  • FAQs formed part of the consultation materials.
  • Social Media, press release and tweet via Facebook and Twitter.
  • Drop-in events, both physical and virtual format.


Response Statistics

  • 4 face-to-face drop-in events were held at local venues between 23rd and 25th March 2023: 385 attendees
  • 2 online events were held on 29th March and 18th April 2023: 8 attendees
  • Total online questionnaires returned: 200
  • Total hard copy questionnaires returned: 2
  • Total feedback by emails/letters: 15


Level of Support by Location shown in 2021 results

Table 1: Percentage of respondents supporting or opposing each proposal in 2023 compared to respondents in 2021.

Location
Support (% respondents)
2023 results vs 2021 results (in brackets)

 		Oppose (% respondents)
2023 results vs 2021 results (in brackets)
1. Comet Corner 83 (79) 7 (13)
2. Public Right of Way (PRoW) 165 and 166 63 (64) 0 (4)
3, Baird's Business Park 59 (56) 7 (11)
4. Oystercatcher 81 (76) 11 (14)
5. Church Lane 70 (61) 8 (19)
6. Ferry Road 64 (62) 8 (15)
7. PRoW 206 63 (60) 0 (4)
8. Clympwick Bridge 66 (61) 9 (7)
9. Bridge Road 67 (68) 5 (11)


Accessible text-based description of Table 1: Percentage of respondents supporting or opposing each proposal in 2023 compared to respondents in 2021.

  1. Comet Corner: 83% of 2023 survey respondents supported the proposals, compared to 7% of respondents who opposed them. This compares with 79% who supported and 13% who opposed in the 2021 survey.
  2. PRoW 165 & 166: 63% of 2023 survey respondents supported the proposals, compared to 0% of respondents who opposed them. This compares with 64% who supported and 4% who opposed in the 2021 survey.
  3. Baird’s Business Park: 59% of 2023 survey respondents supported the proposals, compared to 7% of respondents who opposed them. This compares with 56% who supported and 11% who opposed in the 2021 survey.
  4. Oystercatcher: 81% of 2023 survey respondents supported the proposals, compared to 11% of respondents who opposed them. This compares with 76% who supported and 14% who opposed in the 2021 survey.
  5. Church Lane: 70% of 2023 survey respondents supported the proposals, compared to 8% of respondents who opposed them. This compares with 61% who supported and 19% who opposed in the 2021 survey.
  6. Ferry Road: 64% of 2023 survey respondents supported the proposals, compared to 8% of respondents who opposed them. This compares with 62% who supported and 15% who opposed in the 2021 survey.
  7. PRoW 206: 63% of 2023 survey respondents supported the proposals, compared to 0% of respondents who opposed them. This compares with 60% who supported and 4% who opposed in the 2021 survey.
  8. Clympwick Bridge: 66% of 2023 survey respondents supported the proposals, compared to 9% of respondents who opposed them. This compares with 61% who supported and 9% who opposed in the 2021 survey.
  9. Bridge Road: 67% of 2023 survey respondents supported the proposals, compared to 5% of respondents who opposed them. This compares with 68% who supported and 11% who opposed in the 2021 survey.


Table 2: Priority for Implementation by Location

Priority Order

Location

1

1: Comet Corner

2

4: Oystercatcher

3

5: Church Lane

4

6: Ferry Road

5

9: Bridge Road

6

8: Clympwick Bridge

7

3: Baird’s Business Park

8

2: PRoW 165 & 166

9

7: PRoW 206



Accessible textual description of Table 2: Priority for Implementation by Location.

The proposed order of priority for implementation by local is as follows:

The first and foremost priority is location 1: Comet Corner

Second is location 4: Oystercatcher

Third is location 5: Church Lane

Fourth is location 6. Ferry Road

Fifth is location 9: Bridge Road

Sixth is location 8 Clympwick Bridge

Seventh is location 3: Baird’s business Park

Eighth is location 2: PRoWs 165 and 166

Nineth is location 7: PRoW 206


Alternative Package

The County Council met with the Department for Transport (DfT) following the public consultation to discuss consultation feedback and the latest scheme cost estimates. It was agreed that the County Council will submit an alternative (lower cost) package of proposals with less locations for the scheme as part of the Outline Business Case (OBC) submission due to inflation, rising costs and DfT’s budgetary constraints. The alternative package will include the following locations:

  • Location 1: Comet Corner
  • Location 4: Oystercatcher
  • Location 5: Church Lane (improvements to developer’s roundabout proposal)
  • Location 6: Church Lane
  • Location 9: Bridge Road
  • Location 11: NCN2 connections between Oystercatcher and Church Lane
  • Location 12: A259 corridor speed limit changes between Flansham Lane and Bridge Road roundabouts


Next Steps

The indicative programme going forward is as follows:

  • Outline Business Case (OBC) submission to the DfT – October 2023
  • Full design and Full Business Case (FBC) development from September 2023 to winter 2024 (note: to meet DfT’s funding requirement, this has started prior OBC approval and it will be stopped should the OBC fail to be approved)
  • FBC submission to the DfT – winter 2024
  • Start of construction – autumn 2025 (note: this is not guaranteed as the FBC will need to be approved by the DfT).





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