Goring roundabout left out of initial £14.8m A259 works

West Sussex County Council will consult on a range of juntion and carriageway improvements around Littlehampton in January.

But modifications to the Goring Crossways roundabout have not been included in phase one of the scheme, with a timescale for development ‘not yet known’.

County councillor for Northbrook ward Robin Rogers said Worthing residents had been ‘badly let down’ by the exclusion of the roundabout in initial works.

He said: “Goring Crossways is at 120 per cent capacity eastbound and westbound at rush hour.

“It should have been a priority.”

A feasibility study explored the possibility of installing traffic signals on all approaches of the roundabout apart from Titnore Lane, with a new westbound dual carriageway.

The improvements would cost between £4million and £9million, on top of the £14,8million cost of phase one.

But the report states the need is ‘marginal’, with the roundabout only at capacity during evening rush hour traffic.

A decision report by county council officers states: “Options featuring Goring Crossways and/or improvements to the Tesco Roundabout (Littlehampton) were both considered poor value for money at the current time as there is still considerable uncertainty around the scale and nature of development that might come forward, funding contributions that might be available and the associated traffic impacts requiring mitigation at these locations.”

Proposals going forward include works between the Station Road and A280 roundabouts, near Haskins garden centre, where it is proposed to dual the road in both directions, including wider approaches and improved road markings.

The pedestrian crossing west of the Roundstone roundabout will be removed, with a separate pedestrian and cycle path built.

Similar changes will be made between the Body Shop roundabout and junction of the planned Fitzalan link road, north of Littlehampton Academy.

While consultation will happen swiftly, it could take at least 18 months to negotiate the purchase of 12,500 square metres of land required to carry out the building of the new dual carriageways.

Objections to any potential compulsory purhase order, should it be required, could delay the process by a further six to 12 months.

This means the estimated construction time is late 2017, with works expected to take 18 months.

The first phase of works will cost around £14.8million, with £7.51million being sought from local enterprise partnership Coast to Capital.

County will contribute £3.9million, with the remaining sum covered by existing or future legal agreement payments from surrounding housing development schemes.

Phases two and three, including the Goring Crossways plans and the Bridge Road roundabout, near Tesco, in Littlehampton, will begin subject to funding being found.

Mr Rogers said funds should have been sought through the 700-home West Durrington development , which he argues will further increase pressure on the Goring roundabout.

County cabinet member for highways and transport John O’Brien said: “There will be less congestion, less fumes and less queuing.

“It will shave significant time off people’s journeys, make the road safer and encourage people to travel safely by bike.”