IAN HART: Will they finally listen to the people?

We have been here before. In fact, I’ve lived here all my life and can remember a couple of occasions when the Department for Transport compulsorily purchased houses on the top road, in preparation for road improvements.

I don’t know whether or not it’s an urban myth, but I’ve heard of a story of one particular house on the Arundel Road where the owners sold it to the government, bought it back at a profit from the government and then sold it back for another a profit – and it’s still standing today!

When the organisers of the latest campaign got in touch, including principal sponsors Bacon & Co and Arun Signs, I was more than happy to help, and a banner supporting a bypass is now on my the outside wall of my office in Broadwater Street West – a road that sees an estimated 5,000 cars drive down each day.

That’s 35,000 a week, 1.8 million cars a year! Yet still no sign of a bypass.

I’m buoyed at not only the level of support locally, but also that senior local politicians are involved as well, including Dan Humphreys, leader of Worthing Borough Council.

Hopefully our two biggest hitters, Messrs Bottomley and Loughton, will be pinning their colours to this particular mast in the not too distant future.

We need a bypass, we’ve needed one for decades, but will they finally listen to the voice of the people?

For more information and to sign the petition please visit bypassnota27throughpass.org

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