Jim O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of Highways England has confirmed that the funding available under the Road Investment Strategy has not yet been reassigned, and there may be an opportunity to make a case to the Government to reintroduce the scheme. The Secretary of State has also made it clear that he may be willing to re-open the Chichester issue if the community can act in a united way.
During the community meeting on 24th July it was announced that Highways England has given a deadline for the group to submit a community solution by 17th September. I am in touch with the Department for Transport and Highways England to try and extend the timescale so that the group has time to deliver a comprehensive and agreeable proposal, currently the Build a Better A27 group is requesting a six month extension. I am scheduled to meet with Mr O’Sullivan and Jesse Norman, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Roads, Local Transport and Devolution, in early September.
At the most recent community meeting, we discussed the importance of establishing a viable plan and process which can lead to community consensus, and to support the call for an extension.
