A former parliamentary candidate for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton has spoken out about the Government’s decision to demolish a main road in the area.

The Arundel Bypass in West Sussex was first announced by National Highways in 2020 as a measure to improve safety and reduce congestion, but the road was recently scrapped by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves due to cost concerns.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Express, former Labour candidate Clare Walsh said the project was not worth the money, saying the road would not save motorists enough time to benefit the local economy.

She said: “Since the decision by Finance Minister Rachel Reeves to halt the planned but repeatedly postponed changes to the A27 route, residents from across the political spectrum have contacted me with a wide range of views, many of them supporting completely different plans to those proposed.”

“I agree with Rachel, the proposed project was not worth the money. The potential cost of the ‘Grey Route’ could have been as much as £1.2 billion. The predicted time savings for drivers would not have had a sufficiently positive impact on the local economy to justify the huge cost and environmental impact.”

As part of the A27, National Highways planned the Arundel Bypass to bypass the small town of Arundel and the South Downs National Park, easing traffic congestion and reducing the number of road accidents.

Although the organisation estimated the cost of the bypass at £320 million, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, who took over the project after the general election, scrapped it and a number of other road projects in an attempt to contain the predicted additional costs of almost £22 billion.

The cuts have divided motorists, with Simon Williams, RAC policy chief, warning they raise “more questions than answers” about when the Government will improve the road network.

While Clare acknowledged that the delays can be incredibly frustrating for local motorists, she also stressed the importance of finding alternative routes to reduce congestion in the area.

She added: “As frustrating as it is, we need further consultation with expert opinion, including meaningful consultation with local residents at every stage of the process.”

“The needs of local residents have changed from November 2022, just after the pandemic, and I am not an advocate of wasting money just to be seen to be doing something. Louise Haigh, the Transport Secretary, and the whole Labour Party see a future with more, more efficient and more effective public transport.”

To improve transport in the region, Clare called on the government to take measures to improve public transport.

She continued: “Like so many local residents, I am a mother myself and use the A27 almost every day. The delays are hugely distressing. I know that public transport in the area is currently inadequate. We need a solution that combines viable road links and public transport.”

“This is a very serious and complicated problem, but I know that if we tackle this issue together, a solution can be found.”