Save Arundel’s High Street

On June 11th 2020 the Arundel Town Council voted 6/5 in favour of the attached plan (see photo).  This plan was initially proposed in 2018 as part of a wider ‘regeneration’ project.  It was submitted to Arun District Council prior to the Town Council vote under the banner of an ‘oven ready’ plan to ‘provide safety to pedestrians due to Covid19’, but HAS NOT been reassessed in respect to Covid19 restrictions and social distancing.  Furthermore, NO CONSULTATION has taken place by the Council with any those who will be impacted by the changes ( businesses or residents) and this was fully admitted by the Mayor in the last Town Council meeting.  

The plan includes the re-direction of traffic along the Eastern side of the High Street to the Western Side, effectively making the western road two-way by removing parking availability on that side.

The western side pavement is at best 2 metres wide.  By removing the parking bays and directing two way traffic to the western side road this effectively renders the western pavement unsafe.  The many businesses along this stretch of pavement are challenging this plan for the following reasons:

1 - Increased risk to pedestrian safety due to two-way traffic within inches of the pavement.
2 - Inability for pedestrians to adhere to social distancing guildlines
3 - The 6 eateries along this stretch of pavement will be unable to trade as a take-away service due to the inability to guarantee our customers safety.  If our hospitality businesses are to survive post Covid, we desperately need the ability to trade safely externally.
4 - Increased carbon monoxide emissions and noise from two-way traffic.
5 - Large concrete blocks and pedestrian fencing will be used to ‘fence off’ the pedestrian area, this will not only be an ‘eye-sore’ in our beautiful town, but will also effectively ‘cut-off’ the west from the east side of the square. 

We have been in contact with the Town Council, participated in Zoom meetings and submitted our concerns.  Although they have shown willing to try and make some amendments to, at best, lessen the detrimental effect these plans will have on our businesses, they have refused to withdraw it or even press ‘pause’.  Statutory consultation is required in order for any traffic changes to be agreed by WSCC but this has not been completed.

This plan is not fit for purpose, creates increased risk to pedestrians and does not protect or support some well established local businesses, in fact, does quite the opposite.

Please sign this petition to support our request that Arundel Town Council withdraw this plan immediately.