Bognor Regis road users are the only ones in the entire

county who dipped out of the cash for highways scheme. 

The project is designed to aid and fund such things as community

transport services, providing interactive speed limit signs, resurfacing roads

and adding pedestrian crossings to problematical sites.  Arun District Council’s refusal to join the

County Council initiative, that ensures developers will financially contribute towards

highway schemes - based on every parking space they provide, is the reason they won't get a share of the cash.

Meanwhile, neighbouring areas such as Chichester

and Haywards Heath will receive a share of the 2.4m provided by West Sussex

County Council.

The Observer reported that Arun Council’s defence was that

taxing parking spaces discouraged developers from providing adequate off-road

parking and consequently encouraged on-road parking, causing further congestion

to already busy roads.

Add to this the latest blow to the town’s free parking hopes

and it all begins to look like someone somewhere isn’t all that bothered about

motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

Was Arun Council’s decision not to join the highways

initiative a reckless move - or do you think it has taken exactly the right stance on the

matter?  Are the powers that be really

listening to what residents want or are they just simply self-serving?  Please give us your thoughts.