Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

A23 Handcross to Warninglid

Department for Transport
A23 Handcross to Warninglid Widening
Statement of the Minister's decision following public consultation

1. The Minister of State for Transport has announced the Preferred Route for the A23 Handcross to Warninglid Widening in West Sussex.
2. The announcement follows full consideration of all the factors involved including the views expressed by the public, local authorities and other interested organisations during consultation held from 16 May 2003 to 30 June 2003.

The Preferred Route

3. The Preferred Route for the scheme is shown on the attached plan.
4. The A23 Handcross to Warninglid scheme is to widen the existing dual 2-lane carriageway to dual 3 lanes with improvements to the unsatisfactory horizontal alignment and a new Slaugham Junction. The improvements link with the existing dual 3-lane road north of Handcross and south of Warninglid. The works are contained generally within the existing highway boundary and the existing road will remain open throughout construction of the scheme. Access to properties and businesses along this section of the A23 will be kept open during construction but new access roads will be provided.

The Present Situation

5. The existing 3.8 km length of dual 2-lane road between Handcross and Warninglid links with the recently built dual 3-lane sections to the north and south. To the north the M23 commences 4 kms north of Handcross and links with Gatwick Airport and the M25. To the south the A23 is a high quality route all the way to Brighton where it joins the A27 which itself links with the main towns along the south coast. These towns include Eastbourne, Lewes, Brighton, Hove, Shoreham and Worthing and are all linked via the A27 much of which is a high standard dual 2-lane carriageway. In contrast the links between the M25 and A27 areas are limited with the A23 being the only higher standard route. This means that some of the traffic funnels towards the A23 rather than using lower standard routes, for example the A22 and A24.
6. The existing dual 2-lane road between Handcross and Warninglid has sub-standard horizontal alignment and junctions together with many accesses. As a result a large number of accidents occur and queues result, in particular on the uphill gradients at peak times which means that traffic often diverts to less suitable parallel country lanes when problems occur on the A23.
7. The A23 over this length carries 66,200 vehicles per day (vpd) of which 8.5% are heavy goods vehicles. This flow is expected to increase to 73,000 vpd by 2008 and this could be higher if developments occur at Gatwick and elsewhere along the route. The traffic flows are above the capacity of a 2-lane layout and as a result congestion often occurs at peak periods.
8. The accident rate for the Handcross to Warninglid section was 62 personal injury accidents (pias) over the 3 year period from 1999 to 2001 which included 2 fatal accidents and 6 serious accidents. This converts to an average of 0.251 pias per million vehicle kilometres which is over 2.5 times higher than the expected national average of 0.096 for this type of road.
9. The existing A23 over this length has very limited footpath or cycleway provision and the footpaths which cross the A23 are at-grade. There are sub-standard accesses to businesses and properties off the existing carriageway and these result in hazardous manoeuvres and accidents. In particular the sub-standard junction with the local east-west road connecting Slaugham and Staplefield which is at the bottom of the A23 gradient is particularly hazardous and is the cause of accidents which results in congestion.
10. The A23 over this length goes through a very sensitive landscape and ecological area falling within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which lies between the North and South Downs. Typical features which form this area are deep wooded valleys and extensive woodlands many of which are remnants of ancient woodland together with villages and settlements and narrow lanes enclosed with high hedges.
11. Although there are no Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the immediate vicinity of the A23, the section passes through an area of significant ecological interest and nature conservation value. Most of the mature broad leaf woodland on both sides of the road between Handcross and Slaugham Junction is designated an Ancient Semi Natural Woodland. This includes 3 designated areas adjacent to the A23 which are of high regional conservation value. In particular there is a sensitive ecological area where the River Ouse crosses the A23.
12. The National Trust property, Nymans, is a popular attraction with extensive gardens north of the B2114, some 300 metres from the A23. The National Trust land covers extensive woodland including East Park which abuts the A23 over the northern section.
13. A Vehicle Inspectorate weighbridge is situated on the A23 northbound carriageway at the top of the gradient with the junction at Handcross. This is necessary for inspection of heavy goods vehicles.

Public Consultation

14. Public consultation for upgrading the A23 between Handcross and Warninglid was carried out between 16 May and 30 June 2003.
15. A total of 206 visitors attended the exhibition, 196 Comments Forms were completed and 33 written responses were received. Of those who responded 67% said they used the Handcross to Warninglid section on a daily basis with 23% using it weekly and 10% on a monthly basis. Of those who would be affected by the improvements, 175 respondents were drivers, 22 were cyclists, 35 pedestrians, 150 local residents and 10 local businesses.
16. In response to the question "Does the existing route needed to be improved?" 95% said "Yes", 3% said "No" with 2% having no opinion. When asked "What are the main problems with the route?" 38 respondents (19%) said the tight bends, 9 respondents (5%) said steep gradients, 45 (23%) said short slip roads at junctions, 8 (4%) said too many accesses, 4 (2%) said journey takes too long, 5 (2%) said unpredictable journey times with 70 (36%) saying poor safety record and 18 (9%) other issues. On the question about the most important environmental aspects, 32 (16%) said wildlife, 28 (14%) wanted to avoid the National Trust Land and Sites of Nature Conservation Importance, 25 (13%) considered landscaping to be the most important, 85 (43%) said noise, 17 (9%) said that pollution was of most concern and 9 (5%) said other issues, for example, lighting.
17. In response to the question, "Is it important to maintain access to the A23 at Slaugham Junction?" 33% requested the slip roads to be closed, 59% asked for a safer junction to be provided and 8% wanted a partial closure.
18. In response to the question about providing access to the commercial and residential properties via a service road, 88% of the respondents supported this with 10% against.
19. The responses from the local authorities and statutory environmental bodies generally supported the improvements although some have concerns about detailed aspects of the scheme. In addition most supported the retention of the Slaugham Road Junction but with an improved access. Many concerns were expressed about traffic diverting to less suitable routes during construction of the works and requested further discussion on ways to reduce this happening.

Ministers conclusions

20. The Minister has taken these views into account. He is satisfied that there is an urgent need to widen this section of the A23 and to improve the horizontal alignment to address the poor accident record and congestion currently experienced throughout the day particular at peak times. The widened road will bring much needed relief to users of this section of the A23 whilst providing safer access for properties along the route.
21. The Minister notes that while there is a consensus in favour of the improvement there are some issues concerning details of aspects such as the access arrangements. He is satisfied that the modifications made to the route since consultation have achieved the optimum balance between the various interests.
22. He is mindful of the very sensitive landscape of the area, of the need to protect the environment and the importance of minimising the impact of the widening. He assures the various interested parties that every effort will be made to resolve the outstanding issues which some parties have expressed on the environmental aspects and detailed traffic management arrangements. In particular he will encourage partnerships with interested parties to take place to address the various concerns.

The Next Step

23. The Preferred Route will now be protected from development in accordance with the provisions of Article 15 of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988 (SI 1988 No 1813). Anyone whose property is blighted as a result and can satisfy the relevant requirements of the Town and Country Planning Act may serve a Blight Notice on the Minister requiring him to purchase the property.
24. Further design work on the Preferred Route will now be carried out including surveys before detailed proposals are published in draft orders under the Highways Act 1980. These draft orders will be open to objection and representation and depending on the weight and nature of any objections. Public Inquiries may be held. The start of construction would depend on completion of the statutory procedures.
25. The next step will be to appoint a contractor to assist in the development of the scheme. This will allow the chosen firm to input innovation and buildability into the design and for that to be incorporated in the draft orders and Environmental Statement.