Midhurst bypass plans '˜may need to be revisited'

Chichester district councillor Steve Morley told fellow town councillors traffic queues along North Street were “a problem which is getting worse and worse. Maybe the bypass word should come back into discussion. “Looking to the future it’s something we are going to have to think about. People driving through the town and the town traders must be getting so frustrated. “There are people sitting in the traffic in their cars thinking ‘get me out of here!’ who might otherwise have thought about stopping and wandering around the town.” He said Easebourne villagers were also suffering from traffic build ups particularly in the morning and evening rush hours. They believed these were caused by badly balanced timings of red lights for pedestrians and motorists at the crossings in Midhurst’s North Street. “Easebourne’s district councillor Francis Hobbs and I have been talking about the problem,” said Cllr Morley. “I believe there is a little bit of misunderstanding between people in Easebourne and Midhurst about what the problem is and how we can solve it. “They are asking if we can meet and I would like a county council highways officer to come and address us both to find out what can be done both short and long term. I don’t think it is as easy as shortening the timing of the red lights.” After the meeting Cllr Morley told the Observer: “After Midhurst Town Council twice requested a shorter period of red light timing at the crossings and there is still no marked improvement, I feel it is necessary fora highways officer to brief both Midhurst and Easebourne councils. “We need to find both a short and long term solution. “In the short term we must be aware of the misery that could be experienced this summer during the polo season and the Goodwood events. Long term I do not rule out even reviving the possibilities of a town by-pass.” Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live. Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on. 1) Make our website your homepage at www.midhurstandpetworth.co.uk/ 2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MidhurstandPetworthObserver 3) Follow us on Twitter @mid_pet_obs 4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here. And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out! The Midhurst and Petworth Observer - always the first with your local news. Be part of it.