Bognor residents petition for changes to 'congested and dangerous' junction

(Left to right) Jacky Pendleton, Arun district and Middleton-on-Sea parish councillor, with Pamela Godrey and Terry Tindall from Elmer Sands residents group. Photo: Kate Shemilt. ks190498-4

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A petition urging for changes to ‘the congested and dangerous’ Comet Corner junction has received nearly 300 signatures.

Supported by Jacky Pendleton, Arun district and Middleton-on-Sea parish councillor, the Elmer Sands Residents group have formed a plan to urge the council to make improvements to a road 'fraught with danger'.

It comes after West Sussex County Council revealed earlier this year that funding required to deliver junction improvement works to Comet Corner and Oystercatcher was not received. Read more here

Member Pamela Godfrey said: "We hold annual general meetings and this subject was raised. It's not really what we do but I suggested that we discussed it. There was a universal hand up and I have had to take charge of it by setting up an online petition. I want more people to know about it."

The petition, which has so far received 290 signatures, read: "The road junction between the A259 and Yapton Road, known locally as Comet Corner, is congested and dangerous.

"Both right hand turns, west to Littlehampton and east to Chichester are fraught with danger. The daily traffic delays are endless for the residents of Middleton-on-Sea, Elmer and Yapton in addition to buses, taxis and delivery drivers

"The 50mph speed limit through this area is constantly ignored by cars and more dangerously huge lorries. With increased housing development proposed around Felpham and Climping, traffic through this road junction is only going to increase.

"We petition West Sussex County Council to improve conditions at this junction with either traffic lights or a roundabout."

Any improvements made to Comet Corner will not be the first in recent years. with the junction subject to work in 2017. In what was a £550k scheme, the bend in Worms Lane was widened and there was an extension to the deceleration lane exiting the A259 into Worms Lane, along with upgraded drainage.

At the time, the county council said the project will make motorists ‘feel safer’ and improve visibility but Pamela believes it has 'made the problem worse'.

"The changes to Comet Corner actually made it more dangerous," she said.