RESIDENTS fear a park and medieval woodland are under threat from a new bypass.

Highways England have released maps showing their plans for an A27 bypass but campaigners said acres of ancient woodland have been removed and an important heritage site has been moved.

Residents in Binsted, a village near Arundel, fear that the inaccurate maps will mislead the public, and are calling for the documents to be ignored.

Emma Tristram, secretary of the Arundel Bypass Neighbourhood Committee (ABNC), said: “Highways England has made several glaring errors in their material which might lead people who don’t know the area to vote for the Binsted route.

“For example, a table of ‘Heritage Assets’ lists Binsted Park as ‘outside’ the scheme when it is not only inside it, but would also be destroyed by it.

“One of the route maps actually leaves out parts of Binsted Woods - including most of the woodland enclosing Binsted Park.”

She added that viewpoints and maps on the documents had been mislabelled.

She added: “The consultation material appears to be either very shoddily prepared or suspiciously biased towards the Binsted option with our beautiful woodlands literally airbrushed out from their main route map and our rich heritage mysteriously moved to suit their scheme.

“The whole thing is truly shocking!”

There are three options for an A27 Arundel bypass.

The village of Binsted lies directly in the path of Highways England’s bypass option 5A, which is widely opposed by residents due to its perceived environmental impact.

The route, which is largely within the National Park, would divide the local parish in two and would cut through acres of historic woodland and a number of heritage sites - including Binsted Park.

Camilla Lambert, chairwoman of the Binsted Arts Festival said: “It’s as if they wanted Binsted Park to disappear so they can put a bypass through it.”

A curving, wood-enclosed field within Binsted Woods, Binsted Park is the medieval-style parkland of the old Binsted House, built in the early 1800s.

It is protected by National Park planning guidelines.

In an attempt to save the park, the Arundel Bypass Neighbourhood Committee have started a petition.

Mike Tristram of ABNC said: “Support for ABNC in their battle to save Binsted continues to strengthen.

"Nearly 2000 people have signed the petition against the route.”