DEAR Highways England,

Are you mad? Why on earth would you think it’s a good idea to destroy four peaceful villages, Tortington, Binsted, Walberton and Fontwell, plus water meadows, woodland and local flora and fauna, all of which are irreplaceable - and all for the sake of speeding up traffic until it becomes congested at the next junction.

With so much talk of climate change and cutting back on cars, this goes completely against any such intention and shows instead just empty words.

Do you really think you can move local creatures to another area and expect them not to try and go back to where they came from?

I have looked at all the work that the Arundel Bypass committee have put together to enable one to see the reality of erecting this monstrosity and I cannot understand how this grey route has even been considered when a more practical and cheaper option has been made available.

In these times of austerity does Highways England really have that much money to waste, when you are perfectly experienced in how much more the grey route would eventually cost?

The view from Arundel itself would be gone for ever, along with the peace and beauty of some of our wonderful English villages - plus so much money just poured down the drain.

Isn’t it time that Highways England abandoned the old model of "predict and provide" models of transport planning which you are aware are unsustainable?

I ask you to think again and pay attention to the well-explained arguments against the grey route that are being put to you by the Arundel Bypass Committee.

Penny Shearer

Dene Close

East Dean