CLEVER MEN FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT!

The bypass that never was.
By Brian Urry

"The best deal for Newhaven is a bypass, so let's not do that. It's much better to destroy the town centre."

I remember this well, but it's great to see the pamphlet again. My Dad was on the council at the time and almost everyone local -planners included - wanted that northern bypass and its high level bridge over the river- see the points evaluation scores. There were some objections, I believe the Golf Club weren't too happy about the road going across the course!

I think (lack of) Government money was eventually the deciding factor, but I could never understand how the bypass would supposedly have been cheaper than what we ended up with!

Andy -Editor.

Photo: Illustrative image for the 'CLEVER MEN FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT!' page
Photo: Illustrative image for the 'CLEVER MEN FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT!' page
This page was added by Brian Urry on 22/05/2011.

Comments about this page

When I went back to Newhaven last year after a very long absence, I was very sad to see that the High Street as I remembered it, no longer existed, and I feel something has been lost. I realise that the traffic problem must become horrendous and perhaps a ring road was necessary, but somehow it seems to me, perhaps wrongly, that the heart of the town was negatively impacted.

By Lily Blin (Canada)
On 17/09/2011

Lily is too diplomatic. The new swing bridge and bypass gutted the town. The pictures on this site clearly show a vibrant town prior to 1972. Every time I return, it depresses me to see what Newhaven has become. Still, on the bright side, now you have a high temperature incinerator, so the government are obviously keen to invest...and the swing bridge still causes massive delays on one of the busiest roads on the south coast. Genius. However, harbour plus development generally equals prosperity, so perhaps all is not yet lost. (Stuart, Melbourne)

By Stuart Winton
On 30/12/2011

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