Tesco traffic lights plan turns green

The scheme, believed to be costing hundreds of thousands of pounds, will take about two months to complete. The exact dates are still to be finalised between Tesco's representatives and highways officers at West Sussex County Council.

But news that the green light has been given for the installation will be welcomed by the tens of thousands of shoppers who use the store each week.

They have found it impossible on occasions to get out of the store's car park into the flow of traffic along the dual carriageway.

Statistics used by Tesco to support its plans showed up to 1,178 vehicles used the exit every two hours. The lights will affect just the northbound two lanes of the A29. Two toucan crossings for both pedestrians and cyclists across all four lanes of the A29 will also be installed just south of the Tesco junction as part of the lights network. Countless minor accidents have occurred at the junction in recent years. It was also the scene of a fatal crash last November when an elderly woman from Bognor was knocked over by a driver as she crossed the A29.

Cllr Simon McDougall, who represents Bersted and Bognor on the town, district and county councils welcomed the imminent arrival of the traffic lights. He spent 47 minutes trapped in Tesco's car park on a recent Sunday because of the sheer volume of traffic.

"I had bought some frozen food which had almost thawed out by the time I got home. I fully support the traffic lights going in. I have always felt that a slip road off the A29 would work in much the same way. But anything which gets people out of Tesco efficiently has to be a good thing.

"Motorists get frustrated waiting to get out. They start losing their rag. Others won't let them out and that compounds the problem and makes it unsafe."

Bersted Parish Council chairman Cllr Brian Knight has been a frequent critic of the situation which has seen Tesco staff go on to the A29 to ease the situation.

He said: "I am very pleased Tesco are going to be doing something to resolve the situation. As a parish council, we will be delighted because it will end the constant discussions we have about the problems of Tesco's exit. The present exit is pathetic, in my opinion. It took me almost as long to get out of the car park the other day as it did to do my shopping."

The saga of Tesco and the traffic lights dates back years. The company received permission to extend the Shripney Road store to its current size '“ opened in November 2000 '“ on condition changes were made to its junction to cope with the extra customers.

The situation created friction between those who wanted a slip road built off the A29's northbound carriageways to serve Tesco and those who favoured traffic lights. There was also the issue of whether the lights should be installed on both north and southbound routes. This involved further discussions, with Bognor Regis and Littlehampton MP Nick Gibb involved, until the southbound lights were scrapped.

Tesco submitted a planning application last summer to install the traffic lights. This was approved by Arun District Council in September 2006 but further talks were needed with the county council, the highways authority, before any work could begin.

These negotiations have finished with the county council happy with Tesco's proposals. A council spokesman said: 'The traffic lights and crossings are going to be installed early in the new year.'

The work will inevitably cause some disruption along the A29. Traffic management, such as temporary lights, will be put in place. Details are not yet available.