Concerns have been raised that local roads will face traffic chaos if a proposed eco-town is built at Ford without also funding an A27 by-pass at Arundel.

It follows the publication of a report by the Government-appointed eco-town Challenge Panel, which recommends the proposers of the Ford scheme abandon investigations into funding the by-pass "as it is of consistent with sustainable principles".

The Challenge Panel, comprising 12 experts from the worlds of design, 'green' transport and television, has been appointed by the Government to challenge the developers of eco-towns to meet the highest standards possible for sustainability and design in their final proposals.

Their analysis of the Ford site, which they describe as "challenging", includes several recommendations to the proposers about how to improve their bid to achieve this, including dropping plans for an A27 by-pass.

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However, the Counci's special Select Committee, who held a six-day public investigation into the viability of an eco-town at Ford, branded the proposals "deeply flawed" and recommended the Council oppose them, citing the guarantee of an A27 by-pass as a necessity.

The Select Committee's final report, based on evidence received from the proposers of the Ford scheme as well as Council experts, the County Council and local residents, concluded that "in the absence of a firm commitment to a by-pass the eco-town should not proceed", as the results would be "chaotic".

Ian Sumnall, Arun's Chief Executive, said: "The Select Committee looked long and hard into the Ford proposals and one of their main concerns was that an influx of between 10-12,000 more people to the area would push an already strained transport network beyond breaking point.

"That said, the Challenge Panel are completely correct in observing that an 'eco' settlement should not involve more cars and carbon emissions, and seem to have highlighted a large contradiction between the ethos of an eco-town and the reality of delivering it at Ford.

"The developers agreed at the Select Committee inquiry that further development of the A27 was needed in order to deliver their scheme successfully, so it will be interesting to see how they react to the Challenge Panel's recommendation."

(CD/JM)