MOVES to improve one of the busiest roads in Sussex could soon take a step forward.

There is fresh hope today that traffic problems on the A27 could be recognised by the Government. The hope follows a top-level Whitehall meeting between council chiefs, business leaders and Transport Minister Gavin Strang. Now they believe the A27 between Worthing and Lancing will figure in a national roads review due to be announced in the summer. Concern about bottlenecks and congestion on the road have grown since the scrapping of dual carriageway improvements between the two towns. West Sussex county surveyor Alan Lovell and former Cabinet Minister Lord Young, who chairs the West Sussex Economic Forum, told Mr Strang the road was vital to business. Both men said they were heartened by Mr Strang saying that maintaining the status quo is not an option. Mr Lovell said: "We are doing all we can to keep the A27 near the top of the Minister's agenda and are keeping in close touch with the Government. We're optimistic of something positive when the roads review is announced." The news follows a campaign by parents and children for improved safety on the A27 outside Boundstone Community College, Lancing.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.