Here we are then, ten years later, in 2019 and the A27 is still in the same state as ten years back, ten years of coalition, tory and chris greyling rule. Boris has wasted billions on failures and the Brexit farce earlier by May and Cameron has wasted more, the A27 is still not fit for purpose. Any foreign drivers must be bewildered at our ineptitude. Today Google routes me around B roads instead of using the A27 near Chichester.

I feel a bit guilty adding to this thread.

I remember flogging along the A 27 years ago when that was my work and travelling area, it sound as if it hasn't changed much!

Where I am in Brittany, north west france I am about 30 miles north of the south coast and about 25 miles from the N165/E60 south coast motorway which stretches from Nantes in the south east to Brest in the north west - about 185 miles, all dual carriageway. And my route to the N 165 is also mostly dual carriageway for 20 miles or so- the . Apart from morning and evening traffic, the roads are not that busy. And we don't pay any road tax in France.

I did Nantes airport there and back twice last year, about 125miles from home in about 2 hours 10 minutes, keeping within the 110 kph limit. Boring but a predictable journey time, no road closures, no road works, no potholes either.

If france can build and maintain an effective road network, why can't the UK?

France is a much bigger piece of real estate, about 2.5 times as big as the UK, with roughly the same population.

Overall the level of taxation in France is higher than here ( some estimate it at 50%) and the French milk the EU by various means to get more than we do.

"Overall the level of taxation in France is higher than here ( some estimate it at 50%) and the French milk the EU by various means to get more than we do."

Having lived in France for ten years now, I don't think the level of taxation, at least for us two,is anything like as high a the UK.

As stated no VED road tax.

Mot only every two years by a testing station not allowed to do repairs.

Property tax equivalent to council tax, about half of the UK, we have a big old house, a huge 100 foot barn and a smaller barn and about an acre of land, had a UK four bedroom modern detached with a postage stamp garden.

Road fuel cost about the same nowadays.

Water and electricity bills a bit cheaper.

Vehicle insurance a bit dearer but comes with breakdown and recovery as standard.

Health costs a bit more, the UK pays 70% but we pay or the insurance pays the rest, but veterinary bills 50% of UK.

Dental bills much less.

Weekly shopping probably about the same even though there is VAT on food here- Lidl and Aldi very good here.

We are fortunate in that we don't have to count the pennies or centimes, but we find it's not really that more expensive to live here than the UK.

The good thing we find is that the place is kept tidy, the verges are trimmed, virtually no litter, the towns are bright and cheerful with flower beds etc, much less low level crime, vandalism and graffiti.

And why didn't the UK milk the EU to get a better road system? They had the same opportunity as France!

I have relatives near Lyon and Ma***illes and considering they earn about the same, every time I visit I think their standard of living is significantly better then ours. Most have houses with pools. Younger ones have nice city apartments with all mod cons and certainly not "boxes".