Archived press release

Hastings Road Approval Slammed

2 December 2004

Alistair Darling's decision today to allow the damaging Bexhill to Hastings Link Road to be built has been slammed by Friends of the Earth.

Friends of the Earth's transport campaigner Tony Bosworth said

"Alistair Darling's short-sighted decision will lead to one of the most beautiful valleys in Sussex being covered in concrete. This damaging road is completely unnecessary. It will create more problems than it will solve, and condemn the area to even more congestion and pollution in the future. So much for the Government's sustainable transport policy."

Mike Turner of Hastings Friends of the Earth said:

"It is unbelievable that the Government has approved this road when it has a clear policy of only allowing road-building as a last resort in sensitive areas like this. The Combe Haven Valley is a beautiful and tranquil landscape that could be lost forever. At £47million this scheme is extremely costly, both financially and environmentally."

Friends of the Earth is part of the Hastings Alliance, a coalition of UK's leading transport and environment groups who opposed the road. The Alliance had serious concerns about the road, including:

East Sussex County Council has contravened Government guidance by not sufficiently assessing alternative ways of tackling local transport problems, such as minor improvements to the A259 and more investment in public transport and setting up workplace and school travel plans.

The road will still be highly damaging to the environment even though it does not directly cut through the Combe Haven SSSI. The groups argue that the whole of the Combe Haven Valley is a sensitive area, and wildlife and landscape would be affected.

Although congestion would fall on the A259, East Sussex County Council's own modelling shows that congestion on all other roads in the area will be worse in 2023 if the road is built. Some roads in North Hastings would see up to 91% increases in traffic in the planned opening year of 2008.

East Sussex County Council claims the road is an essential part of regeneration plans, but the groups point out that opening up an out of town greenfield site for a business park and housing development puts at risk a renaissance of the town centre.

Environmental and transport campaigners together with local residents say the road is not needed because there are better, and in many cases cheaper, alternatives to solve traffic problems between Hastings and Bexhill. They believe the county council should instead be:

• Putting more focus on demand management to reduce traffic through workplace, school and college travel plans;
• Building on the success of the quality bus corridor by extending it between the two towns;
• Fast tracking the suggested Metro-style rail services between Ore (to the east of Hastings) and Bexhill;
• Providing better conditions for walking and cycling for example through pedestrian and cycle networks and 20mph zones.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust