Archived press release

The Ghost of Hastings Bypass Haunts the Town Again

16 February 2004

Plans for the controversial Hastings and Bexhill Western bypass are being considered again, despite a Government decision to reject the scheme less than three years ago. A consortium of local councils together with the Highways Agency have launched a consultation document [1] asking for views on the preferred route for the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road - the Western bypass by another name.

The Western bypass was rejected by the Government in July 2001, together with proposals for the Hastings Eastern bypass, following the Access to Hastings Multi-Modal Study (MMS). The then Transport Secretary Stephen Byers concluded that any economic benefits would not outweigh the environmental damage caused by the roads.

The Bexhill to Hastings Link Road was proposed by the South Coast MMS in 2002, but the Government again did not grant permission, asking East Sussex County Council to develop the scheme further to minimise environmental impact. Despite this, four of the six routes proposed in the consultation document would still damage the Combe Haven Site of Special Scientific Interest, one of Britain's most important wildlife sites [2].

The `Access to Hastings' MMS concluded that `it is neither practicable nor desirable to construct the Western bypass in isolation'. Local people fear that construction of the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road will lead to pressure to also build the Eastern bypass. This road would cut through the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, one of Britain's most important landscapes.

Friends of the Earth's South East Campaigns Co-ordinator Brenda Pollack said:

"The ghost of the Hastings bypass is haunting this town and just won't go away. The latest proposals are as bad as previous versions of the road, and must be rejected in the same way".

Local people are concerned that the terms of the consultation are too narrow, assuming that the Link Road is needed and saying that it is not an option to do nothing. But there has been no real consideration of alternatives to road-building or measures to reduce car dependence, such as improved public transport, safe routes to schools and traffic calming.

Hastings Friends of the Earth campaigner Mike Turner said:

"The councils were asked to look at ways of improving the area without a new road, but haven't looked seriously at the alternatives. Local people are effectively being told it's a road or nothing and the only question is over the route. But Bexhill and Hastings need sustainable transport solutions, not a new road which won't solve the area's problems."

Notes

[1] `Bexhill and Hastings Future Travel Options' produced by East Sussex County Council, Hastings , Rother District Council, the Highways Agency and Hastings & Bexhill Renaissance

[2] Combe Haven is a wetland area, important for its range of habitats, including reed beds, and for breeding, wintering and passage birds, dragonflies and butterflies.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust