A27 group's protest

A PRESSURE group wants to know why people in Lewes are being denied a local opportunity to view and discuss controversial traffic changes proposed for the area.

A PRESSURE group wants to know why people in Lewes are being denied a local opportunity to view and discuss controversial traffic changes proposed for the area.

The A27 Action Group says Lewes will be in the front line for major transport changes to be proposed by the Government's transport consultants - Halcrow - yet Lewes will have no exhibition, no pre-launch workshop and no chance to see and discuss the proposals with the consultants.

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'Major changes affecting Lewes and its surroundings may include the construction of a dual-carriageway from Southerham to Beddingham, with a massive flyover spanning the railway and river,' said a spokesman.

Barred

'At Polegate a new road will attract development right up to the boundary of the proposed National Park.'

Added Alan Chapman, group spokesman: 'Lewes people have contributed an enormous amount to the consultation process and are furious at being barred from this crucial stage. Why are they frightened to bring these proposals to a Lewes audience?

'If the consultants are taking the exhibition and workshops to Hove and Eastbourne, two places barely affected, it is odd that Lewes, which is in the firing line, is being excluded. Is this oversight or a deliberate decision to keep us in the dark?'

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The exhibitions - part of the consultation process on the South Coast Modal Study, which has been running since last summer - take place at Hastings Marina Pavilion today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday), Hove Town Hall today and tomorrow, and Eastbourne's Devonshire Park on Thursday, Friday and Saturday next week.

A Halcrow spokesman said the emerging strategy as yet contained no specific proposals for the Lewes to Polegate stretch.

They would appear by the end of the year, after consultation, when a report was presented to the Government.

And she added: 'We couldn't hold exhibitions everywhere. We have tried to be fair but we have a very tight time frame.

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'We are very keen for Lewes and Polegate people to see the exhibitions, either at Eastbourne or Hove.'

The emerging strategy rules out a new A27 motorway. The main aim is to improve existing roads. And, through improved public transport, the strategy also aims to reduce the anticipated growth of car use in the area from 28 per cent to 20 per cent over the next 15 years.

In the case of the A27 between Lewes and Polegate the strategy is to remove bottlenecks by improving existing intersections.

The strategy doesn't actually say it, but the Express understands those intersections could include the Ashcombe, Southerham and Beddingham roundabouts.