BLUEPRINT FOR PROSPERITY

A new, high-level bid is being made for priority government investment in what has been dubbed the 'Hailsham-Eastbourne Triangle'.

The area stretches from Pevensey Bay in the east to West Dean in the west and northwards to Hellingly '“ including all the communities contained within those borders.

The area has been identified as in need of economic regeneration and leaders of the new scheme hope it could attract the type of government funding that has been poured into Hastings.

Wealden council leader Nigel Coltman described the Triangle to members of Hailsham Town Council at Monday's meeting.

It was heralded at the first joint meeting between the cabinets of Eastbourne Borough and Wealden District councils who have now approved a major economic action plan.

A jointly-developed plan called the Eastbourne-Hailsham Triangle Blueprint seeks to improve infrastructure, technology and the provision of skills.

Its goal, Cllr Coltman said, is to develop a successful, sustainable economy and better quality of life for people who live there.

The Blueprint is being co-ordinated by Eastbourne's regeneration partnership Momentum and is funded by the town's strategic partnership, the East Sussex Partnership and Tourism South East.

Cllr Coltman told the Express: 'There's no line drawn between Eastbourne and Wealden.

'We are looking at a 20-year plan tying in with the South East Plan which extends from 2006-2020.

'People living here '“ and those who will move here '“ need somewhere local to work.

'We are looking at homes built for 2-3,000 families which would see more people than jobs available for them meaning they would have to travel miles and miles and miles.

'We will be plugging into the area's economic vehicle SEEDA (South East England Development Agency) as well as GOSE (Government Office of the South East) to ensure our proposals get action delivered on the ground.

'The need for improvements to the A27 has been highlighted as a key factor in securing economic prosperity.

'Highways Agency plans show improvements at Beddingham and bits and pieces along the way but we will be challenging the government's entire transport strategy and get this circle of improvement rolling.'