Comedienne supports protests by anti-Link Road activists

Jo, who is due to perform at a benefit for Hastings pier tomorrow (Saturday), said: “Having grown up in the area, I am familiar with the Combe Haven valley and am horrified that East Sussex County Council plans to destroy this beautiful part of our countryside with the Bexhill Hastings Link Road.

“At a time when we are facing catastrophic climate change, it is utterly irresponsible to be building new roads which will simply create more traffic.

“I strongly support those people who are taking peaceful action to try to stop this madness.”

The peaceful protests against the road have been running since December 14 at sites in Crowhurst and Sidley.

A total of 28 people have so far been arrested in connection with the protests.

The action, which included setting up a series of protest camps at Crowhurst, has received national press attention - and protest group the Combe Haven Defenders has more planned.

Activists say they are planning to stage a peaceful ‘document search’ in London on April 8/9 if the Department for Transport fails to release ‘secret recommendations regarding funding for the BHLR’.

Meanwhile opponents of the BHLR returned to the site of one of the protest camps on Saturday to plant trees along the road route.

A dozen people worked for five hours in freezing conditions, planting oak, wild cherry, and holly trees, replacing the trees that were felled by contractors earlier in the year.

Charlotte Potter-Powell, a spokesperson for the Combe Haven Defenders, said: “We have planted these precious trees as an act of faith that this road – which has still not received the funding it needs from central government – can still be stopped.”