Eyesore of Glyne Gap

GLYNE Gap roundabout remains a weed-strewn eyesore because the Highways Agency would charge any commercial sponsor £25,000.

And that is plus plants and maintenance...

The island is one of the first glimpses of Bexhill that visitors get when approaching via the A1259 trunk road from Hastings.

The idea of seeking a commercial sponsor to fund regular maintenance of the island has been bandied about for years without success. This is despite the example set by neighbouring Eastbourne where tidy, flower-bedecked roundabouts bear discreet sponsorship signs.

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The difference, however, is that these are not on trunk roads, which are not a county responsibility but that of the Highways Agency.

Now East Bexhill county council member Cllr Martyn Forster has found out why commercial sponsors are not interested in Glyne Gap.

Cllr Forster says: "The bad news is that the traffic island at Glyne Gap on the A259 is owned by the Highways Agency, who are clearly not maintaining it. Spurred on by a letter in last week's Observer, I emailed the Highways Agency to ask about sponsorship of this island.

"They suggested 15,000 registration fee and a further 10,000 per annum to sponsor planting on the island!

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"The sponsor would be expected to provide their own plants and maintenance during the period.

"The exceptionally high fees are to cover safety issues during planting and maintenance apparently. Meanwhile the weeds grow..."