More money for road iimprovements

The questioner had complained about the "expensive and wasteful" Bexhill-Hastings Link Road scheme.

Using the Ask The Leader slot on the ww.rother.gov.uk, questioner said: "Sir, you harp on about regeneration of the Bexhill shopping area and seafront, etc., but I notice in one reply you state looking ahead 20 years.

"Then Why are you and/or the county looking at this Link road and the cost of this, when for the regeneration of Bexhill/Hastings (looking ahead 20 years) will ONLY be served by a full dualing of the A21 linked to a full bypass around Hastings-Bexhill, with main branch roads serving the main areas, then and only then should one consider housing, industrial areas around these arterial routes.

"The only thing this expensive and wasteful link road will do is create problems else where ie. the areas at each end and beyond of the link road, will serve no long-term regeneration and in the end will be useless, so if you are really keen or interested in regeneration of Bexhill, get the priorities right first before even thinking of the promenade etc. Maybe as you will say this is not your concern, or you have nothing to do with this, but at least let's hear you fight for this before the Government try and saddle us with more housing, without the infrastructure, a little thought now before it's too late from all concerned would be helpful."

The leader said: "I fully agree that we need better road and rail communications, and indeed the council, alongside our partner local authorities at both district and county level, are lobbying hard for investment to the A21.

"However, we are in competition, both regionally and nationally, for a limited 'pot' that is available for strategic infrastructure and we are fortunate that the Bexhill-Hastings Link Road has priority status for funding.

"The Link Road is essential if we are to provide for growth, both in terms of population and the economy. The existing road network does not have the capacity to cope with the expansion that is required in order to meet Government housing targets for the district and the essential employment opportunities that go with it."