Outspoken Link Road critic 'shamefully confused'

A SHOCKING lack of knowledge about Hastings and its environs has been demonstrated by local MEP Caroline Lucas.

The Green Party politician put out a press release last week condemning the long-fought-for Link Road proposals.

But in it, she says 'widening the A27 at Hastings' would destroy the Combe Haven Valley, and claims the 'proposed dual carriageway' would increase pollution.

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Of course, the A27 ends some 13 miles west of Bexhill, and the Link Road plans are single-carriageway only.

Bob Wilkins, director of transport at East Sussex County Council, said it looked like Ms Lucas had been studying the wrong proposals.

He said: "I'm afraid she seems completely confused about what is being planned.

"She talks about widening the A27, which is not even a part of these proposals. In fact, the A27 ends several miles from Bexhill and Hastings.

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"She also says a dual carriageway is proposed, which is simply not true - we are proposing a single carriageway."

He added Ms Lucas seemed 'equally muddled' about the economic and environmental impacts of the road, which will run between Hastings and Bexhill, by-passing the congested A259.

Mr Wilkins said: "She claims the link road will destroy the Combe Haven Valley, when the scheme has been painstakingly designed to miss that Site of Special Scientific Interest, and does not cross any Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

"And she says it will 'hit' town centre redevelopment, when the truth is the Government has backed this plan specifically because it will massively regenerate that area.

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"The truth is, Hastings and Bexhill cannot be regenerated properly without this road. It is critically important to the future of both towns.

"I am always keen to have an intelligent debate with people about the scheme when they know the issues and they have understood what is planned.

"Unfortunately, Ms Lucas seems unfamiliar with the proposals and, to avoid further misleading her constituents, I would suggest she reads the planning application as a matter of urgency."

The 89million scheme is the result of years of campaigning from people in Hastings and Bexhill.

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It is hoped the road will relieve congestion on the A259 and open up areas of land on the western edge of Hastings for business development.

Bosses at the county council say it will bring 300million of extra investment to the area.

Caroline Lucas is a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the South East region, which includes Hastings and Bexhill.