Traders's fury at A27 closures

The Highways Agency is closing the A27 to traffic, from Southerham roundabout to Polegate traffic lights.

The closures take place over four weekend from tomorrow (Friday) to March 2.

Work on the A2270 is also happening from Mondays to Fridays.

Drivers will have to follow diversions to reach destinations such as Wilmington and Selmeston.

Adrian Hillman, landlord of the Giants Rest pub at Wilmington, said: 'We are absolutely outraged.

'We had just two weeks notice by the highways agency of this happening.

'We do get a lot of bookings so we can tell people they have to go through the lanes to get here.

'But there won't be any passing trade.'

These customers help the pub get through the post-Christmas financial blues, he added.

Jim McRobert, landlord of the Barley Mow in Selmeston, said drivers would be forced to take a 28 mile diversion when a 300 metre stretch of road closed.

He said: 'It is going to cut off our passing trade coming from Eastbourne.

'That counts for around 75 per cent of our business as we are slap-bang on the road.

'We weren't given enough notice and it is going to completely affect our business.

'This time of the year is the only time we take money, at the weekends.'

Last week Martin Wright, Highways Agency performance manager, told the Express: 'We have taken every care to plan the work to minimise overall disruption.'

The Alfriston and Cuckmere Valley Partnership intends to protest at the closures.