Caroline Ansell writes:
‘After a suitably trying journey on the A27 to the meeting about the A27 - and nearly three hours of debate and presentation later - all was rewarded in the final five minutes of the meeting; under ‘Final Conclusions & Recommendations to Stage 1’ the stretch between Polegate and Lewes made it through to the Second Stage.
This is an important milestone in a Department for Transport study which could mean serious investment in the road, improving safety and unlocking economic potential for Eastbourne and the surrounding area.
I’m delighted, but there’s a long way to go yet.
As one participant put it, we are at risk of meeting again in another ten years’ time if we can’t find a deliverable solution. And there were many different views in the room on what – if anything – was needed: real time traffic information boards and reducing demand for travel were both put forward as alternatives to road building.
Having now attended A27 Reference Group meetings in Brighton and, this week, in Worthing, I’ve asked organisers to look to Eastbourne for August’s meeting.
It would be excellent for DfT and Highway’s officers - and for all stakeholders along the A27 corridor - to experience what it means to a town like Eastbourne (especially in the light of our aspirations around the Devonshire Park and conferencing trade) to be served by one of the most unreliable and unsafe trunk roads in the country.
I’m going to keep campaigning for investment that will dramatically improve the lives of Eastbourne & Willingdon constituents and businesses’