MINISTER’S DECISION CONSIGNS SOUTH COAST TO ECONOMIC BACKWATER

SOUTH EAST REGIONAL, COUNTY AND BUSINESS LEADERS TODAY EXPRESSED THEIR UNITED OUTRAGE at the Government’s rejection of a comprehensive package of road and rail improvements along the south coast.

In his announcement today, Alistair Darling, the Secretary of State for Transport, rejected four out of the five main road schemes which were recommended to him by the South East England Regional Assembly, as regional planning body for the South East, in November this year. The rejected schemes are:

• A new bypass around Arundel;
  
  
• Worthing-Lancing bypass;
  
  
• Improvements to the stretch of A27 linking Selmeston and Wilmington;
  
  
• Chichester bypass improvements.

The Secretary of State has given only limited support to a comprehensive package of measures that would have seen rail services along the south coast developed to their full potential.

Both the road and rail schemes were part of a comprehensive package of transport improvements and management measures which made up the strategy recommended by the South Coast Multi-Modal Study (SoCoMMS). In its formal advice to the Secretary of State on the study last year, the Assembly stressed the critical role that investment in the transport system along the south coast will play in bringing economic regeneration to areas in East and West Sussex which badly need it; a objective that the Government had itself identified as being a regional priority in Regional Planning Guidance. The package was viewed by Assembly members as being a balanced package of measures, with both investment in road and rail networks included alongside proposals for managing future demand for movement through measures such as new park and ride systems, possible cordon charging in Brighton, Southampton and Portsmouth and increased parking charging in town centres.

Assembly response
In response to today’s announcement, Cllr Nick Skellett, Chair of the Regional Assembly said: "The Secretary of State’s decision is a slap in the face to the communities along our south coast. The Assembly supported a strategy that we believe would relieve transport problems and help bring economic regeneration to disadvantaged parts to this coastal area. We considered carefully the economic, social and environmental implications of all the transport improvements recommended by the study’s consultants. The recommended strategy struck a careful balance between these different aspects.

"Today’s announcement ignores completely the need to invest in our transport system in order to deliver much needed regeneration of these coastal communities. Our local communities will have to suffer the environmental consequences of continued congestion on the A27, with no guarantee of the coastal rail service being developed as an effective alternative. The Government has got it completely wrong."

Local authority response
East and West Sussex County Councils, and Brighton & Hove Council, who are all members of the Regional Assembly and played an important role in devising its advice to Government on the multi-modal study, have also expressed disappointment/outrage at the Government’s decision:

Cllr Peter Jones, Leader of East Sussex County Council, said: "The Government has let the people and the economy of East Sussex down with this mixed bag of transport news.

"I am pleased that the A21 improvements between Tonbridge and Penbury have got the green light and that we are to get some improvements at Beddingham on the A27 but I am concerned about the qualified go-ahead on the Bexhill to Hastings link road. Any delay here will hold back regeneration in the two towns. I hope that the Secretary of State’s reference to the Pevensey to Brenzett improvements is actioned and that this is not an attempt to kick vital schemes into the long grass.

"I simply cannot understand Government thinking in turning down improvements for the rest of the A27 (at Selmeston and Wilmington). This will compromise economic regeneration in the west of our County. As to the rail announcements, they take us no further forward and we are especially disappointed that the Ore to Bexhill metro service is not to go ahead. "

Harold Hall, Leader of West Sussex County Council and a member of the Regional Assembly said: "Without improvements to the A27 we may be unable to deliver on the strategic locations carefully identified in our Structure Plan for new housing to meet Government guidance.

"The economic regeneration we want to see along the South Coast will not be realised without the improvements on the A27 at Worthing/Lancing, Arundel and Chichester which are identified following the study. "

Red light to economic regeneration
Echoing the Assembly, Jim Brathwaite, Chairman of the South East England Development Agency, said: "I am truly disappointed for the people along the south coast. The impact on the economy and housing agendas for this sub-region is immense and will affect our ability to deliver the Regional Economic Strategy, something which the UK economy desperately needs."

The CBI, a member of the Regional Assembly, has also come out with a strong condemnation of today’s decision. Nigel Bourne, Regional Director, CBI South East said: "It is of the utmost concern that the Government has not proceeded with the SoCoMMS proposals. The improvements suggested were long overdue in any event.

"For many years the economic growth of this part of the region has suffered as a result of the poor transport infrastructure. This latest decision is a severe blow for economic development and wealth creation along the south coast."

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007