TRANSPORT BOOST FOR BEXHILL AND HASTINGS

A new road from Bexhill to Hastings has received full backing from the South East England Regional Transport Board following a review forced by cost increases.

The cost of the 3.5 mile road has risen from £46m to £89m, so the board had to review project benefits and available budgets. A large part of the cost increase covers extra work to protect and conserve the environment during and after construction.

The board will now advise Government that the road should still go ahead, with extra funds reallocated from another planned project to improve the nearby A21 Baldslow junction.(1)

The new road will support local business, housing development and regeneration of the area. It will also help reduce congestion and accidents on the A259 in Hastings and on country roads north of Bexhill. The project includes rail improvements, bus lanes and a new path alongside the road for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

Chairman of the Transport Board Cllr Nick Skellett said:

"After 10 years in the pipeline, we are pleased to confirm our support for the new link road which will greatly benefit local business and residents. We only have a limited budget for the South East but we see this project as a priority to boost local economy and benefit the environment."

More details on the project costs, timescales and benefits are available in the Regional Transport Programme Fact Book.

(1) The timing of the A21 Baldslow junction improvements project will be reviewed in 2008.

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. A letter by the Regional Transport Board to the Secretary of State is available on our lobbying page.
2. The South East England Regional Transport Board is a partnership board advising Government on the region's transport priorities.
3. Cllr Nick Skellett (South East England Regional Assembly member and Surrey County Council Leader) chairs the Board. There are a further five members on the Board alongside representatives from SEEDA, Government Office for the South East, South East Forum for Sustainability, Highways Agency, Confederation of Passenger Transport and Network Rail.
4. The Assembly is a partnership of councils and communities in the South East region. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the region, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey.
5. The Assembly is made up of 112 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) as well as the New Forest National Park Authority.
6. The Assembly has six roles:
1. Regional Planning
   preparing and delivering the South East Plan
2. Regional Housing
   the Regional Housing Board decides housing investment priorities
3. Regional Transport
   the Regional Transport Board decides transport investment priorities
4. Advocacy
   pressing the South East's interests in London and Brussels
5. Accountability
   scrutinising SEEDA's plans and impact
6. Alignment
   co-ordinating regional policies and decisions.

Our vision is for a distinctive, outward-looking, accessible region of prosperous, sustainable communities, with a high quality of life and environment.

Last updated: 12 November 2007