The news was announced today (2 December) by the Department for Transport. Detailed work to take the scheme through to planning and technical approval stage can now get underway.
Councillor Matthew Lock, Lead Member for Transport & Environment, is over the moon at the news. He said: "We put together a very strong case for this road and are pleased that the Minister has not been persuaded by the small minority that objected to it.
"Giving this scheme the green light will set in motion a whole chain of events. Building this road will enable us to look at better public transport facilities, such as bus lanes, open up land in north Bexhill for housing and businesses and help support the massive regeneration programme in the area which means more jobs and opportunities for local people."
The new road could create up to 4,000 local jobs – potentially cutting unemployment in the town by up to 50%. It will also take pressure off the polluted A259, which exceeds national air quality standards.
Councillor Lock concluded. "Let's not forget that 84% of people who took part in our consultation wanted a road. None more than those people living along the A259, who suffer more than 30,000 vehicles crawling past their homes daily, who can at last look forward to a better and healthier quality of life."
Find out more about the Bexhill and Hastings travel options and download a map of the proposed route.
Further information
Transport Improvements
East Sussex County Council and its partners will continue to explore potential for new stations at Glyne Gap and Upper Wilting Farm. It will continue to lobby for the Bexhill- Ore metro and the Willingdon chord.
Public transport improvements such as bus and cycle lanes have not been made on the A259 simply because it is too congested. These can be made once a new road is in place and pressure on the A259 has eased.
Environment
500 homes along the A259/Bexhill Road are currently affected by the Air Quality Management Area.
The statutory Environmental Bodies (English Heritage, English Nature, Environment Agency and Countryside Agency) have been fully involved in the design process. Any development would be fully landscaped and could help tackle the flooding suffered by Crowhurst.
The land below the link road will be developed and made into a unique and much sough after Country Park for the local community and visitors to enjoy.
Regeneration
The road will open up the only suitable land for housing and business use in north Bexhill and provide much needed infrastructure at a time when the southeast is facing increased housing pressure.
The Hastings & Bexhill Taskforce (SeaSpace) has set out a 10 year Five Point Plan for regeneration and sees transport improvements, including the link road, as a vital part of that.
Reference:
04/415/TH
Contact the press team
East Sussex County Council