A27 - Through to the Second Stage!

Councillor 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 nvestment 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’

-------- ENDS ------

We urge you to add your thoughts about the A27 to the short ACES Business survey we
have created.  It is just 5 questions long and will help us add your voice to the 872 other people who have responded so far.  The more people who complete the survey, the louder our voice will be and the nearer we will get to an A27 that is fit for purpose.