Green Light for Green Works
The rumour mill has been spinning ferociously of late and a few mischievous characters have been having fun suggesting the link road would be cancelled after the election.
Those in the know never doubted it would go ahead there was a real risk the scheme could be delayed by up to a year. Those fears should be put to bed this week following a decision from Transport Secretary Lord Adonis.
The delay is possible because the necessary environmental works preceding the construction are time sensitive and can only be carried out in the spring and early summer. Delays in completing all the legal technicalities before the General Election mean that window will be missed if we wait for funding to be released following formal approval.
Hastings and Rye have benefited from over 500million of regeneration investment over the past 13 years. We have new business parks, Lacuna Place, University Centre Hastings and the fantastic new college on Station Plaza.
However, if that regeneration is to continue we must improve our transport links.
I met with Lord Adonis on Tuesday to impress that point on him. He rightly said the Government must await the outcome of the formal process before releasing funding but he is now telling East Sussex County Council that they may proceed with the environmental works for the link road. They will have to pay the costs but will be reimbursed when final approval is given and funds can be formally allocated.
The bureaucratic cogs turn slowly and the final cheque won't be in the post until after the election. But the encouragement Lord Adonis is offering to the Council is commendable. I know the county council is keen to get on with it so I hope they can now front up the money and take this opportunity to get started.
To keep up to date on what I'm doing stop by my website http://www.michaelfoster.org.uk/ .
You can also receive a monthly update on my activities by sending an email to mp@1066.net with 'MPFree' in the subject line.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for St Leonards-on-Sea
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
