The recent statement by the Department for Transport (DfT) over the Lewes-Eastbourne section of the A27 has been attacked as “profoundly disappointing” by Eastbourne MP, Stephen Lloyd
He said: “After all the work and cross-community effort by so many local residents and businesses in Eastbourne &Willingdon, I am profoundly disappointed by the proposal put forward by the DfT. There was no specific option other than a sum of money to be used if and when a consultation on a second runway at Gatwick Airport was completed, at some time over the next five years. Considering the detailed work we had put in looking at the possibility of a new dualled or single road from Beddingham to the Cophall roundabout in Polegate, an option that was supported by the vast majority of local people, along with proposals around improvements to the current road, it was a shame that none of them were supported by the DfT. Instead, there is a vague promise for some time in the future. This isn’t jam tomorrow, but more like the possibility of jam sometime, if we’re lucky, in a few years.”
Stephen added: “I believe the Government’s proposal to fix the problems of our dreadful road has been utterly lamentable, and the town has been let down. Consequently, I have this week resigned my post as the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change in response. Ever since I was first elected in 2010 as the MP for Eastbourne & Willingdon I’ve always been clear that I would put our town first, irrespective of party politics. In this instance I feel we have been ignored and I am not prepared to quietly accept the DfT’s decision. Our fight for a better road will go on and I have every intention of continuing the local cross-community efforts to improve what we all know to be an utterly dreadful and unsafe section of the A27.”
He concluded: “It has been a privilege to be a PPS in DECC. The department has led the way on the green economy and a sensible long-term approach to energy needs. When the Liberal Democrats took over the Department in 2010, the UK was 24th out of 26 developed countries on renewable energy and we’re now 6th. A legacy I can be proud of.”
