8 June 2007 - Proposals to spend nearly £90m widening the A27 near Hastings and Bexhill will destroy the Combe Haven Valley while increasing traffic, congestion and pollution, Green MEP Caroline Lucas has warned.

"Building this road would be a disaster for local people - it would hit town centre redevelopment in Hastings and destroy some of the most beautiful countryside in the South-East," she said.

In a formal objection to the plans, which have recently been submitted for planning approval by East Sussex County Council, she said:

"A beautiful valley will be lost forever if this project wins permission to proceed. This area is a precious asset worth conserving, and not one to sacrifice to shaky assumptions about roads bringing wealth."

"The County’s funding bid application for the road shows that there would be 14% more traffic in Hastings and Bexhill with the new road than without it, while it predicts just a ’slight improvement in travel reliability’.

"At an estimated £89 million project cost - nearly double the amount originally approved by Government - this represents very poor value for money. The same amount invested in more sustainable travel modes would reduce CO2 emissions, as well as air and noise pollution, rather than increasing them.

"Additionally, increasing sustainable transport measures also carry social benefits and promote social inclusion."

Dr Lucas warns planners that the proposed dual carriageway will lead to an increase in traffic and climate emissions, a loss of agricultural land, poorer air quality, increased noise and light pollution, is contrary to the South East Plan - and is completely unnecessary.

The MEP added: "I fully recognise the problems of the congested coastal road system and agree that Hastings and Bexhill need less traffic overall. However, using public funds to simply shift an increased volume of traffic from one area to another is no solution whatsoever, let alone an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable alternative."

ENDS