Hastings road schemes

Government Office for the South East

Bridge House
1 Walnut Tree Close
Guildford
GU1 4GA

Switchboard: 01483 882255
Tel: 01483 882270
FAX: 01483 882469
GTN: 3011 2270

e-mail: cdixon.gose@go-regions.gov.uk

13 August 2001

Dear Sir/Madam

Highways Act 1980
Acquistion of Land Act 1981

A259 Pevensey to Bexhill improvement
A259 Bexhill and Hastings Western Bypass
A259 Hastings Eastern Bypass

1. I refer to David Saunders' letter of 24 July 1998 issued on behalf of the then Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on the above schemes following consideration of the Inspector's report on the 1995/1996 local inquiries.

2. You will recall that this letter conveyed the decision that while the Secretary of State was "minded to" make the orders for the Bexhill and Hastings Western Bypass he wished his decision to be informed by the results of a study commissioned to consider whether there were other options to improve access to Hastings and solutions to regeneration and land use planning pressures in the area. He was also "minded to" make the orders for the Hastings Eastern Bypass only if it was clearly demonstrated that it was in the public interest; that there was no practicable alternative; and that he had decided to make the orders for the Western Bypass. On the Pevensey to Bexhill Improvement scheme he was "minded not to" make the orders for the scheme for the reasons he gave in his letter.

3. The Access to Hastings Multi Modal Study ("the study") commenced in November 1999 and its terms of reference were to develop a sustainable and integrated strategy for the Hastings area to promote competitiveness and the achievement of regeneration objectives. It was also required to provide recommendations on the appropriateness of taking forward each of the three A259 schemes, that were the subject of the interim letter of July 1998, as part of the transport strategy for Bexhill and Hastings. The decisions on these three schemes were deferred to the outcome of the study.

4. The study was overseen by a Steering Group chaired by the Government Office for the South East. East Sussex County Council, Rother District Council and Hastings Borough Council were, with other stakeholders, represented on this group. They were collectively responsible for agreeing the terms of reference for the study. Consultation and communication formed a key part of the overall study leading to the identification of the preferred strategy. The study incorporated an intensive programme of participation and consultation.

5. The Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions ("the Secretary of State") is satisfied that ample opportunity was available to all concerned to raise any pertinent issues on the merits of three schemes and for these to be have been taken into account by the study in arriving at its recommendations. In addition, copies of the Final Report on the study were made widely available at local Town Halls and relevant web sites. Comments upon the Final Report were accepted by the South East of England Regional Assembly and considered before the Assembly made its own recommendations on the study.

6. The Secretary of State has now considered the recommendations of the study report, the Assembly's recommendations made to him on that report and the views of other parties submitted to him.

7. I am directed by the Secretary of State to inform you that as a result of this consideration, it was decided to reject the proposals for the three published schemes and instead introduce a range of measures to tackle transport issues in Hastings. The reasons for this decision are given in the enclosed Press Notice issued at the time.

8. In respect of the A259 Pevensey to Bexhill Improvement scheme, the Highways Agency, as part of their routine monitoring of the trunk road network, has introduced measures to improve safety on this section of road. This has resulted in a reduction in the number of major accidents although safety will continue to be monitored closely.

9. As a consequence of the cancellation of the bypasses and improvement scheme, the statutory protection of the route for the three schemes in the Development Plan will now be removed.

10. The Highways Agency is prepared to consider claims for costs incurred by objectors to the published orders in connection with their proceedings before the inquiry. Such costs would include reasonable legal and other professional fees that may have been incurred in connection with the local inquiry and any other reasonable out-of-pocket expenditure. Claims should be made in writing to Chris Bacon, Highways Agency, Room GA, Federated House, London Road, Dorking, RH4 1SZ.

11. Any correspondence on the withdrawal of these schemes should be sent to the Government Office for the South East at the address above.

Mrs C M Dixon
Director for Strategy, Environment and Transport