More than £770,000 now being spent on protecting link road

Published on 05/03/2013 06:16

THE cost of protecting the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road has spiralled to more than £770,000.

In just 12 weeks the county council has spent £772,483 to stop anti-road campaigners from delaying the construction of the controversial development.

East Sussex County Council has confirmed it has shelled out £150,377.57 on security support, £408,993.11 on High Court enforcement officers and a further £213,112.32 on specialist enforcement officers.

Security staff in yellow high visibility jackets became a familiar sight in Sidley and Crowhurst as so-called ‘granny’ protesters attempted to stop chainsaw operators doing their job by climbing trees, tunnelling and setting up camp.

Sussex Police have also been on site in numbers but has refused to disclose the number of officers used and how much the policing operation has cost.

A spokesman said: “We have a police presence some days to facilitate peaceful protest, engage with the protestors as well as keeping the peace to allow the work to continue for the building of the link road, which is a lawful process. We are not commenting on specific numbers or cost.”

Contractors this week hurried to finish cutting down trees and removing hedges, according to Combe Haven Defender Andrea Needham.

She claimed protestors felt their efforts had been worthwhile and hope this campaign will be the start of national movement against new road development.

She said: “The council has spent all this money and yet still hasn’t actually got funding for the road. It is taking a gamble, looking to spend £70 million of our money on this road at the same time as cutting services such as adult social care and for children.”

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More than £770,000 now being spent on protecting link road

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