Road link: Council quite happy with its case

Duncan Jordan refuted many of the allegations thrown at East Sussex County Council by the environmental groups at the Crowhurst farm.

Mr Jordan, assistant director of transport and one of the architects of the scheme, said the link road proposal was NOT harmful to the environment and could actually benefit the ecology of the Site of Special Scientific Areas (SSSI) and ancient woodlands it runs near to.

He said: "Clearly we have been seeking environmentally-sound solutions to dealing with the impact of traffic on the community. These proposals are very different to the bypass. The road will avoid the SSSI and will be bedded into the land at low level. It will use the existing landscape to help contain any impact."

He pointed to the development of Pebsham country park which would secure a 600-hectare area from development to the south of the link road. This would involve innovative drainage work to create new wetlands and habitats for birds, insects and animals.

Mr Jordan said the county council would be looking to invest in public transport to provide good bus and rail links to reduce the reliance on cars.

The officer said: "At the moment we can't invest in public transport between Hastings and Bexhill because all the bus would be doing would be sitting in a traffic jam on the A259. We are also looking at putting in a station at Glyne Gap and Wilting Farm which would relieve some of the pressure on the roads."

Mr Jordan agreed with the environmental groups that car sharing plans needed to be extended to the biggest employers in Hastings and Bexhill. He said the county council had the biggest car share scheme in the whole country, so was leading by example, but was also working with employers to encourage workers to give each other lifts.

"We are confident we have met the government's and our own objectives. The link road has the overwhelming support of those who need it most: local people, organisations and businesses," Mr Jordan added.