Call for ‘urgency’ on uncompleted Hastings road

Speaking at a virtual meeting of East Sussex County Council’s cabinet on Tuesday (June 23), Godfrey Daniel called for a ‘definite timeline’ on completing the project, which is intended to connect Queensway with Sedlescombe Road North.

The road, which is being developed by Sea Change Sussex, has been beset by a number of delays throughout its development.

Cllr Daniel’s comments came after reports that the project is to be delayed by two to six months as a result of disruption to the supply chain as a result of Covid-19.

Cllr Daniel, who is co-leader of the council’s Labour group, said: “The item I wanted to raise is the Queensway Gateway Road, which seems like the longest saga [and] ongoing uncompleted road in the world.

“Can we have a definite timeline on getting the gateway road finished? With the government saying ‘avoid public transport’, people are getting back into their cars and The Ridge and the area around there is just gridlocked for much of the time. It is not helping industry or anyone get back to normal.”

While the first two phases of the Queensway Gateway Road project were completed last year, the final phase of the project has been delayed as a result of ongoing land and business relocation issues.

Work is underway to create a temporary road connection to the A21 as a stop gap measure until a permanent route can be agreed upon. Sea Change previously said it was hoped to open this route by Spring 2020.

Cllr Daniel said: “[The report] talks about a temporary route [but] I have to say I don’t think it is satisfactory that we plan on a major road without actually sorting out the land issues in the first instance.

“We are looking at designs for a temporary solution but I don’t think that is particularly satisfactory but at some stage we need a permanent solution. On that particular item I would like to see some urgency. 

“People are getting very frustrated with those ongoing traffic problems that they have on The Ridge in Hastings. It covers all of Hastings and a fair bit of Rother.” 

Another Labour Hastings councillor Phil Scott said: “It reminds me of the Talking Heads song ‘road to nowhere’. It is a beautiful piece of road, but we just really need to see an end, or a joining up, of that piece of road.”

Responding to councillors’ comments, director of communities, economy and transport Rupert Clubb said: “The first point to stress is that it is not our scheme. The delivery body for it is Sea Change Sussex.

“What I can say is a temporary solution has now been agreed. Highways England is satisfied with the proposals for that temporary solution, as are we. There is an ongoing piece of work that involves a bus route that needs re-routing and that is the only outstanding matter that needs resolution on the temporary work.

“In terms of the more permanent solution, I share Cllr Daniel’s frustration with the amount of time that has taken to bring it about.

“There are ongoing negotiations between Sea Change and a landowner there, that I do hope we will see a resolution on shortly.”

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