Link Road inquiry told future of both towns at stake

Dozens of people filled a public gallery at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings, on Tuesday to hear the opening addresses after a lengthy site visit the day before. And, appealing for the scheme to get the go-ahead, Rhodri Price Lewis QC on behalf of East Sussex County Council claimed the future regeneration of both towns was a stake. Planning permission for the road itself has already been approved by the local authority and the Secretary of State opted against calling the ambitious scheme in for a full public inquiry. However, in order for the three mile, 100million road to be built, the authority must acquire large areas of land from farm owners. To do this it plans on carrying out compulsory purchase orders, effectively forcing the land owners to sell up. And it is these orders which are the subject of the inquiry, which must decide whether or not the overall public interest outweighs that of individuals. Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Price Lewis tried to prove just that. He told the inquiry: "The link road is needed as part of a comprehensive package of initiatives to regenerate Hastings and Bexhill. "The council is firmly of the view that the regeneration and transportation benefits of the scheme outweigh the environmental harm." He acknowledged the road would have a negative impact on the environment but said: "It is important to bear in mind that a large part of that impact arises because of effects and consequences of the very regeneration which the link road is designed to achieve by way of more employment and more homes." The authority hopes the road will open up untapped areas of Hastings and North East Bexhill. Government guidelines say Hastings needs to provide 4,200 new homes before 2026 with Bexhill under pressure to deliver a further 5,600. The council says the link road would make this target far easier to reach as well as relieving pressure on the busy seafront roads and encouraging new businesses to move to Hastings. However, environmentalists have expressed concerns about the high levels of carbon dioxide the scheme will generate. More than 30,000 tonnes of the harmful gas are expected to be generated during construction alone, with a further 45,000 tonnes over the subsequent first 15 years. Council staff say these levels are a consequence of attracting more business and homes, but campaigners argue the development is unsuitable for a site so near an Area of Natural Beauty and which cuts through the picturesque Combe Haven Valley. The inquiry is expected to last a further three weeks, with a raft of expert witnesses scheduled to appear. If the compulsory purchase orders are approved they will then be sanctioned by the government and work could begin in earnest by 2011.