A new report produced by SCATE East Sussex: Starting from the wrong place, highlights how much the proposals for a new dual carriageway from Lewes to Polegate would cost and the damage it would cause. The report was launched on 22 June at a physically distanced demonstration along the likely route of the proposed road near Ripe.
With a likely price tag of £1 billion pounds, this road would cause significant harm to wildlife habitats and to the South Downs National Park, just to save a few minutes driving time. Time that motorists can then waste in the extra congestion that would be created in Lewes and Eastbourne. This would render the whole project pretty pointless and an expensive white elephant.
The report was produced using information gleaned from a series of Freedom of Information requests. It comprehensively dismantles the case for the new road and the assumptions that have been used to develop the concept so far.