HUGH SULLIVAN

The Queensway Gateway link road is set to be completed by fresh contractors. It was originally to have been opened for traffic in 2016 but an unfinished section has been stalled for eight years by wranglings over land ownership, junction designs and funding.

The building of the road has been a project partnership between East Sussex County Council (ESCC) and regeneration company Sea Change Sussex, intended to make a direct connection between Queensway and the A21 to reduce traffic congestion on the Ridge and improve other local traffic flows. Last December Sea Change put forward a revised design for the final stage of the works, including making safety and infrastructure improvements at the eastern end of Whitworth Road and installing traffic lights where Junction Road joins the A21. They suggested, at that point, that a sum of up to £3 million would be needed to cover the cost, and that the works should take around ten weeks to be implemented.

In March, a grant of £2.5 million was secured by ESCC from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to fund the completion works. The money was allocated from levelling up funds offered to Hastings Borough and Rother District Councils (see the report in HIP 249: Levelling Up Funds Raided to Complete Link Road).

However, a press release from Sea Change has now revealed that ESCC intends to use its own highways contractor to undertake these outstanding works; the company’s contractors have been asked to remove their equipment and materials from the site to make space for the incoming team.

And, although Sea Change is willing to license their design for the project to save any additional cost and time of redesigning from scratch, a spokesperson for the company says East Sussex County Council has declined this offer and has indicated that “it won’t be using Sea Change’s intellectual property”, which presumably means working up a fresh design.

When approached for a comment by HIP, an ESCC spokesperson said the County Council was “committed” to the completion of the Queensway Gateway link road and would be working with its highways contractor, Balfour Beatty Living Places, “to deliver the final phase of the project.”

It’s anticipated that the costs of completing the scheme will come within the DLUHC funding allocation, though any costs over and above will be funded by ESCC.

No indication has been given by ESCC as to when the works will start nor how long they will take to complete. A council spokesperson said that a “delivery programme has been developed for the completion of the project and we will be working to keep local businesses and residents informed as the work progresses.”

HUGH SULLIVAN

On 25 March the Westminster government announced that Hastings borough and Rother district will receive targeted cash grants totalling £20 million each from its Levelling Up Partnerships (LUP) programme. They are two out of just 20 areas in England and four places in Scotland that qualify for a share in the £480 million initiative aimed at benefiting those “that are most in need of levelling up”.

Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young described the LUPs as “fantastic news for the people of Hastings and Rother – and another important step in our work to accelerate regeneration and transform lives in this special part of the country”. 

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) had, he said, “worked closely with the local councils to identify their priority projects… making sure residents and families reap the rewards of new and improved health services, refurbished community hubs and revamped high streets”.

Funds are to be invested in projects identified as follows:

• over £13 million to provide more affordable housing in Hastings
• £9 million to develop a brand-new King Offa Leisure Centre in Bexhill alongside the building of over 50 new homes
• £5 million to build a new Barnhorn Green Health in Bexhill
• £3.4 million to transform the Hollington Youth Hub, offering a wide range of health and wellbeing services in partnership with the local NHS
• £2.5 million to complete the Queensway Gateway Road
• 2.1 million to improve existing voluntary and community facilities in Rother, including over £1 million to build a new Bexhill Community Hub
• £1.7 million to support the tourist economy in Rother
• £1 million for projects to improve skills across both Hastings and Rother so residents are equipped to gain well-paid jobs
• £818,000 for the development of the Project Art Works’ premises in Hastings, ensuring greater arts access for people with disabilities
• £650,000 to improve energy efficiency and long-term sustainability of Rye leisure facilities
• £260,000 to support high street improvements in Hastings, Bexhill, Rye and Battle
• £100,000 for improvements to the existing Ore Health Centre

It’s the item of £2.5m for completion of the Queensway Gateway link road which catches the eye. This road was originally supposed to have been completed by 2016. For several years officers of East Sussex County Council (ESCC) and the directors of its project partner Sea Change Sussex have wrangled over a shortfall of funding to complete it, each side holding the other responsible, while the original funders SELEP (the South East Local Partnership) made it clear that no further cash would be offered from that quarter.

However, in March 2023, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt announced in a budget speech that the government was “minded” to withdraw its support from all LEPs and transfer their responsibilities to local authorities from April 2024, in line with a policy of “empowering democratically elected local leaders at every opportunity”. That would not in itself have assisted ESCC to plug the funding gap. But, as HIP has been predicting for over six months, once SELEP was abolished, the council was able to apply direct to DLUHC for fresh funds – and that’s exactly what has occurred. Sums of £1.25 million have been sliced off each of the awards of £20m to Hastings and Rother to make the aggregate of £2.5m which ESCC officers hope will be sufficient to complete the remaining roadway and junction with the A21.

CHEERLEADING MPs

Respective local Conservative MPs, Sally-Ann Hart for Hastings & Rye and Huw Merriman for Bexhill and Battle, have not just led the cheerleading but have also claimed the credit. Mrs Hart issued a statement: “A few months ago, I started my campaign to Complete The Link after years of neglect from those in charge of the project. This final stretch of the Link Road, the ‘road to nowhere’, was blocking the area’s economic growth, so, alongside our neighbouring MP, Huw Merriman, I am delighted to say we have successfully secured the funding to finally complete this project and level up Hastings.”

Hastings Borough Council leader Julia Hilton has made no comment on the diversion of cash to the road completion, but confined her expression of pleasure to the funding of other projects, in particular the cash for housing.

“We are really pleased that Hastings has been given this funding to help us address the housing crisis we have in our town,” she said.

“The funding means we are able to expand our housing acquisition programme and also make sure that a site earmarked for affordable housing can be built to our very high energy efficient specification and under our control. Funding for other partner projects across the town, including skills, health, culture and better youth provision, is also very welcome.”

Rother District Council leader, Cllr Doug Oliver said:

“Every single person should have the same opportunities in life, regardless of where they live, but we know that in Rother there are barriers that limit possibilities for some people.

“This latest funding, as part of the Government’s Levelling Up Partnerships programme, is an amazing investment for our district, and will enable us and our partners to make a real difference to people’s lives and futures. We face challenges in Rother unique to us and it’s important that the solutions come from local people and organisations that have the best understanding of the situation.”

SEA CHANGE RESPONSE

Notwithstanding the funding announcement, the timetable for completion of the road link remains uncertain. A spokesperson for Sea Change said last week that, while they welcomed the news, they “have some concerns” that the £2.5m falls short of the £3m which they recently advised ESCC may be needed to complete the scheme.

“We remain keen to help finish the road if the county council would like us to do so and believe this urgently needs to be done for the benefit of the community. The ball is in the county council’s court and we’re waiting to hear from them about next steps and timescales.”