Tories Take A27 Campaign To Airbourne!

Mr. Waterson commented: “Recent fatalities and serious injuries on the A27 have tragically underlined the need for a proper dual carriageway between Polegate and Lewes. I am sure residents will need no encouragement to sign our Petition; and visitors who have had to negotiate this appallingly dangerous road to get to Airbourne will wish to add their support too.”

Why is a dual carriageway needed? --- SIGN OUR PETITION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE!

Safety

• Since 2001 there have been 54 crashes on the A27 between Polegate and Lewes.
• A dual carriageway would not only increase dramatically the road's effectiveness for business and tourism but make it much safer for local people and visitors.
• In the six years between 1994 and 2000 alone, traffic increased by 25 per cent. Traffic flows on the A27 are three to four times more than the designed capacity of the road

• The emergency services strongly support this petition

• Nigel Waterson has campaigned for this upgrade since 1992 but has been consistently thwarted by the Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes, Norman Baker.

Environment 

• Stationary and slow vehicles (resulting from congestion) are adding significantly to pollution and noise levels in the area.
• There is an impact in terms of local pollution and an environmental impact as traffic is pushed away from the A27, rat-running through villages and the South Downs area of outstanding natural beauty.
• A27 congestion causes heavy traffic to use the A259, coast road, which is totally unsuitable

Economy

• The A27 is a vital artery for Sussex. It is estimated, on the basis of figures compiled by Sussex Enterprise and British Chambers of Commerce, that problems with transport infrastructure cost Sussex businesses an average of £29,000 a year. Cumulatively, that is an annual cost of £2 billion to the Sussex economy.
• In 1997 the County Council said:

"The strategy for sustainable development in East Sussex would be fundamentally undermined if the proposed trunk road improvements in the county associated with the Weald and Downland Network DBFO package were now to be withdrawn . . . Such a decision would have a devastating impact on the county's prospects for economic recovery."