A27 closure arrangements 'shambolic' says Polegate councillor

2.17.08pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 27th Feb 2008

Councillors Roy Martin and Andy Watkins have complained to the county council about the organisation of the A27 closure.

A big sigh of relief has been expressed by residents and motorists alike at the news that the weekend closures of the A27 are over.

Polegate Town Councillor Andy Watkins said "The arrangements by the Highways Agency, InterRoute and the County Council for this work to take place have been shambolic from start to finish.

"Very rarely are Trunk Roads closed entirely and I am not convinced it was necessary here when despite the massive works at Beddingham it has been possible to keep the A27 open at that point.

"But having closed the road local people had the right to expect the diversion arrangements put in by the Highways Agency and InterRoute to work. They did not, as residents of Stud Farm and villages to the west and north of the area found to their cost.

"The County Council woke up far too late to what was going on and the considerable number of roads for which they were responsible being affected by the diverted traffic.

"County Council officers have agreed with me that the signage which was needed to back up the Closure Order was totally inadequate for the purpose. This coupled with the lack of enforcement by InterRoute staff and police led to considerable amount of illegal rat running through the Stud Farm Estate to the inconvenience of local residents.

"This was a most unsatisfactory situation and both County Councillor Roy Martin and I have asked our Member of Parliament, Norman Baker, to raise all our concerns with the Secretary of State for Transport who was persuaded by the Highways Agency to sign this closure order."