Major setback on transport future

Town regeneration plans suffered a major setback on Wednesday when Transport Secretary Alistair Darling snubbed much-needed rail improvement schemes in the area.

Apart from a cautious amber light to the Bexhill-Hastings link road concept and a vague statement about improving safety on the A259, the much-hyped transport statement from the minister failed to live up to high hopes.

Mr Darling said he agreed in principle with many of the schemes recommended by the South Coast Multi Modal Study (SoCoMMS). But he said there's no money for them in the near future.

That means:

* NO new stations at Glyne Gap and West St Leonards to support the Bexhill-Ore Metro concept

* NO creation of a Willingdon Chord, which would have avoided the need for all services to go in and out of Eastbourne - shaving hour off journeys

* NO electrification or track twinning between Hastings and Ashford

* NO A259 safety improvements east of Brenzett

The news has sparked major disappointment among town leaders, who see transport improvements as the key to regeneration in Hastings and Bexhill.