Low turnout for road show

The decision last month by the Highways Agency to hold a public exhibition on A27 road plans at Ringmer Primary School was met with criticism from residents and local MP Norman Baker, who thought the Agency was trying to 'hide' the plans from the public.

Mr Baker said the Agency was 'wholly irresponsible' to hold the exhibition in a primary school in a village with no railway connections, and demanded the same event be held again in Lewes.

The Highways Agency agreed and staged the exhibition on Friday and Saturday at Lewes Town Hall. There were fewer visitors to the Lewes exhibition, however, possibly because many local people travelled out to the Ringmer event.

A Highways Agency spokesman revealed that the exhibition at Ringmer Primary School on Friday, December 6 attracted 110 people through the door compared to just 50 at Lewes Town Hall on Friday last week.

When the Ringmer exhibition ran again on Saturday December 7, 150 people attended. Last Saturday's opening of the exhibition in Lewes attracted 110 people.

The Highways Agency spokesman said: 'For there to be so many complaints and then for people not to turn up is suprising.'

Anybody who wishes to make a comment on the proposals for a dual carriageway road between Southerham and Beddingham, and a bridge over the railway replacing the existing level crossing, can write to the Secretary of State for Transport, Alistair Darling, at Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1 5DU or email at [email protected]