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Motorists, Equity & Unity Party
Great changes are taking place in our 21st century world. The shipping in the Thames has been much reduced and replaced by the yachting fraternity. The ferry services at Folkstone and Dover are gradually being threatened by the Euro-tunnel which is leading to redundancies in the ferry services.
This isn’t a time to despair, but it is time that all the relevant authorities and pressure groups realised that change is needed. It is not reasonable to stick one’s head in the sand and hope for the best. Action is required now, not in 20 or 30 years time. If industry is to be attracted to the South-East then the infrastructure has to be in place. There are adequate motorway facilities to get to the M25 and London, but the route along the south coast is dismal. There has not been a change for the last 40 years. It is still necessary to go nose-to-tail through Bexhill and St Leonards/Hastings in order to get to Folkstone. This should have been tackled soon after the channel tunnel was completed.
The Motorists, Equity & Unity Party propose that the A27 is extended from POLEGATE to Junction 11 on the M20 to bring the south coast, between Lewes and Dover into the 21st century. It isn’t necessary to build motorways or dual-carriageways; just by the use of “three lane, alternative overtaking” in order to enable those that need to run their enterprises efficiently are not held up by the “nose to tail” phenomenon that is the norm with the present infrastructure (A259). We seem to accept the situation as inevitable but it isn’t inevitable if our local politicians including District Councils put pressure on the government to provide funds to improve the infrastructure now, not in 20 years time. ( We are against the construction of dual-carriageways and/or motorways on the grounds that they tend to break up communities and also, of course the extra cost of such schemes. The “three lane, alternative overtaking” is used extensively in Northern France with good effect ) This, of course, would incorporate the by-pass for Bexhill and St Leonards/Hastings. The present plan for the by-pass appears to be moving away from the coastline. It would be preferable if all improvements are on a route as near as possible “as the bird flies” to junction 11 (M20) rather than veering off from this route. This would produce a fast, safe road, giving access to all the towns and villages along the A259. With the improved infrastructure industry will be attracted into the area and the employment prospects will improve considerably. In addition, with the improved “safe overtaking” facility provided by the upgrade, there will be less nose-to-tail driving. The towns and villages on the A259 dotted along this route will benefit from more visitors thereby enabling revitalisation of the entire area.
Added to this is the need for affordable housing in the South-East and this improvement in road communications will make such developments feasible. Objections on the grounds that there are insufficient amenities such as schools and hospital services is the head-in-the-sand approach. The population decides what facilities are required, not the other way around. In order to bring wealth and prosperity to an area the priorities are : -
1. Improved infrastructure.
2. New businesses to move into the area to create jobs.
3. Affordable housing to cope with any increased demand for workers in the area.
4. An expansion of existing community services as and when required.
This isn’t a time to despair, but it is time that all the relevant authorities and pressure groups realised that change is needed. It is not reasonable to stick one’s head in the sand and hope for the best. Action is required now, not in 20 or 30 years time. If industry is to be attracted to the South-
The Motorists, Equity & Unity Party propose that the A27 is extended from POLEGATE to Junction 11 on the M20 to bring the south coast, between Lewes and Dover into the 21st century. It isn’t necessary to build motorways or dual-
Added to this is the need for affordable housing in the South-
1. Improved infrastructure.
2. New businesses to move into the area to create jobs.
3. Affordable housing to cope with any increased demand for workers in the area.
4. An expansion of existing community services as and when required.
County of Kent (The Garden of England)
(Maidstone)
BBC Local Radio:
Radio Kent
Radio Kent
