Hastings councillor fears roadworks will delay Covid-19 vaccine roll-out

Cllr Mike Turner described East Sussex County Council’s decision as ‘grossly irresponsible’.

Extensive highway repairs are set to begin on Monday (January 25) close to the Conquest Hospital and the adjacent Hastings Centre on The Ridge, which has been set up as a Covid-19 vaccination centre.

Cllr Turner said: “Negotiating The Ridge is a nightmare at the best of times. Now, the county council is planning to throw another spanner in the works, making it even more difficult by disrupting traffic just as our most vulnerable citizens try to get to their inoculation appointments in a timely fashion.

“Highways says traffic will be managed manually, but I think most people have experienced how ineffective that can be.

“What they’re proposing will block the pipe just when minimum disruption is needed. The East Sussex NHS community consultation group has been flat out putting the inoculation program together, thanks to the leadership of chief executive Adam Doyle, primary care executive director Amy Galea and public health director Darryl Gale.

“All credit too to Dr David Fox for coordinating the Hastings programme and to the practices that are taking part. Now all this hard work is being jeopardised by this appalling lack of forethought.

“The point is that traffic will increase precisely because of the inoculation program.

“Moreover, there is every indication that traffic during the current restrictions is close to normal and certainly much higher than during the spring lockdown.

“The council uses the lame excuse that it is tied to construction contracts, but surely work could be switched to address the countless other repairs needed in Hastings and St Leonards.”

An East Sussex County Council spokesman said: “East Sussex Highways will begin work on The Ridge pedestrian crossing on January 25 for 11 weeks, from Monday to Friday.

“The works will only take place off-peak between 9.30am and 4pm and the traffic lights will be manually controlled to facilitate efficient movement of traffic. Outside those hours, works will be set aside to maintain traffic flow.

“We will be monitoring their operation to ensure there is no significant impact on The Ridge during this time and will take further measures should they be required. However in light of the current Stay at Home directive, we anticipate traffic flows to be low at this time.”

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