Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
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2003 (and previous) press releases
"Transport Study Makes the Car King." Norman Baker attacks plans to improve transport in Sussex by building roads.
Plans to priority-build new roads over public transport to ease transport woes in Sussex have been sharply criticised by local MP Norman Baker in a House of Commons debate which he initiated on the South Coast Multi Modal Study.
Mr Baker told MPs: "My worst fears have been borne out by the report that Halcrow, the company undertaking the study, has produced. It comprises 80 pages, of which only 4 are on bus and rail." Mr Baker estimates that 54% of the £1.1bn budget is being allocated to roads with just 2% being given to buses.
The rail network in Sussex faces further problems following an announcement from the Stragetic Rail Authority that it wants to cut the number of trains. As a result, the Lib Dem MP warns "many rail services proposed in the multi modal study will not be progressed." Key concerns are:
- No plans to open the Lewes - Uckfield line
- No electrification of the Hastings - Ashford line is proposed
- No electrification of the Uckfield - Oxted line is proposed
- The Polegate - Pevensey loop will not go ahead
In sharp contrast to the lack of investment in the railways, new road schemes in the Multi-Modal Study look set to be given the green light, despite government promises that road building is "a last resort". Mr Baker hit out at the new scheme for the section of the A27 between Lewes and Beddingham as "clumsy, rushed cut-and-paste job."
The Lewes MP slammed other congestion-busting proposals as "technically flawed" and told Ministers that the plan to cut traffic between Southerham and Beddingham will actually add to tailbacks on the A26. In a further twist, the MP won an important concession from Transport Minister David Jamieson, who agreed to hold a consultation exercise in Lewes - which has so far been bypassed in canvassing opinion.
Mr Baker, who is the Lib Dem Shadow Environment Secretary added: "the environmental impact of road building is a problem, not least in my constituency". Sensitive areas including a national park and Mount Caburn stand to suffer from 'destructive' road building schemes.
The Lewes MP urged public sector employees to adopt public transport rather than use their cars to tackle pollution and congestion. "In a study of traffic going in to Lewes from the A27 we found that 91% of cars entering the town had only 1 person inside."
Speaking about his debate on the Multi-Modal Study, Norman Baker says:
"The balance in the South Coast plan is skewed. The emphasis is on building roads, which will actually add to congestion rather than solving the problem."
"The solutions to the transport problems in my constituency, and along the south coast, are clear. The government needs to introduce cheaper rail fares and improve the bus network. Roads should be the last option. Halcrow need to go back to the drawing board and consider other options. Most of my constituents would prefer all other options to be exhausted before the government introduces environmentally damaging road schemes."