Saturday the 24th September will give everyone who cares about the valley’s future a chance to get together to celebrate its beauty, and to let local and national politicians know that the unnecessary wrecking of the valley by construction of a major road with its daily tides of thousands of vehicles will not be tolerated. Join us for the event – details of which are contained in the press release below, and in the public transport section which follows:

HASTINGS ALLIANCE
for sustainable transport solutions

Court Lodge Oast
Udimore, East Sussex
TN33 6BB
13th September 2011
01424 883319/01323 646866

PRESS RELEASE – IMMEDIATE
RALLY IN THE VALLEY – CELEBRATING COMBE HAVEN

SAY ‘NO’ TO THE LINK ROAD: AFTERNOON EVENT!
Saturday the 24th September will be a special day in the history of Combe Haven valley – under threat from a major road carrying 30,000 vehicles a day.

Help us save its history, its landscape, its wildlife!
Come and join walkers from Bexhill, Hastings and Crowhurst and gather in the valley to let local politicians and national government know that local people don’t want £100m wasted on an unnecessary road scheme that will ruin a very special place forever.

Just half of that sum could transform bus and rail services in Bexhill and Hastings as well as creating safe, pleasant and inspiring routes for pedestrians and cyclists – reducing dependence on the car. That means more space to make our town centres beautiful and attractive places to live – and they need all the help they can get!

So, come along and:
Help unfurl banners below Adams Farm
Enjoy a picnic at Bynes Farm (bring your own food and drink!)
Listen and dance to popular local band the Cajun Dawgs
Hear well known local childrens’ poet Brian Moses read his poem inspired by the valley. Free high quality printed copies for children – illustrated by local artist Nigel Harvey.

Guides will leave Bexhill station at 1.30pm. There will also be guides from Bulverhythe (Combe Haven stream bridge) at 1.30pm. Guides at Crowhurst station will meet the 1.50pm train from Hastings. They will return with walkers.

Well behaved dogs are welcome. On a lead near livestock please and especially at Bynes Farm.

Nick Bingham, Chairman.

Follow the campaign at: http://www.hastingsalliance.com
END.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT INFO – AND HOW TO GET GOING………

RALLY IN THE VALLEY – TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS FOR WALKERS
There are 3 starting points: Bexhill Station, Crowhurst Station, Bulverhythe – the entrance to St Leonards playing fields. This is close to Combe Haven stream bridge.

1) BEXHILL STATION a) Trains to Bexhill from Victoria/Haywards Heath/Lewes/Brighton/Eastbourne, eg the 11.17 from Victoria calls at Haywards Heath 12.07, Lewes 12.23, Eastbourne 12.48 arrives Bexhill 13.12. b) From Brighton the 12.32 arrives at 13.24 c) From Rye the 12.55 arrives at 13.23 The walk to Combe Haven sets off at 13.30. NB this is the longest walk with a stiff uphill section which can be avoided by joining it at the New Inn, Sidley at 2pm Sidley is served by bus route 98, operated by Stagecoach ( an hourly service from Eastbourne/Hailsham/Herstmonceux -www.stagecoachbus.com/eastsussex or half hourly from Bexhill train station at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour). There is also a free public car park in Sidley.

2) CROWHURST STATION a) Trains to Crowhurst from Charing Cross/Tunbridge Wells/Battle eg the 12.15 from Charing Cross calls at Tunbridge Wells 13.10, Battle 13.43, arrives Crowhurst 13.46 b) From Hastings The 13.50 arrives 14.02 The walk from Crowhurst sets off at 14.02

3) BULVERHYTHE Served by bus routes 98 and 99. Journey time 20 minutes approx. a) 98 – Leaves Hastings station at 04 and 34 minutes past the hour b) 99 – Leaves Hastings station at 09, 29 and 49 minutes past the hour All go in the direction of Bexhill and can also be picked up along the seafront. Alight at the Harley Shute/ Bexhill Road junction (by the Combe Haven Holiday Park) There is a small free public car park at the playing fields. Guides will be at the stream bridge AND at the bus stop. The walk sets off from Bulverhythe at 13.30

Please note the event will finish in time for your journey home – if in doubt, please ask your guides. Bus and train times are as advertised.
There is a small area for parking at Bynes Farm for those unable to walk.

Please follow the campaign at: hastingsalliance.com

AND FINALLY……….East Sussex County Council has published its ‘best and final’ bid to government for funds to build the road. Members of the Hastings Alliance – and anyone with views on the bid have 5 weeks to respond with their views to Under Secretary of State for Transport, Norman Baker MP. First of course we have the daunting task of making sense of the documents that make up the bid. We’ve started. Anyone wishing to see the bid documents please follow the link:

http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/bexhillhastingslinkroad/fundingbids.htm

If the link doesn’t work, copy into your browser or, go to East Sussex County Council website, click on ‘Roads and Transport’, then ‘New transport schemes’, then ‘Bexhill to Hastings Link Road’. If you have any comments on the bid documents, please feel free to send them to: derrick.coffee@talk21.com