Relief road route option revealed

New homes and roads are planned for a growing East Grinstead

A proposed route has been set out for a relief road which campaigners fear will ruin parts of the Sussex countryside.

The route is part of the East Grinstead Area Action Plan, which also includes 2,500 new homes to the west and south-west of the town.

Mid Sussex Council said the A264-A22 should run from Felbridge to Gullege, around the new homes to Turners Hill Road, and onto the A22 near Forest Row.

A formal document will be submitted to the full council in October.

It is then envisaged the plans will be examined by a government inspector.

'Unprecedented' objections

Councillor Gordon Marples, leader of Mid Sussex District Council, said: "The proposed strategic development at East Grinstead has without doubt been controversial and has generated a significant level of involvement and input from interested parties.

"It is clear that traffic will continue to grow and that there will be a major deterioration by 2021 if no improvements are made to the local highway network."

The plans are being fought by the East Grinstead Post Referendum Campaign.

It said an "unprecedented" 7,000 objections had been lodged against the draft area action plan.

It is feared that a relief road, and new homes and businesses for East Grinstead, would "severely worsen conditions" in surrounding villages like Forest Row, Turners Hill, Crawley Down, Ashurst Wood, Sharpthorne and West Hoathly.