A £165,000 transport grant which was withheld from East Sussex County Council over criticisms of its planning has been handed over following changes at the authority.

The Department for Transport and Government Office for the South East released the funds after the council improved the way it planned and delivered schemes in the county.

Transport spokesman councillor Matthew Lock said: "There is no way that anyone can say we are not actually changing or that we took the criticism of our plans lightly.

"We have proved that we are determined to deliver the best possible service we can to the people of East Sussex."

Thursday August 05, 2004