A POLITICIAN has called for the £280 million from the cancelled A27 project at Chichester to be spent 40 miles further east.

Former Eastbourne MP Stephen Lloyd said the money from the scrapped scheme should be used to turn the A27 into a dual carriageway between Lewes and Eastbourne.

A consultation into five schemes to reduce congestion around Chichester was cancelled by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling because of a lack of consensus over the best solution.

The consultation was the subject of heavy criticism for not including a northern bypass around the city.

A petition launched by Mr Lloyd at change.org to make the funding available in East Sussex attracted more than 1,000 signatures within the first 24 hours.

Mr Lloyd said the majority of Eastbourne backed plans to dual the main route to Lewes.

Highways England are conducting a consultation into up to £55 million of road improvements on the A27 at Selmeston which include proposals for small bypasses and roundabout and bridge modifications.

Lewes MP Maria Caulfield has called for unity to ensure that her constituency does not miss out on funding.