On February 8, 2007, along with a large number of concerned Peacehaven and Telscombe Cliffs residents, I attended a meeting at the Meridian Centre. Alan Cook, head of transport strategy for East Sussex County Council, addressed the meeting. I thought the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the proposed Brighton to Newhaven bus corridor.

However, it soon became apparent that this was not the case. A large number of residents voiced serious concerns over the effectiveness of this proposed road scheme. The general consensus was that it would not ease the traffic flow in and out of Brighton and would have serious implications for traders in South Coast Road and other parts of Peacehaven.

Mr Cook made it abundantly clear that this was not an arena for discussion as the plans were set and the road changes would be implemented. Also present at the meeting was Roger French, of Brighton and Hove buses, who had an input into the meeting.

It was abundantly clear that the main reason for this road “improvement” was to force more people to use buses and reduce the number of cars going into Brighton. How nice of the county council to dictate how we should or should not travel.

Since the beginning of the road alterations, the folly of such a plan has been all too obvious to the hundreds, probably thousands of motorists, me included, who have sat in endless traffic jams trying to get in and out of Brighton.

The new traffic lights at Saltdean have significantly increased the journey times, as has the reduction in lanes and lane widths all along the road which effectively prohibit passing a stationary bus at any of the new bus stops.

This change in road layout has nothing to do with easing the traffic flow and everything to do with making the journey by car to Brighton as inconvenient as possible for the motorist.

Despite protests about the absurdity of this scheme, the works for this fiasco continue unabated and will no doubt cause further mayhem as they inch nearer to Newhaven.

The current promises to tinker with traffic light phasing at Saltdean, etc, will do little to ease the situation. This is a complete and utter disaster for anyone who lives east of Rottingdean. Is anything likely to change? I doubt it.

E Harding, Roderick Avenue, Peacehaven