The main A259 Hastings road will be closed between 8pm and 6am for three weeks from Monday March 9 because of road works between Winchelsea and Guestling Green. The Highways Agency will instead divert overnight traffic from Rye along the A268 to Northiam and then down the A28 into Hastings.
A question and answer session about the road closures was held by the Agency in Winchelsea on Monday (February 23) to inform local residents. The Agency has not commented on residents’ concerns that traffic will, instead, cut the corner by using the B2089 from Rye through Udimore to join the A28 at Broad Oak.
The Udimore Road from Rye is already heavily used by large lorries wanting to bypass Hastings and this additional night-time traffic could affect both Rye residents and those living along the B2089 to Broad Oak. Recent roadworks in Ferry Road on both sides of the level crossing have flagged up the volume of traffic now using this route with long tailbacks on occasions from temporary traffic lights.