Lib Dem ministerial aide quits over "vague promises" on road improvement

The Lib Dem parliamentary private secretary to the energy secretary, Stephen Lloyd, has resigned over "vague promises" on improvements to the A27.

Lloyd, the MP for Eastbourne, said that the Road Investment Strategy announced last week had failed to commit to improving the A27 between Lewes and Polegate in East Sussex. He said in a statement: "After all the work and cross-community effort by so many local residents and businesses, I am profoundly disappointed by the proposal put forward by the Department for Transport.

"There is a vague promise for some time in the future. This isn't jam tomorrow, but more like the possibility of jam some time, if we're lucky, in a few years." 

The strategy allocated £350m for improvements for elsewhere on the A27 - at the Arundel bypass, and to expand capacity between Worthing and Lancing. But works between Lewes and Polegate were dependent on "review of long-term growth plans in light of any recommendation made by the Airports Commission," which Lloyd took to mean dependent upon the possible expansion of Gatwick Airport.