It has taken a long time for Polegate to get its bypass but the road is open now and should bring relief to the town.

However, it is also bound to lead to more housing in an area where hundreds of homes have been built in recent years.

There is a rule of roads that housing expands to reach them, as has been proved at the bypasses of Steyning and Shoreham.

The Government dithered over this latest road, halting its construction five years ago when a new stretch of the A22 had already been constructed to meet up with it.

All this delay has done is waste millions of pounds of taxpayers' money and make Polegate people wait longer for the relief they deserve.

The road will also increase pressure for improvements on the road to Lewes but this is certain to be resisted strongly by environmental campaigners.