PARTS of the A259 could be lost to the sea within 15 years if no action is taken, a report has revealed.

The coastal road will need to be moved further inland within 40 years even if sea defences are bolstered because of the speed of erosion.

The report reveals £80 million of coastal defences are needed over the next century to protect the coast, road and residents’ homes.

Campaigners say it strengthens their calls for a bypass at Rottingdean to alleviate pressure on the A259 and the time to act is now.

More than 5,000 signatures have been collected calling for infrastructure improvements along the coast to alleviate the unacceptable levels of delays.

St Aubyns Fields Evergreen (SAFE) campaign group received the report carried out by Mott MacDonald consultants for Brighton and Hove and Lewes councils.

Without any action the engineers warn up to 90 metres of coast could be lost over the next 100 years.

Even with significant sea defence investment, up to 33 metres could be lost over the next century.

The need for sea walls to protect the cliff is even more urgent with new defences required within a matter of years.

A range of defences are recommended costing up to £26 million for rock groynes at Peacehaven.

Funding would be available from the government but council contributions are required to top-up initial funding as well as significant sums for future maintenance.

Campaigners are concerned housing schemes, like proposals for 450 homes at Lower Hoddern Farm in Peacehaven, will add considerable stress to the A259 and want developers to pay for a new link road.

SAFE’s Nigel Smith said there was little room to bring the road inland warning rerouting could eat into Roedean school’s playing fields and the frontages of homes between Rottingdean and Saltdean.

He said: “If the A259 is at risk from erosion, the impact of traffic on that road is not going to help so you need to get traffic off the road.

“The city council has said the link road is a possible long-term solution for Rottingdean High Street but this report makes clear it needs to be looked at far more quickly.”

A council spokeswoman said: “We carry out regular surveys with the most recent showing very little erosion of Brighton and Hove’s cliffs in the last seven years.

“No properties are at risk in Brighton and Hove and we have coastal defences which protect the foot of the cliffs and greatly reduce erosion.

“We continue to monitor our coastline, keeping the option open to take additional measures if needed on the basis of sound technical advice.”

Sign the Brighton and Hove City Council petition here and the East Sussex County Council petition here.