The A259 in St Leonards has reopened to traffic and pedestrians following a major chemical incident that prompted evacuations and road closures earlier this week. Residents who were displaced from their homes have now been given the all-clear to return, authorities confirmed.
A significant police cordon was established around a property on the A259 Marina on Thursday (20 March) after officers discovered more than 500 canisters of chemicals inside. The substances, found during a search of the property, raised safety concerns and led to the evacuation of nearby homes as a precaution.
Specialist teams have since worked to make the scene safe, desensitising and safely disposing of the majority of the chemicals. This included 30 additional vessels containing unidentified substances, which were tested earlier today (23 March) and subsequently made safe.
The remaining materials have also been neutralised and will remain at the site under police guard overnight, pending removal by a specialist hazardous materials team expected to arrive tomorrow.
While the A259 has reopened, temporary traffic lights are in operation, and drivers are advised to expect some congestion in the area.
The final nine residents who had been displaced have now been notified they may safely return to their homes. The wider emergency services presence will begin to scale down throughout the evening, although a visible police presence will remain in the area in the coming days as investigations continue at the property.
A 28-year-old man who was arrested at the scene has been detained under the Mental Health Act.
Detective Superintendent Steve May praised the public’s patience during the operation:
“This has been a challenging few days for all involved, particularly those residents evacuated from their homes, and I would like to thank the public for their patience and support during this operation.
We are doing all we can, with our partners, to bring this incident to a safe resolution and return the area to normality. I am confident the end is now well within sight.”
He also addressed ongoing public speculation:
“At this time, there is nothing to suggest any sinister motivation from the individual who has been detained, nor any ongoing risk to the public. There is currently no evidence to suggest any links to terror, extremist ideology, or large-scale drug production.”
A live police investigation remains ongoing, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
