West Sussex sets out plan for 21km of temporary cycleways

Coronavirus: Department for Transport to review proposals

West Sussex County Council has sent details of temporary cycling schemes to the Department for Transport (DfT), which is allocating £250m for emergency schemes that encourage socially distanced active travel.

The schemes are first stage of the county council’s planned work sin response to the easing of the coronavirus lockdown.

If accepted, West Sussex plans to create 21km of temporary cycle lanes to promote cycling as a replacement for journeys in areas that, until the COVID-19 crisis, were heavily reliant on public transport.

The DfT requires submission of all proposals by Friday 5 June so it can decide if they are suitable for funding. West Sussex County Council could receive up to £784,000 in funding, but this is not guaranteed and may be clawed back should schemes not be started within four weeks of allocation.

Roger Elkins, Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure, said: “We have been working closely with our district and borough partners to look at a whole host of ways we can improve cycling provision as a direct response to the easing of lockdown. If the schemes get the go-ahead, they will form part of a series of measures which will make a real difference for cyclists in each of the county’s seven borough and district areas as the government eases lockdown.

“There is no guarantee the Department for Transport will accept the schemes for funding, but we believe we have presented a good case which could result in 21km of new, temporary cycleways in West Sussex.

“Alongside these schemes which would require central funding, we will continue to work with our district and borough council partners on other measures which could be introduced at minimal expense but add even more safe space for cyclists.”

The seven schemes would involve a combination of temporary traffic management, such as cones and signing, light segregation using ‘traffic wands’, planters, water-filled barriers, road markings and temporary 20mph speed limits.

The schemes being put forward for funding are:

• Adur: A270 Adur River/A283 to Hove Boundary along Upper Shoreham Road and Old Shoreham Road, past Holmbush roundabout in Shoreham, linking to Brighton and Hove City Council’s pop-up lane.
• Arun: A259 in Bognor Regis: widening the temporary surface where possible, cutting back overhanging vegetation and removing growth on the existing path, which has become narrow in places. Consideration would also be given to converting one lane of western dual carriageway to cycle/bus lane.
• Chichester: Railway Station to Spitalfield Lane, Chichester, including converting one lane of Oaklands Way to a cycle lane and linking with existing facilities, such as the cycle path on Broyle Road.
• Crawley: Three Bridges to Manor Royal in Crawley, linking to the NCN21 and Balcombe Road to Town Centre (via Three Bridges), improving continuity of existing cycle provision by adding missing links.  The proposal would look to improve existing cycle facilities through the reallocation of carriageway space.
• Horsham: Cone off one lane of Albion Way, Horsham, in each direction from Sainsbury’s and Waitrose to the Bishopric to provide space for people to cycle and walk to the supermarkets and the town.
• Mid Sussex: Extend the existing cycle lane in London Road, East Grinstead, (southbound) from Engalee (cul-de-sac) as far as the Lingfield Road roundabout.
• Worthing: Reallocate road space, creating a cycleway to connect (north to south) the A24/A259 Grove Lodge area in Worthing to The Steyne on the seafront.