LEGAL action could be taken against a local authority after its decision to remove a cycle lane which featured in a government film.

The national charity Cycling UK is “alarmed” by West Sussex County Council’s plans to scrap the government-funded cycleway in Shoreham.

The lane, which was introduced earlier this year in Upper Shoreham Road, is one of several pop-up pathways put in place across Sussex, designed to encourage cycling and provide an alternative to public transport during lockdown.

SEE ALSO: Cycle lanes in Brighton and Hove could be extended

It recently featured in a short film produced by the Department for Transport to highlight the benefits of the schemes, which have been made possible through the government’s £175 million Active Travel fund.

But last month West Sussex County Council announced it would be removing all temporary cycle schemes following negative feedback regarding congestion.

These include lanes in Crawley, East Grinstead, Horsham, Worthing and Shoreham.

The Argus: Photo: Darren CoolPhoto: Darren Cool

The Upper Shoreham Road cycle lane had received the highest number of positive comments out of all emergency cycleway schemes across the area.

Cycling UK is concerned the removal of cycle lanes is being done “without adequate evaluation of their benefits or sufficient time to conduct effective trials”, and is considering legal action against the local authority.

Head of campaigns Duncan Dollimore said: “Cycling UK is alarmed that decisions some councils have made in recent weeks, ripping out cycle lanes, have been knee-jerk responses to objections from a vocal minority rather than upon consideration of the evidence and benefits of the schemes.

“Separated cycle lanes can carry more people in less space, and reduce congestion.

The Argus: Duncan Dollimore of Cycling UKDuncan Dollimore of Cycling UK

“They are good for local businesses, with people cycling and walking into town centres staying there longer and spending more money - and the evidence shows that if you build them, people will use them.

“But changing ingrained travel habits doesn’t always happen overnight, so when councils introduce temporary cycle lanes they need to leave them in place for long enough to carry out an effective trial.

“‘Who shouts loudest’ should not be the basis of their evaluation – and before any drastic action is taken to scrap new bike lanes.”

The charity is seeking urgent legal advice about whether the council’s decision to remove the lane was “unreasonable”.

Action could also be taken against the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London after a cycle lane was removed in High Street Kensington last week.

Following the announcement that the Upper Shoreham Road lane would be removed, the decision was called in for scrutiny by the Environment and Communities Select Committee last month.

READ MORE: Call to reverse decision to scrap Shoreham cycle lane

Conservative councillor for Shoreham South Kevin Boram criticised the decision and said 2,300 cyclists had used the route during the first week in November alone.

The Argus: The temporary cycle lane in Old Shoreham Road, HoveThe temporary cycle lane in Old Shoreham Road, Hove

He told the committee: “We need to allow time to replace the scheme with a permanent scheme suitable for all forms of transport users to deliver the government’s, the county and [Adur’s] sustainability, health and wellbeing policies.“It is time to deliver. Shoreham can.”

The council took the decision to remove the cycle lane, but said it would seek to progress a permanent cycleway scheme in Shoreham.

A spokesman for West Sussex County Council said: “The government-funded cycleway in Shoreham – just like the five other pop-up cycleways in West Sussex – was always designed to be temporary.

"It fulfilled its original purpose, which was to encourage cycling as an alternative method of travel when public transport capacity was vastly reduced in the first national lockdown.

“The lockdown presented a unique set of circumstances, including schools and colleges having been closed for months and vastly-reduced public transport capacity and the government actively discouraging people from using public transport.

The Argus: Photo: Darren CoolPhoto: Darren Cool

“That extraordinary environment no longer exists: schools and colleges are open, traffic volumes have increased and, although public transport capacity is not back to pre-March levels, it is significantly improved.

“We recognise the support and enthusiasm shown by some people for the Shoreham scheme, which is why we are looking to see if a redesigned, permanent proposal can be progressed, subject to Department for Transport funding.

"Any proposal would require consultation with all stakeholders, including residents, the cycle forum, schools, emergency services and businesses.

"We remain committed to our long-term aims of promoting sustainable transport, as outlined in our Walking and Cycling Strategy 2016-2026.”