Shoreham could get permanent cycle lane after pop-up lane removed

West Sussex County Council has secured £2.3 million from the government's Active Travel Fund to make permanent improvements for cyclists and pedestrians across the county.

The council has identified five schemes it plans to deliver within the 2021/2022 financial year, subject to a public consultation.

READ MORE: Work to start on removal of Upper Shoreham Road cycle lane

The plans include a permanent "high-quality" cycle lane in Upper Shoreham Road in Shoreham, which would meet new national standards for cycle lanes set by the government.

It comes after the council announced it was scrapping the temporary cycle lane in the same road at the end of last year.

The lane was one of several pop-up cycleways installed across the county to encourage cycling and provide an alternative to public transport during the first coronavirus lockdown.

A temporary cycle lane that was installed in Worthing

But in November the council announced it would be removing all temporary cycle schemes in Crawley, East Grinstead, Horsham, Worthing and Shoreham, following negative feedback regarding congestion.

Work began last week to remove the temporary lane in Upper Shoreham Road.

The council said it estimates the cost of a permanent cycleway in Upper Shoreham Road to be a quarter of £1million.

Roger Elkins, cabinet member for Highways and Improvements, said: "The emphasis in Phase Two of the Active Travel Fund is on consulting with all stakeholders, with the aim of arriving at permanent improvements for people who cycle and for pedestrians - as opposed to the temporary, emergency pop-up cycleways we saw last year.

SEE ALSO: Cycling UK could take legal action after Shoreham lane scrapped

“We recognise the support shown by some people for the Shoreham temporary cycleway in Tranche One of the Active Travel Fund. 

"We pledged to look at the idea of a permanent facility for Shoreham and we are committing £250,000 to design a scheme which would be for a high-quality cycleway that meets the new national standard for cycling infrastructure. 

"Progression to build the permanent cycleway would be subject to full consultation with all stakeholders and a future, successful bid to the Active Travel Fund from the Department for Transport."

The council is also putting forward plans for an off-carriageway, 2 km shared cycleway and footway adjacent to the A24 between Findon Valley and Findon Village, at an estimated cost of £1 million. 

Measures to encourage active travel for school pupils and parents will also be put out for consultation, as well as small-scale improvements in the county, such as footway widenings or enhanced crossing points.