A CAMPAIGNER is not "surprised" to see a city's funding cut for cycle lanes and pedestrian areas.

Brighton and Hove City Council and West Sussex County Council had financial support halted after prematurely removing new schemes to boost cycling. This was announced by government transport adviser Andrew Gilligan.

The local authorities will now have to provide further assurances that are required before funding is confirmed.

The Bricycles campaign group was set up to encourage better cycling infrastructure in Brighton and Hove and to campaign for protected space, and better-designed roads, which would help young, old, able-bodied and disabled cyclists feel confident when travelling.

It is an independent, non-political community group that is financed by member subscriptions and donations.

Chris Williams, from the campaign group, said: "We are not surprised by Andrew Gilligan's announcement, as Labour and the Conservatives have gone against the recommendations of the report they commissioned.

"It states that there is no statistical basis for removing the temporary cycle lanes and that congestion levels along the Old Shoreham Road have not increased.

The Argus: The cyle lane in Old Shoreham RoadThe cyle lane in Old Shoreham Road

"Road space reallocation schemes are always unpopular with some people initially, but they deliver on the long term, as they provide alternatives to driving, leave more room for greenery and eventually keep the roads clearer for those who depend upon their vehicles.

"If Labour and the Conservatives stick to their guns, the Old Shoreham Road will become more dangerous, and residents will lose out on money for schemes such as Valley Gardens, which make the city greener, less polluted and more attractive to tourism."

Pop-up cycle lanes and low traffic neighbourhoods – often involving closing roads to motor vehicles – were installed across England following the coronavirus outbreak last year.

This news of the cut came after the cycle lanes installed in Old Shoreham Road, Hove, last year looked set to be removed after a series of consultations found they were unpopular.

The other local authorities that had funding halted are Bracknell Forest, Central Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire, Isles of Scilly, Leicestershire, Portsmouth, Shropshire, Thurrock, Torbay, Windsor and Maidenhead and Worcestershire.

The funding for cycle lanes came from the capability fund that grant replaced the Access Fund, which ran between 2017 to 2021 and supported the commitments of the cycling and walking plan for England.

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