Plans have been unveiled to close the missing link in a cycle path 16 years after it was earmarked as a priority.

The route along Lewes Road from Brighton seafront to Sussex University was identified in 1986.

This was the same year in which the Channel Tunnel Treaty was signed between the UK and France.

But while the under-sea rail link was in operation by 1994, planners and cyclists in the city reached deadlock.

The dispute concerned the 200-yard stretch between St Peter's Church on The Level and the junction with Elm Grove.

The latest scheme for the £350,000 link, which also includes new lanes for buses and pedestrians, is only now on the drawing board.

It includes new cycle lanes, pedestrian crossings and traffic-calming measures to slow vehicles moving around the busy junction.

Liz Yates, of cyclist pressure group Bricycles, said: "A huge amount of money has been spent on this vital route but it's been done in an unbelievably piece-meal way.

"It's a scandal that the council has consistently failed to get the right plans drawn up.

"Bus, bike and pedestrian groups have all given them our ideas but they seem incapable of coming up with anything suitable."

Project manager Charles Brewer, of the city council's highways department, took over the scheme 12 months ago.

He said: "This is a preliminary design and we'll now talk to all of the interested parties to ensure we get it right."

Once the draft plan has been agreed a detailed design will be drawn up. If everything goes to plan work will get under way in April.

A council spokesman said: "The current proposals for the Lewes Road/Elm Grove junction have been a long time coming but it's not for want of trying on our part.

"It is a complex junction and balancing the needs of all the people who use it has proved very, very difficult.

"We've devoted a great deal of time to consulting with these different user groups and we believe that the detailed designs we've come up with will benefit all these groups.

"We are absolutely committed to a sustainable transport policy that offers a real range of transport options to all sections of the community."