Shoreham’s temporary cycle lane to be removed but a permanent scheme planned

West Sussex County Council agreed to look again at the decision to get rid of the temporary Upper Shoreham Road lane after passionate requests from councillors and residents, who pointed to an increase in cycle journeys since its inception in the summer.

County councillors voted 6-2 in favour of reconsidering the removal decision.

But the council’s cabinet member for highways, Roger Elkins, has stuck by the original decision to remove Shoreham’s lane with the rest of West Sussex’s schemes.

A decision notice from the county council said the majority of comments received from the public were opposed to the scheme due to loss of parking, safety and lack of consultation, although it did receive more positive comments than the other schemes in West Sussex.

Temporary cycle lanes were installed in the summer as a part of a Government initiative to take people away from public transport and take advantage on an increase in cycling during lockdown.

But renewed investment in public transport and widespread criticism – particularly in Horsham, Chichester and Worthing – led to the schemes being removed.

The county council said the urgent nature of the temporary lanes meant a proper consultation process could not take place, but work would now begin on designing a permanent scheme.

A West Sussex County Council spokesman said: “The council is looking to progress a permanent cycleway scheme in Shoreham, given the support and enthusiasm shown for a scheme through the ‘pop-up’ cycleway process.

“Any scheme in the town would be redesigned to make sure it is suitable as a permanent scheme. If taken forward as a priority for the County Council this would be subject to the Department for Transport (DfT) agreeing additional investment as well as full and thorough consultation with the public and engagement with all relevant stakeholders.

“If agreed by the Department of Transport, this scheme would be added to the Tranche 2 cycleway work which will see permanent cycling improvements across the county. Details of these will be announced soon.”

The date of the removal of the temporary lanes is yet to be confirmed.

Read more here:

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