NEW cycle facilities will be installed at railway stations across East Sussex following a Government funding boost.

Rail operator Southern, supported by East Sussex County Council, successfully bid for £470,000 from the Department for Transport for improvements at 10 stations in the county.

The programme will see new secure, ‘cycle hubs’, including cycle hire and maintenance facilities, installed at Bexhill and Newhaven Town stations, while a further eight stations will receive improved cycle facilities.

The schemes in East Sussex, part of a £14.5 million programme nationally for 2015-16, will receive additional funding from the county council.

Cllr Carl Maynard, county council lead member for transport and environment, said: “We are delighted that Southern has secured this funding and look forward to working in partnership with them to deliver the schemes.

“With new housing and jobs coming to the county, it’s more important than ever that we can improve access to rail stations and help to make cycling a realistic and attractive ‘door to door’ sustainable travel option for their everyday journeys.

“These schemes tie in with our commitment to delivering improved walking and cycling facilities, with the key benefit of supporting local economic growth, along with improvements to health and wellbeing and the environment.”

The new cycle hubs at Bexhill and Newhaven Town will include secure, key card access for 50 cycles, along with cycle hire and maintenance facilities, monitored CCTV and new lighting and signage.

A new 50-space covered cycling store will be built in the new car park under construction at Uckfield station, Hampden Park will get 50 extra cycle spaces and the number of spaces at Polegate will double from 30 to 60.

Rye and Crowborough will get 30 and 25 new spaces respectively, with new cycle shelters being built at both stations, while there will be an additional 20 spaces at Seaford and 10 each at Glynde and Bishopstone.

All the affected stations will receive new, improved CCTV, lighting and new signage.

More details for the improved cycle facilities at all stations are available online here