Cycling and walking schemes submitted to Government

Cllr Claire DowlingSCHEMES to enable more cycling and walking and provide safe space for social distancing as Covid-19 restrictions continue to ease have been submitted to Government.

East Sussex County Council has been allocated £479,000 from the first round of the Government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund. A second round of funding is expected to be confirmed at a later date.

Having worked with district and borough councils and sought suggestions from local cycling and walking groups to identify possible temporary schemes, the county council has submitted the measures for approval by the Department for Transport.

Among the schemes are cycle routes, improved signage for safe social distancing, temporary cycle parking and the widening of footpaths and road closures to allow people to social distance and to support businesses to open outdoor spaces and enable their customers to queue safely.

Cllr Claire Dowling, the county council’s lead member for transport and environment, said: “With a limited amount of funding, we are unable to submit all the schemes that came forward. The measures we are submitting for approval strike a careful balance between supporting businesses in their recovery and keeping the public safe.

“While we have submitted specific schemes, we have also put forward countywide measures that will enable more walking and cycling across key towns, market towns and village centres and encourage social distancing.

“We have already seen a significant increase in the number of people walking and cycling in the county and, if approved, the schemes that are put forward will make a real difference to those people choosing active ways to travel and exercise.”

The measures submitted for approval by the Department for Transport include;

Countywide

  • Signage to encourage social distancing
  • Installation of temporary cycle parking racks
  • Social distancing messaging on footpaths at bus stops

Eastbourne

  • Closure of Terminus Road between Trinity Trees and Grand Parade
  • Closure of Bolton Road to Langney Road
  • Segregated temporary cycleway on the Eastbourne Seafront Cycle Route between Wish Tower and Fisherman’s Green
  • Temporary cycle route using Princes Road and linking to Horsey Cycle Route

Hastings

  • Footway widening along Pelham Place, A259
  • Footway widening at Warrior Square, west of the junction with Norman Road

Rother

  • Footway widening at the junction of Buckhurst Place and Sackville Road in Bexhill
  • Closure of one lane in Devonshire Road, Bexhill
  • Closure of Western Road, Bexhill
  • Improve existing marking to advisory cycle lane in Cooden Drive, Bexhill
  • Closure of Rye High Street between 10am and 4pm

Lewes

  • Temporary segregated cycleway along the A259 between Peacehaven and Newhaven
  • Speed reduction measures and widening of shared footpath along the A259 between Bishopstone to Marine Drive, Seaford
  • Widening of the footpath along High Street and School Hill in Lewes

Wealden

  • Closure of Hailsham High Street, with access for taxis and buses only
  • Additional signage from residential areas in Heathfield to Eastbourne for the existing shared Cuckoo Trail route

Cllr Dowling added: “We will announce more details of the successful measures once approved by the Department for Transport, and undertake further local consultation.

“We will continue to work with district and borough councils and partners to look at possible schemes to include in the second round of funding, which could include bringing forward agreed capital schemes and measures we haven’t been able to include in this submission.”

It is hoped that, if approved, the schemes will be in place by September.

Ends.