DEBATE RAGES OVER FEASIBILITY OF PROPOSED NEW CYCLE ROUTE

BY FEATURES EDITOR KIM MAYO

A proposed new cycle and pedestrian route between Collington and Bexhill Enterprise Park has moved a step closer after a meeting of East Sussex County Council, but no final decision has yet been made.

At the most recent meeting of the council on November 21, Councillor Claire Dowling, lead member for transport and environment, agreed to move forward with the plans which will now go to a detailed design stage, potentially leading to its construction this year.

The full route would include Richmond Avenue, Terminus Avenue, Cranbrook Road, Downlands Avenue, Hillside Road, Barrack Road, Chantry Avenue, Silvester Road, Wychurst Gardens, The Glades and Wrestwood Road.

But opinion is still divided over its feasibility.

When the council sent out questionnaires, responses were disappointingly low although of those who did voice an opinion at the time 42 per cent supported the scheme with 58 per cent opposed.

The proposal has been made after the route was identified as one of the principle ones in East Sussex with a shared space for cyclists and pedestrians envisaged.

It is part of the council’s aim to support an integrated infrastructure catering for walkers, cyclists and bus use while at the same time encouraging less reliance on cars to secure a brighter environmental future.

The proposal is being funded by the Local Growth Fund, secured via the South East Local Enterprises Partnership.

When first mooted, a feasibility study was carried out to identify the most appropriate route with on-road facilities favoured to enable cyclists to travel safely in either direction.

Safe crossing points for cyclists and pedestrians would also be introduced along the route.

One significant bone of contention, however, is the proposed introduction of double yellow lines at certain key points, with one local resident particularly outraged.

Don Payne, who lives in Barrack Road, said: “There will be nowhere to park. It is bad enough as it is and it would get even worse.

“Because parking is at a premium it is very dangerous. There is no logic to these proposals. As it is I can hardly ever park near my house. It just seems to be an ongoing war against motorists.

“Drivers have to pay road tax yet cyclists don’t. It is not very fair, is it?

“I want to stress that I am not against cyclists. I cycle myself. But the system needs to be fair rather than prejudiced against motorists.

“The council needs to stop pushing people because things are bad enough as it is. They have already nearly killed the town off. What we need is a common sense approach.”

When the yellow lines are put in place it means the loss of 51 parking spaces with another 18 being sacrificed due to the introduction of a controlled crossing in Wrestwood Road. Nevertheless, the council states that the loss of parking spaces would equate to just seven per cent of parking spaces being lost along the proposed four kilometre route.

The success of cycle lanes across Sussex has been vigorously debated with some which were originally installed having already been removed as in some cases chaos ensued.

But with cycling becoming increasingly popular as an alternative and “green” mode of transport for work and leisure purposes, it seems the debate will rage on for some time to come.