09 February 2012
A new cycling strategy for Eastbourne has been given the go ahead to encourage residents and visitors to use greener means of transportation.
The plan, a partnership by Eastbourne Borough Council and East Sussex County Council, is for current cycle routes to be improved, along with implementing entirely new routes around Eastbourne.
Two routes have previously been approved and the implementation process has begun; the first along Duke’s Drive and King Edwards Parade, from the Downs at Holywell to the Wish Tower where work is due to commence this year.
The second is the Horsey Cycle Route, which runs alongside Eastbourne Park between the railway station and the eastern side of town, is under construction with the first section due to be completed by March 2012, with the remaining three phases to be complete by September 2014.
Various other priority routes will be investigated, including cycle routes within Eastbourne Park, others leading to schools, colleges, industrial estates and other areas of high footfall. Funding for the routes will be subject to future bids, including raising contributions from developers as part of their planning permissions. An existing budget of £35,000 has already been set aside by the borough council for testing the feasibility of new priority cycle routes.
In Eastbourne, around 3.5% of trips to work and school are by bike, compared to the national average of 2.7% and just 1.7% across the rest of East Sussex. With over 80% of Eastbourne’s working population living within five kilometres of their workplace, the council is keen to increase commuter cycling.
Bespoke and Sustrans (both cycling campaign groups), have shown significant support for the strategy, alongside a 3200-strong petition from local residents who would like to see better cycling provision in Eastbourne and an extended seafront cycle route.
Cllr Steve Wallis, portfolio holder for the environment, said: “Cycling is an important sustainable travel option for residents, commuters and visitors alike in Eastbourne. We hope this new Cycling Strategy, the first in-depth report since 1994, will allow these groups to travel more safely and more efficiently than ever before.
“The benefits of cycling over many other forms of transportation are clear, while anything that contributes to our objective of becoming a low carbon town, reducing congestion and improving air quality is a welcome boost.”
Bespoke campaigner Felicity Goodson said: “We are very pleased with the strategy which will benefit anyone who cycles to work, and if you have more joined up routes it means more people will leave their car behind.”
