Work underway to remove West Sussex's temporary cycleways

The routes have proved controversial

Author: Ryan BurrowsPublished 23rd Nov 2020

Work to remove three of West Sussex's controversial temporary cycleways is due to get underway on Monday (November 23rd).

The projects in Chichester, Horsham and Worthing were among seven put up across the county earlier this year.

It's after West Sussex County Council received a grant of more than £750,000 from the Government as part of a national scheme to place routes on important commuter routes.

The scheme was designed to get more people walking and using their bikes to get to work instead of relying on public transport during the first coronavirus lockdown, therefore freeing up space on buses and trains for vulnerable passengers and key workers.

However, the schemes have faced opposition from motorists due to issues with congestion, as well as low usage from cyclists.

In a statement, West Sussex County Council said that delays would be likely on the routes affected, with traffic management being essential for the safety of both road users and workers.

A West Sussex County Council spokesperson said:

“Where practical, the removal teams will take the opportunity to carry out any minor, unrelated work that needs doing on the highway, such as the removal of vegetation and repair of small cracks in the carriageway surface.

"This could prevent the need for future traffic management and additional inconvenience."

The authority added that detail on the other schemes - in Bognor, Shoreham, Crawley and East Grinstead - will be announced in due course.