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Delight over new Eastbourne cycle route plans
Felicity Goodson from Bespoke, Cllr Steve Wallis, Richard Thomas and Sue Tarrant, also from Bespoke, celebrate the councils new cycling strategy.
CYCLISTS could soon benefit from an increased network of paths winding across Eastbourne after councillors voted to drastically improve the town’s infrastructure.
Campaigners from Bespoke, a locally-based collection of bike enthusiasts, have been working in tandem with Eastbourne Borough Council to develop a new town-wide two-wheel strategy.
And this week the local authority’s cabinet backed the plans, which will include not only improvements to existing cycle paths, but a host of new routes being put in place.
Speaking at Wednesday’s town hall meeting, Felicity Goodson told councillors how important Bespoke felt it was for the town to tap into pedal power.
Her group was formed by local parents keen to encourage youngsters to cycle to and from school.
In the last few months their campaign has moved up through the gears to lobby for better provisions for all the town’s cyclists – culminating in a 3,200 name petition being handed to the council demanding action.
And it seems those calls have been well received, with the local authority already pushing ahead with two new schemes and planning a whole host more.
A new route along Dukes Drive and King Edwards Parade, from the Downs at Holywell to the Wish Tower is due to get under way later this month while the first phase of the new Horsey Cycle Route, running from Eastbourne Park between the railway station and the eastern side of town, should be finished by March this year.
Other projects now on the agenda include cycle paths through Eastbourne Park, others leading to schools, colleges and industrial estates.
The only sticking points seems to be funding. A budget of £35,000 has already been earmarked for feasibility studies on proposed new routes but much of the long-term cash will have to come from outside grants or contributions from developers asked to stump up money for improvements as part of planning permission.
Enthusing about the plans, Felicity Goodson said, “The development of the cycle paths during the recession will help people struggling to maintain two or three cars and will benefit anyone who cycles to work.
“If you have more joined up routes it means more people will leave their car behind. This is something that can be great for the town.”
She also talked up the obvious health benefits of a more active population and said a better cycle network would help to “liberate” the town’s youngsters.
Currently in Eastbourne around 3.5 per cent of trips to work and school are by bike, which works out higher than both the national average (2.7 per cent) and the East Sussex score of just 1.7 per cent.
And with more than 80 per cent of Eastbourne’s working population estimated at living within five kilometres of their work place, the council is keen to increase commuter cycling.
Cllr Steve Wallis, portfolio holder for the environment, said: “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.”
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Weather for Eastbourne
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Comments
There are 5 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Veracity
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 11:51 AMAshawed, not sure if that's a misspelling of Assured or if you're one of our Eastern brothers, or sister come to that! The reason for all the mega-bucks 'consulting' is that those we elect always seem to be those feather brained members of society who can't make it in the commercial world. Either because they are frightened of making decisions which may go against the party line or because they are incapable of running a bath without generating enough stress to earn a huge pay-off.
Ashawed
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 08:22 AMYes, £35,000 does seem a lot of money for such a purpose and yes, it seems to be in line with other expenditures we, the public, have witnessed over the years - the latest £4,000,000 comes to mind! We have got to get out of this designed way of things. Was it always the way? Can't those we vote in use their own qualities to decide on matters to a fairly good level before any cash is expended to ensure the correctness of a decision? As for the paths themselves. Long overdue. The town has been a closed shop for cyclepedestrian paths over the years and matters were first kicked off when the harbour scheme got underway combined with the sea-front extension and the building of Fort Crap, then stagnation. Only with the government supporting a provision for cyclists has Eastbourne woken with all the other places and embarked on a system of road markings which have added nothing to the comfort, well-being and safety of cyclists. The possibility of a cyclepedestrian link through that parkland which has been mentioned has been conveniently shoved under the table for many, many years and at last there is just a wee stir in that direction. I for one will be amazed to see it happen.
jaybee99
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 12:54 PMI'm so glad the cycle routes will liberate the towns youngsters.What about when these same youngsters run over the elderly of this town.Where the cycle paths and pedestrian paths converge or are duelled.I know and i am not elderly yet, as the times i have been on the verge of being hit when walking on a pedestrian path that i thought was designed for PEDESTRIANS.More cyclists will think it's ok to ride on the pedestrians pavements.Where the cycle path has a gap before the next cycle path.Still I'm glad my council tax money is being spent on this.NOT.
roneoron
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 12:03 PMSo what's the difference between paying a Met. police officer for inside information, and 'asking a developer to stump up money for improvements' as a condition of getting planning permission? Both seem very iffy to me! And it doesn't take thirty five grand to realise that if cycle paths conflict with motorised routes then the only people to benefit will be the town's undertakers!
rattonian
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 11:21 AM£35,000 seems to me to be a lot of money for a feasabilty study. Could this be yet another case of "Jobs for the boys"?
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