Decision details

In May 2020, the government announced an opportunity to bid into the emergency active travel fund (EATF) for funding to provide temporary schemes that would facilitate walking or cycling in place of mass public transport in response to the Covid-19 public health crisis.

The County Council, in co-operation with all of the District and Borough councils, identified 7 schemes that would fulfil the government’s criteria and was successful in securing funding for all of these.

The schemes were implemented over a period of 8 weeks between July and September 2020.

A decision has now been made to determine the future of each of the schemes, the decision in relation to the Chichester scheme having been taken.

1)           The Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure has approved the removal of the two emergency active travel cycle schemes installed in Crawley.

2)           The Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure has approved the removal of the emergency active travel cycle scheme installed in Horsham.

3)           The Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure has approved the removal of the emergency active travel cycle scheme installed in Worthing.

4)           The Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure has approved the removal of the emergency active travel cycle scheme installed in Shoreham.

25 November 2020 – The Environment and Communities Scrutiny Committee, on 18 November 2020, considered the call-in of the emergency active travel cycle scheme installed in Shoreham and asked the Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure to reconsider his decision to remove the scheme.

The Cabinet Member has carefully considered all of the available information, including the call-in reasons and the comments made at the committee meeting. The Cabinet Member is also aware that the majority of comments received by the County Council (via the on-line survey and correspondence) were opposed to the scheme due to loss of parking, safety and lack of consultation though he recognises that the positive comments have been the highest for any of the county’s emergency schemes.

The scheme constituted significant changes to the highway but there was no time to undertake meaningful engagement with local stakeholders. The Department for Transport set out the funding criteria and the allocated funding on 27 May, and bids had to be submitted by 5 June - eight working days later. This resulted in an absence of public engagement/feedback and compromises in terms of the design, assessment and impact criteria.

As an emergency response to a unique set of circumstances the scheme has been a success but the conditions on the network have now changed and public transport options restored.  The Cabinet Member has, therefore, confirmed his decision to remove the Shoreham emergency active travel cycle scheme. The date of removal will be confirmed in due course.

The County Council is looking to progress a permanent cycle way scheme in Shoreham given the support and enthusiasm shown for a scheme through the ‘pop-up’ cycle way process. Any scheme in the town would be redesigned to make sure it is suitable as a permanent scheme. If taken forward as a priority for the County Council this would be subject to the Department for Transport agreeing additional investment as well as full and thorough consultation with the public and engagement with all relevant stakeholders. If agreed by the Department of Transport, this scheme would be added to the Tranche 2 cycle way work which will see permanent cycling improvements across the county.

5)           The Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure has approved the removal of the emergency active travel cycle scheme installed in East Grinstead.

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