The go-ahead has been given for a crossing for both pedestrians and cyclists to be built in Shoreham, West Sussex after proposals received clear public support.
Construction of the toucan crossing on the A283 Steyning Road – one of the County Council’s school Active Travel initiatives – is likely to start next Spring and will:
- Benefit the whole community by providing a safer crossing point for pedestrians and cyclists to access the river-side footway and cycleway, improving access between St Nicholas Lane, the town centre, Shoreham Toll Bridge and the Downs Link
- Improve connectivity for schoolchildren, such as those going to and from the Sir Robert Woodard Academy
- Improve connectivity for a nearby business centre
Joy Dennis, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “This is really positive news for both pedestrians and cyclists in Shoreham and is one of our school Active Travel initiatives , funded through the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund.
“The results of the public consultation gave us a clear message: of those people who expressed either support or opposition, 94 per cent were in favour of the scheme.”
The project will go out to tender soon and comprise
- Installing the push-button controlled traffic light crossing for pedestrians and cyclists
- Widening and resurfacing of the footways immediately adjacent to the crossing
- Installation of high-friction road surfacing to improve safety for those on the crossing
- Retaining the existing bus stop
- Crossing warning signs for motorists
Tim Loughton, Member of Parliament for East Worthing and Shoreham, said: “I am delighted that this project has come to fruition after a lot of teamwork and hard work between the local councillors and residents and I am very grateful to all constituents who have engaged positively with our recent surveys and consultations over the last year.
“This is an increasingly busy road and making it easier and safer to link the town with the riverbank will benefit the many walkers, dogwalkers, pupils and cyclists especially heading to this much-valued part of Adur’s environment. The temporary crossing installed after the tragic Shoreham Air Show crash to facilitate the thousands of people heading for the Bridge of Flowers to pay their respects showed it was possible and soon it will become a permanent reality.”
Leader of Adur District Council, Cllr Neil Parkin, said: “As someone who, together with local MP Tim Loughton, has been campaigning for this for 20 years I am absolutely delighted this has been given the go-ahead. I would like to thank Joy Dennis at the County Council for helping to make this happen.”
