Backlash mounts as £14k Horsham cycleway labelled as ‘another nail in the coffin’ for the town centre

The backlash is mounting over Horsham’s cycleway as the controversial scheme was labelled ‘another nail in the coffin’ for the town centre.
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Readers took to the County Times Facebook page to vent their frustration at the pop-up cycleway in Albion Way which was estimated to cost £14,800.

But West Sussex County Council said it was currently unaware of evidence or data from the business community to support this suggestion.

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The route, which was funded by a central Government grant, has been slammed as ‘absolutely useless and unnecessary’.

Albion Way Covid 19 pop up cycle lane in Horsham. Pic Steve Robards SR2009231 SUS-200923-144226001Albion Way Covid 19 pop up cycle lane in Horsham. Pic Steve Robards SR2009231 SUS-200923-144226001
Albion Way Covid 19 pop up cycle lane in Horsham. Pic Steve Robards SR2009231 SUS-200923-144226001

Mick Turner added: “As a cyclist myself I wouldn’t use these lanes never needed it before and would have preferred the money was spent improving the existing lanes.”

The county council said the Department for Transport’s Emergency Active Travel Fund award had strict criteria on how it could be spent.

Gillian Yarnell said: “Utter water of space, literally! [I] rarely see cyclists when driving into town, certainly not in numbers anywhere near for this to be necessary!”

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Some people raised concerns the scheme could puncture Horsham’s economic recovery from coronavirus.

Robert Adams said: “Another nail in the coffin for the town centre.”

Miranda Mitchell added: “[The scheme] puts me off going into town and doesn’t make me want to cycle. It looks a bit scary.”

In response, the council spokesman said: “The Horsham trial cycleway’s design was subject to a safety review prior to installation and there will be a post-construction review, too, which will take feedback into account.

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“Once we have had an opportunity to review the post-construction safety assessment, we may consider design alterations to improve the scheme, if required. We will review residents’ and other stakeholders’ responses alongside traffic monitoring and other data.”

But other readers said the scheme ‘only creates traffic jams’ with drivers clogging up residential roads in the area.

Lynda Diab added: “The ‘fewer queues’ is due to everyone diverting onto the back residential roads, which the cyclists were happily and safely using without too much traffic until now.”

But Nick Weeks said there is already an existing cycle route behind Sainsburys.

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He added: “There’s already a ‘cycle route’ that goes through town from the rear of Sainsbury’s and into the Carfax via the top of the Causeway. And out of town the other side either via east street or the RSA bridge.”

The council spokesman said: “This would not have met the criteria set for the scope and purpose of a tranche one Emergency Active Travel Fund project.”

Nick called for better signage on the existing route rather than compromising the main road for through traffic in the town.

He added: “I’m both a cyclist and a motorist, and this current solution works for neither.”

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A Horsham District Council spokesman said:“The trial pop-up cycleway along Albion Way in Horsham was installed by the Highways Authority at West Sussex County Council in response to a call to increase travel options as part of the government-led COVID-19 recovery plan.

“The District Council is aware of a degree of negative impact the trial cycle way is having on people returning to Horsham Town Centre following the lockdown. It is closely monitoring feedback on the scheme from both local businesses and residents and visitors to the town centre and will forward any comments back to West Sussex County Council to form part of their consultation process.

“The scheme comprises a six week trial and we would encourage people to continue to provide their valuable feedback to the County Council via their website at www.westsussex.gov.uk/popupcyclelanes”