Closure of Hailsham high street proposed to increase space for cycling and walking

Having worked with district and borough councils and sought suggestions from local cycling and walking groups to identify possible temporary schemes, East Sussex County Council has submitted the measures for approval by the Department for Transport.

Among the schemes are cycle routes, improved signage for safe social distancing, temporary cycle parking and the widening of footpaths and road closures to allow people to social distance and to support businesses to open outdoor spaces and enable their customers to queue safely.

In Wealden the temporary closure of Hailsham High Street is proposed with access for taxis and buses only.

Meanwhile extra signs for residential areas would be provided in Heathfield to Eastbourne for the existing shared Cuckoo Trail route.

East Sussex has been allocated £479,000 from the first round of the Government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund. A second round of funding is expected to be confirmed at a later date.

Claire Dowling, the county council’s lead member for transport and environment, said: “With a limited amount of funding, we are unable to submit all the schemes that came forward. The measures we are submitting for approval strike a careful balance between supporting businesses in their recovery and keeping the public safe.

“While we have submitted specific schemes, we have also put forward countywide measures that will enable more walking and cycling across key towns, market towns and village centres and encourage social distancing.

“We have already seen a significant increase in the number of people walking and cycling in the county and, if approved, the schemes that are put forward will make a real difference to those people choosing active ways to travel and exercise.”

Cllr Dowling added: “We will announce more details of the successful measures once approved by the Department for Transport, and undertake further local consultation.

“We will continue to work with district and borough councils and partners to look at possible schemes to include in the second round of funding, which could include bringing forward agreed capital schemes and measures we haven’t been able to include in this submission.”

It is hoped that, if approved, the schemes will be in place by September.

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