Majority of Bexhill footway widening plans dropped

East Sussex County Council is to move ahead with a number of temporary walking and cycling schemes using coronavirus funding from the government.

On Monday (August 17), lead member for transport Claire Dowling gave the go ahead to explore seven walking and cycling schemes, which would be paid for by phase 1 of the Emergency Active Travel Fund – a £250m pot announced as part of the government’s Covid-19 recovery plans in May.

The seven proposals come from 15 possible schemes, which were put out for a short consultation process during lockdown.

One of the schemes is in Bexhill. It could see a wider footway temporarily put in place underneath the railway bridge in Buckhurst Place. The narrow existing path had proven to be a pinch point where it was difficult to maintain social distancing. 

Other proposals to widen footways in Devonshire Road and Western Road were abandoned, however, in light of a significant number of negative responses. These were mostly from businesses who would lose parking as a result.

The decision not to proceed with these schemes saw concerns voiced at the meeting by Kathryn Field, who is Rother District Council’s lead member for environment, as well as a county councillor.

She said: “Wide pavements and the ability to social distance are essential in trying to tackle and control this virus.

“The fact that this [would be] temporary is actually extremely helpful, because it gives us the opportunity to see on the ground what happens when controversial schemes are implemented. 

“Once the temporiness has been implemented then you can assess how successful it has been, then tweak it or abandon it or make it permanent at that point. 

“This gives us the opportunity to really look at ways of enhancing cycling and walking, enhancing pedestrian safety and also enhancing the environment for people using the town centre.”

She added: “I really hope you reconsider some of this.”

But Cllr Dowling agreed to move ahead with the Buckhurst Place scheme and not to proceed with the widening in Western Road and Devonshire Road, following the officers’ recommendations.