£360,000 to make Chichester a 21st century cycling city

West Sussex County Council has drawn up a trans-city list of schemes, with some of them already under way.

There is an added urgency because the money has to be spent before the end of the 2005-2006 financial year in March, otherwise what is left could be lost.

The city already has ideal conditions for cycling, with a level terrain and routes including Centurion Way and the canalside path.

But the Chichester Society pointed out this week that to get to work, many Cicestrians stuck to their cars.

Its latest newsletter said the one thing missing until now had been an agreed trans-city cycling network, backed by funds that could turn it into reality.

The new network put together by the county council would now make commuting to work or studies by cycle, as opposed to cycling just for pleasure and fitness, a serious proposition.

A county spokesman said the proposals had been discussed with the city and district councils and local residents' groups.

Full story in West Sussex Gazette, December 29 2005