Hastings parking bays suspended for three months

Parking suspension notice in East Parade, Hastings. SUS-200109-130529001

The parking bays on the A259 between The Stade and Pelham Place were blocked off by barriers from today (September 1).

The suspension will remain in place until ‘at least December’, according to East Sussex Highways, who will continue to monitor them.

The measures have been introduced as part of the Department for Travel’s (DfT) Emergency Active Travel Fund.

On street parking bays will be suspended to allow more room for cyclists and pedestrians

East Sussex County Council was given more than £350,000 to be sent on seven schemes, including new cycle routes, pavement widening and temporary road closures.

The measures were designed to provide people with safe space to walk and cycle, while also following social distancing guidelines.

The scheme along Hastings seafront was approved by the DfT in July, before the council carried out safety assessments and design work.

The council has now confirmed it is preparing to roll out the measures.

The narrow promenade and cycle lane in Pelham Place, Hastings. SUS-200827-141153001

A spokesman for East Sussex County Council said: “The temporary measures along the A259, aimed at providing safer spaces for people to walk and cycle which enable them to easily follow social distancing guidelines, are being developed using money from the Government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund.

“The Hastings scheme was among a number submitted to the DfT for approval. Since getting confirmation in July that this scheme would be funded, we have carried out local consultation, safety assessments and design work to ensure it benefits those wanting to walk and cycle, does not have a negative impact on business and has support from the community.

“Parking bays will be suspended and barriers in place to create the extended pavement from 2nd September. The measures are expected to remain in place until at least December, and we will continue to carefully monitor them.”

The other proposals considered by East Sussex County Council include pavement widening in Buckhurst Place, Bexhill.

Plans to widen pavements in Lewes and Bexhill town centres will not go ahead after concerns were raised by traders.

The county council says it has submitted further measures to secure £1.6million in the second round of the Emergency Active Travel Fund which could be in place by March 2021.

If approved this could mean a pilot of ‘school streets’ outside a limited number of schools, where roads would be temporarily closed to vehicles during drop off and pick up times.