Funding awarded to improve Littlehampton cycle links

Around £900,000 has been allocated to the combined cycle and footpath, running for 4.35km (2.7 miles) from Church Lane, Climping, to the beginning of the new Bognor Regis relief road at Felpham.

The funding was confirmed last week by the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership’s local transport board.

Forming part of the Sustrans National Cycle Network (NCN) route 2, the new 3metre wide path would run alongside the A259, but separated from it by the verge on the northern side.

Originally a stand-alone scheme, the path has now been rolled into a wider initiative, the Beautiful Outdoors, which was awarded a total of £1.2m.

Geoff Farrell, chairman of the West Sussex Cycle Forum, and a Felpham resident, said the forum welcomed the new cycle path ‘without reservation’, as it would encourage cycling between the two towns along a safer route, would potentially reduce the number of cars on the road and would enhance the long distance NCN Route 2, which is intended to eventually link Dover with St Austell, in Cornwall.

He added: “The task now is to make sure that our new piece of the cycle path is built to a high standard – and as soon as possible.”

Mr Farrell had some reservations about the scheme being rolled into the Beautiful Outdoors initiative, which includes producing more publicity materials to encourage greater enjoyment of the countryside. The forum, he said, would prefer priority to be given to high standards tracks for walking, cycling, horse riding and so on, and to fit-for-purpose access for the less able.