Hove to Brighton cycle lane: drop-in Saturday, survey closes 25 October

The council’s survey on a two-way cycle lane along the A259 seafront between Fourth Avenue in Hove and West Street in Brighton closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 25 October. Before then, its transport projects team will hold a drop-in on Saturday 17 October, from 11am to 2pm.

The drop-in is on Hove seafront near the Peace Statue and the café, on Kings Road. There is no need to register. It is the last of two in-person sessions; the first was at Hove Town Hall on 24 September.

The plans would get rid of the westbound cycle lane, which is separated from traffic by plastic wands, and the eastbound cycle lane, which runs next to the pavement. In their place would be one two-way lane, separated from traffic and pedestrians. The plans also include new pavements, safer and better aligned crossings and junctions, new loading bays and disabled parking bays, and additional parking spaces. A computer image on the consultation page shows the redesigned junction at Grand Avenue, with planted areas for drainage.

The survey is split in two: phase 3 runs from Fourth Avenue to the Peace Statue, and phase 4 from the Peace Statue to West Street. People can answer on either or both. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes, according to Business Brighton & Hove⁴. The consultation page lists 288 participants so far.

The council has £780,000 from Active Travel England for this route, and the Department for Transport has allocated nearly £4m over four years. Construction would begin in sections, starting at the Fourth Avenue junction, subject to future funding for the full route.

Work on the stretch west of Fourth Avenue is about to get underway. Labour councillor Trevor Muten, the council’s cabinet member for transport and city infrastructure, said when the consultation opened: “The current layout of the cycle lanes is confusing and we can do much better.”

“We want to hear from as many people as possible,” he said.

The survey and the plans are on the council’s Your Voice site. Brighton Locals⁶, which flagged the deadline, suggests naming the exact junction, crossing or bus stop you mean.