East Sussex County Council has a responsibility as the County Highways Authority to plan and implement transport policy. This should be a holistic approach to not only maintain the road infrastructure but also to encourage the use of public transport, walking and cycling. The latter takes on greater importance as we become ever more mindful of the looming climate emergency.
It is therefore disappointing that ESCC has taken the decision to take £5 million from the Walking and Cycling Capital fund (which was meant to be ring-fenced) and using it to deal with an over-spend on road building - £2m (out of £9m) from Eastbourne and South Wealden and £3m (out of £12m) from Hastings and Bexhill. Now there is only limited funding for a small number of schemes. This is totally unacceptable, it makes a mockery of the council’s commitments to carbon reduction and an increase in active travel.
A coalition of cycling groups in East Sussex has therefore set up a petition to restore this funding, which can be found here, running until January 21.
If you are supportive of this petition please sign and share.
