Caption: Part of the completed Active Travel works around Thomas A Becket Junior School in Worthing
Release date: 07 October 2026
Residents across West Sussex are benefiting from a series of upgrades making walking, wheeling and cycling safer, more accessible and more attractive for everyday journeys, thanks to close to £1.8 million of funding from Active Travel England.
West Sussex County Council secured £1,797,149 through Active Travel England’s Consolidated Active Travel Fund 2025, which recently helped deliver four active travel projects in Horsham, Arundel, Shoreham and Worthing.
The schemes have introduced new and upgraded pedestrian crossings, safer routes to schools, enhanced accessibility for disabled and visually impaired people, lower traffic speeds and better facilities for cyclists. The improvements are designed to give residents safe, convenient and affordable alternatives to car travel, while supporting healthier lifestyles and reducing emissions.
In Horsham, the scheme focused on North Parade and West Parade, delivering two new pedestrian crossings, upgraded traffic signals and a new route allowing cyclists to travel safely in both directions on West Parade, as well as a 20mph speed limit and weight restrictions for larger vehicles.
Local feedback helped shape the scheme, with a new traffic-light-controlled crossing installed outside Aurora Vincent House School on North Parade following a request from the Trafalgar Neighbourhood Council. The crossing features the latest pedestrian detection technology to help people cross more safely, as well as audible crossing signals and tactile features for visually impaired users.
Elsewhere, schemes at Arundel CofE Primary School, Swiss Gardens Primary School in Shoreham and Thomas A Becket Junior School in Worthing have made it easier and more convenient for pupils and families to walk, wheel and cycle to school.
The work included new pedestrian crossing points, wider footways, raised crossing areas that make pedestrians more visible and encourage lower traffic speeds, tactile paving, and resurfaced roads and pavements to improve safety and accessibility around school sites.
Councillor Erika Woodhurst-Trueman, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: "These improvements will make everyday journeys easier for residents, particularly around schools and busy community locations.
"The projects demonstrate how targeted investment can respond to local needs while encouraging more people to choose active forms of travel.
"Making it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle instead of relying on the car is an important focus for the council. By improving crossings, reducing traffic speeds and creating safer routes, we're making it easier for residents to choose active travel for everyday journeys.
"The improvements around schools will also help more families feel confident about walking, wheeling and cycling to school. Encouraging active travel supports healthier lifestyles, helps reduce congestion and contributes to safer, more pleasant communities for everyone."
Active travel includes walking, wheeling, cycling and other physically active forms of transport. The schemes support the objectives of the West Sussex Transport Plan 2022-2036 and the West Sussex Active Travel Strategy 2024-2036, helping to create a safer, healthier and more sustainable transport network across the county.
