West Sussex County Council has completed the latest part of a scheme to provide a safe and accessible cycling route between Bognor Regis and the South Downs National Park.
The twitten between Drygrounds Lane and Wroxham Way has been improved, and the puffin crossing on the B2259 Felpham Way at Steepers Close has been upgraded, to make it easier for students and pupils to walk and cycle to Felpham Community College and Downview Primary School.
The Drygrounds Lane twitten was previously very narrow and inaccessible for mobility aid users. It has been widened to create a shared use path with enough space for cyclists and pedestrians to use it at the same time. The newly resurfaced path has a drop kerb to make it easier for pushchairs and people using mobility aids to use it. New lighting has been added, drainage improved, and vegetation removed to make it safe and accessible for all users at all times of day.
The upgraded pelican crossing provides a safe route onto the new shared path for pedestrians and cyclists from both the cycle track and footpath on the B2259, as well as the footpath to the south of the crossing between Felpham Way and Felpham Road.
The £880,000 project was financed by a grant from the Department for Transport (DfT) through the Active Travel England (ATE) fund. In addition, Landbuild, the contractor commissioned by the council to construct the new path, donated a secure bike rack to Downview Primary School.
Councillor Joy Dennis, West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport said: “The new Felpham Way shared path will provide a safe route for students to reach Felpham Community College, which is due to expand in the next three years. It also fills a gap in the existing active travel corridor between the potential housing development to the northeast of both schools and Bognor town centre and seafront.
“This scheme is part of the county council’s vision to encourage active travel by identifying places where we can provide safe and accessible ways to walk, wheel and cycle for local journeys instead of travelling by car. As well as the many health benefits, choosing to walk and cycle helps reduce traffic congestion and air pollution for our residents.
“By providing a safe and accessible shared path, we hope this new link in the route from the coast to the Downs will encourage more people in Bognor Regis to walk or cycle to school, college and up to the National Park.”
