Cycle path work set to start at last

The contractors will move on to the route from Monday and should be finished early next year.

This will enable cyclists to travel between the coast and country avoiding the congested and twisting A29 and the equally busy A259 for the first time.

The 172,000 completed route '“ to be known as the Barnham Link '“ will run from Church Lane in Barnham along a series of public footpaths to Hoe Lane at Flansham.

It will cross the Lidsey Rife over an existing steel bridge, which is to be improved with ramps to accommodate wheelchairs and electric buggies as well as cycles.

The final connection to Downview Road in Felpham will be made when the Bognor Regis Relief Road is built in the next few years.

This will take the final length of the cycle path to seven kilometres to make it shorter than the equivalent road journeys as well as safer.

The sight of the workers will be welcomed by Fontwell county councillor Derek Whittington, a former chairman of Eastergate Parish Council and a keen cyclist.

He devised the route as a millennium project but delays in raising the money and overcoming public objections to the conversion of the footpaths for the use of cycles saw the years pass without much progress. But he never gave up hope.

Cllr Whittington said: 'I am looking forward to riding the new route on a regular basis and I will be doing all I can to promote it in the Six Villages area.

'Cyclists will no longer have to ride on some narrow roads with a lot of bends, such as those at Lidsey, or negotiate busy junctions. It's been a long haul getting the scheme off the ground for various reasons, including negotiations and discussions with landowners along the route.

'But it will all have been worthwhile because this is a badly needed scheme, which has had the support of Eastergate and Barnham parish councils, and many members of the public.'

His role with the county council sees him act as a cycling champion to the councillor in charge of highways and transport, Lt Col Tex Pemberton.

Cllr Pemberton said he anticipated the cycle route would be well used.

It would provide an easy access to Barnham railway station and nearby St Philip Howard Catholic High School. The Arun Leisure Centre and Felpham Community College will also be close to Downview Road stage when that was added.

The ultimate ambition was to extend the route to Walberton and Slindon to give access to the South Downs Way, he said.