New Littlehampton to Bognor cycle path: Overspend and delays branded a '˜fiasco'

'˜Lessons have been learned' after delivery of the Littlehampton to Bognor Regis cycle path took 15 months longer and cost £1.2m more than planned.
West Sussex County Council leader Louise Goldsmith cuts the ribbon to officially open the new Bognor Regis to Littlehampton shared pedestrian and cycle path in AugustWest Sussex County Council leader Louise Goldsmith cuts the ribbon to officially open the new Bognor Regis to Littlehampton shared pedestrian and cycle path in August
West Sussex County Council leader Louise Goldsmith cuts the ribbon to officially open the new Bognor Regis to Littlehampton shared pedestrian and cycle path in August

This was the reaction from officers at West Sussex County Council after councillors asked them to review how the scheme – which caused ‘horrendous’ traffic problems – had been conceived, funded and delivered.

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Members of the environment, communities and fire select committee heard on Wednesday (November 14) that the council had been told in 2014 that the cycle path would cost £865,000 to design and build and that it could be done in the space of a year.

With the money secured from the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (C2C LEP), the scheme was approved – but it ‘became clear’ that more money was needed.

When C2C LEP rejected the idea, it fell to the council to fork out £1.2m.

The scheme took two years and three months to deliver, including nine months of construction, and cost just over £2m.

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At a County Hall meeting, officers were asked why no ‘alarm bells’ had sounded early on when it became apparent that the scheme had been costed at a much cheaper rate than similar ones elsewhere.

Middleton county councillor Jacky Pendleton was critical of the way traffic was managed during the construction of the cycle route between Bognor Regis and LittlehamptonMiddleton county councillor Jacky Pendleton was critical of the way traffic was managed during the construction of the cycle route between Bognor Regis and Littlehampton
Middleton county councillor Jacky Pendleton was critical of the way traffic was managed during the construction of the cycle route between Bognor Regis and Littlehampton

Nobody questioned the need for the cycle path and it was welcomed by several members.

Jacky Pendleton (Con, Middleton) said the number of cyclists travelling the route had increased now that they had a safe place to ride.

But she was critical of the way traffic had been controlled during the construction, particularly around three sets of traffic lights.

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Mrs Pendleton said: “There was no co-ordination of traffic flow through those traffic lights, creating a stop-start, stop-start, stop-start process which challenged the most patient of drivers.”

She also questioned the ‘lack of communication’ from the council when it came to keeping the public up to date.

It was a view shared  by Daniel Purchese (Lib Dem, Rustington), who said people had been left ‘frustrated’.

With other highways schemes in the pipeline, committee chairman Andrew Barrett-Miles asked if officers were confident that the organisational structure was now strong enough to ensure the problems did not crop up again.

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He said: “Us getting our systems right within the county council is so very important.”

Roger Elkins, cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, said: “I’m sure the issues that have been outlined will absolutely be addressed, and I will be looking at officers and be giving a close watch on this.”

Afterwards Labour’s Michael Jones described the situation as a ‘fiasco’ and felt the difficulties with building the cycle path were ‘entirely foreseeable to anyone who knows the area’.

He added: “Labour councillors tried to challenge this before work began, but our concerns were dismissed by the Tory majority.”