Author: shorehambycycle2

This Thursday, 5 May 2022, the people of Adur district get to elect some of the councillors who will make important decisions in Shoreham, as well as in neighbouring towns like Southwick and Lancing.

Adur District Council handles matters like planning and environment – and while it’s West Sussex County Council that governs roads and infrastructure, ADC does hold some influence here, and has determined a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan.

Shoreham-By-Cycle will not tell you how to vote this Thursday. But we do encourage you to choose the candidates who you think will help our town and our district to make significant progress on important matters.

We offered all parties and candidates some questions to help clarify their positions on cycling, walking and transport. We received many responses – all of which you can see here. Find the responses for your ward, and consider the alternatives. You can use WriteToThem to check which ward you live in.

To help make sense of the options you have, and to focus your mind, we suggest these four considerations:

Which candidate understands the situation?

Does every candidate show evidence that they understand the transport problems Adur faces: pollution, congestion, danger, and streets that actively discourage people from choosing cycling and walking, in a district that is growing ever more crowded? Do they consider cycling to be a niche interest of children and enthusiasts, or a growing practical transport choice used by many people for regular journeys in towns across the UK?

Which candidate understands the possible solutions?

Does every candidate have a good grasp of the available options? Have they read the Department for Transport’s ‘Gear Change’ document that sets clear expectations for local authorities? Do they understand why key streets – like Upper Shoreham Road – are prioritised as primary routes, or would they prefer to push the challenges into other roads? Do they understand the basics of ideas like network management duty, school streets, separated cycleways and low traffic neighbourhoods?

We don’t expect every councillor to be a specialist, but we feel they should have taken on the important basics.

Which candidate is able to go into detail?

Some candidates are ready to share their thoughts on particular areas and streets. Some offer detail on changes they would like to see. Others can be vague and non-specific, talking in general terms, without detail. Consider which is more credible. Who has given active travel serious consideration, and who is giving it lip-service?

Will they deliver?

Positive aspirations, endless consultations and wordy strategies are all well and good, but it’s delivery that has been sadly lacking in the three decades our councils have been discussing cycle infrastructure.

In 2020, Adur District Council produced a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan – endorsed by ADC leader Cllr Neil Parkin and unanimously accepted by a committee of councillors that includes some seeking your vote this week.

So which candidates have got what it takes to make things happen – to work with their colleagues (across parties), with council officers, and with WSCC, to ensure that numerous documents, policies and strategies give rise to more than just more words.

Want more information? See the responses candidates gave to Shoreham-By-Cycle’s questions.

And if you’d like to be part of of Shoreham-By-Cycle, you can become a member of this growing community group.

We have asked all candidates in May’s Adur District Council elections to answer some questions on cycling and transport, to help residents decide on their vote.

Here are the responses we have received so far for Hillside Ward in Southwick. If you do not see a response from a candidate you’re looking for, we have not yet received one, and we’ll publish it when we do.

• Rebecca Allinson, Labour
• Neil Parkin, Conservative – no reply received yet

To view candidates for a different ward, see our main 2022 local elections page.

Candidate: Rebecca Allinson
Party: Labour

1. What will you do to bring meaningful improvement to cycling in Adur, not in the distant future, but soon?

As a councillor I will press for a network of safe cycling routes across Adur. 

We seem to have an endless series of consultations, often poorly organised, on cycle routes, but little action. As a councillor I will want to see genuine discussion between the planners and local people so we can work together to make Adur a better, safer place. 

2. In your ward, or in Adur more widely, what specific problems, challenges or solutions would you like to address that would enable more safe, easy everyday journeys by bike?

I cycle a lot and I experience the pot-holes, poor road surfaces and speeding traffic of Hillside. These things are dangerous for cyclists and I will press the county council to do its job to bring our roads up to standard and to review speed limits. It’s odd that Mile Oak Road is 30mph until the Portslade boundary when it becomes 20mph. 20mph should be the norm for urban areas. That makes sense for safety and reducing pollution.  

A consultation has just closed on a cycle route along the A259 through Southwick to Hove. Some of what is suggested is very positive but how does someone cycling from Hillside reach that cycle lane?  We should have safe cycle routes down to Southwick Green, the Square, the A259, the beach and, of course, to Shoreham Academy. 

As well as north-south, I would like to look at whether the services roads alongside Old Shoreham Road could be an opportunity for safe cycling east-west. 

Something should also be done about access to Holmbush. Most people doing the weekly shop will come by car or bus, but it should be made easier for people to pop in on their cycles or by foot, and for staff to cycle too. That would be good for the individual and for the environment. What we have now is entirely designed for cars while cyclists have to take to the winding, narrow pavement. We should be making it easier to cycle, not creating obstacle courses.  

Do you have any other ambitions for cycling or other forms of sustainable transport in Shoreham and Adur, particularly as the population of our district grows in coming years?

Transport is the biggest cause of pollution in Adur so we would like to make leaving the car behind a viable option. Cycling to work, to the station, to school, to the shops or for leisure should be easier and safer. I support more places to park cycles in town centres and workplaces, more 20mph speed limit zones and an affordable integrated public transport system. More about our Labour policies are on: https://www.ewslabour.org.uk/2022/04/14/our-priorities-for-cycling-and-transport-in-adur/

We have asked all candidates in May’s Adur District Council elections to answer some questions on cycling and transport, to help residents decide on their vote.

Here are the responses we have received so far for Mash Barn ward in Lancing. If you do not see a response from a candidate you’re looking for, we have not yet received one, and we’ll publish it when we do.

• Lee Cowen, Labour
• Carina Livingstone, Green Party – no reply received yet
• Doris Martin, Liberal Democrats – no reply received yet
• Mike Mendoza, Conservative – no reply received yet
  
  To view candidates for a different ward, see our main 2022 local elections page.

Candidate: Lee Cowen
Party: Labour

What will you do (and, if incumbent, what have you already done) to bring meaningful improvement to cycling in Adur, not in the distant future, but soon?

I’m the leader of the Labour group, the opposition to the Conservatives who are the current majority on Adur District Council. As leader, my aim has been to ensure Labour listens to local people and put the interests of local people and their well-being at the heart of everything we do.

To support well-being we must support measures to reduce pollution and to make it easier for young and old to cycle safely. My ward is Lancing and many people have little alternative than to use a car because of the lack of affordable reliable public transport or safe cycling routes. This must change.

I campaigned against IKEA which would have caused more road traffic, congestion and pollution to Lancing. The provision to cross the A27 is inadequate in my opinion.

I have argued that new developments across the district must mitigate their impact by providing improved local infrastructure including cycle lanes and cycle racks.

There doesn’t appear to be a holistic approach to planning and development whatsoever with developers and councillors seen to be passing the buck.

I want to see improvements made where targets are set and adhered to.

In your ward, or in Adur more widely, what specific problems, challenges or solutions would you like to address that would enable more safe, easy everyday journeys by bike?


The County Council has consulted on possible cycle routes in Lancing, including Grinstead Lane and South Street and along Upper Brighton Road/Cokeham Road/Crabtree Lane. I’m not sure many people even knew that a consultation took place. I support genuine consultation, where councils listen to people and discuss with them how we can, together, improve our areas, not repeated on-line surveys.

Many families and school children are nervous about riding cycles on our busy roads. The A27 is one of those routes but with the New Monks Farm development currently under construction I will ensure that a safe route is always available.

We often see cars parked on cycle lanes and blocking sightlines at junctions. We need improved reporting mechanisms and enforcement. The prevalence of potholes on our local roads can be very dangerous for vulnerable cyclists.

Labour councillors have and will continue to call for genuine improvements as a matter of urgency, not just something to be put into a plan and not implemented.

Do you have any other ambitions for cycling or other forms of sustainable transport in Shoreham and Adur, particularly as the population of our district grows in coming years?

We favour policies that will make it easier for people to choose to leave the car behind for many journeys. That’s not how new developments in Adur are being designed along the A27 or the A259.  It should be easier and safer, for local people to cycle to work, to school, to the shops or for leisure.

I support more places to park cycles in town centres and workplaces, more 20mph speed limit zones and an affordable integrated public transport system.

More about our Labour policies are on: https://www.ewslabour.org.uk/2022/04/14/our-priorities-for-cycling-and-transport-in-adur/

We have asked all candidates in May’s Adur District Council elections to answer some questions on cycling and transport, to help residents decide on their vote.

Here are the responses we have received so far for St Mary’s ward. If you do not see a response from a candidate you’re looking for, we have not yet received one, and we’ll publish it when we do.

• Catherine Arnold, Labour
• Brian Coomber, Conservative – no reply received yet
• Jane Mott, Green Party – no reply received yet
  
  To view candidates for a different ward, see our main 2022 local elections page.

Candidate: Catherine Arnold
Party: Labour

1. What will you do (and, if incumbent, what have you already done) to bring meaningful improvement to cycling in Adur, not in the distant future, but soon?

In my four years as councillor for St Mary’s I have always spoken out for and campaigned for better and permanent safer cycling infrastructure and lanes. When we face an impending environmental collapse, to put it simply, we must be getting out of our cars and start walking and cycling more.

As a keen cyclist myself with young children I have seen first-hand how much more confident children become when they are protected from the traffic while cycling. Equally, I’ve seen that same child no longer wish to cycle as they are too frightened to be so near the traffic. That’s heart-breaking. I spoke out against the removal of the cycle lane on Upper Shoreham Road, purely on the basis of the data which showed how popular the cycle lane was. Refinements were needed and I recognise that some adaptations will be needed when it returns, but through collaboration I am sure this can be achieved.

I have responded to and encouraged others to give their views to the many consultations we have had on cycle lanes and done so myself.

Many good ideas have been put forward, but deeply opposing views have been used as an excuse to ignore the uptake data and for over-consulting.  Routes within Adur that link together can only serve to fulfil the needs of commuters, schoolchildren, disabled cyclists etc. This starts with a permanent and segregated Upper Shoreham Road cycle lane stretching from the west by the Toll Bridge and continuing to the Holmbush roundabout.

I also support the leisure bike hire scheme as well as plenty of bike racks, bike storage (as we see in Worthing), a crackdown on bike thefts and free Bikeability courses offered by WSCC to schools. I would like to see a trial of a school street, where on certain days schools shut their street and therefore pupils and parents can cycle or walk in.

As a councillor, I want to see budgets sought and secured, plans enabled and all councillors at a district and county level working together to make it happen.

2. In your ward, or in Adur more widely, what specific problems, challenges or solutions would you like to address that would enable more safe, easy everyday journeys by bike?

The air quality in Shoreham High Street has been noted as an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). Despite writing numerous reports and submitting them to DEFRA yearly, the council has done little to materially change this situation over the years. I would like to see better air quality data capture and known (and arising area) hotspots targeted for cycle infrastructure first. This would improve the air quality situation and resultant health issues.

When commercial developments are built, I want to see those agreed travel plans adhered to and if not successfully achieved, interventions to make them happen. We cannot have the line “we need fewer car spaces at housing developments to tackle the climate” yet no supporting cycle infrastructure provided to alleviate the need for cars at said developments.

In St Mary’s many people of all ages want the opportunity to cycle safely. It is especially important for children and young adults and we need safer routes to Shoreham Academy and to Sir Robert Woodard Academy (SRWA). The county council’s refusal to see that the current route to school for pupils to SRWA is along a 70mph down to 40mph stretch of the A27, is dangerous and dismissive of parental concerns.  A protected cycle way needs to be sought here ASAP by WSCC and any new business inheriting the ex-IKEA land needs to factor this into their plans too.

The county council needs to win back respect on all sides, cease relentless surveys and consultations on the idea of cycle lanes, and come up with designs and funding. It must speak directly with stakeholders at a time that suits them and not the council.

Ideas for Middle Road, Eastern Avenue, Upper Shoreham Road need to be driven by officers, in consultation within councillors.

As a councillor I will insist on genuine local involvement, including schools, to bring about change and to ensure safe, active travel becomes a viable option sooner rather than later. We would implement the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan so families can cycle safely – well designed and planned with local residents who walk, cycle or drive.

 3. Do you have any other ambitions for cycling or other forms of sustainable transport in Shoreham and Adur, particularly as the population of our district grows in coming years?

1/3rd of carbon emissions in Adur comes from traffic, as individuals and businesses we need to be using our cars much less and walking and cycling more. As a local Labour group we still ask for an integrated travel system (like TfL) and continue to press this.

The council need to encourage more car sharing schemes and work with business parks to provide electric, shuttle buses or bike storage to encourage sustainable travel to large employment sites. WSCC need to stop procuring school buses on the cheapest wins basis and start to ensure certain contractors winning a certain size of business offer sustainable solutions.

Part of the issue for the unwillingness to switch from a car is cost (petrol/diesel has historically been cheaper than a bus/train ticket) .So I would like to see more electric car share/hire schemes, more bicycle “hire for the week schemes” and bike repair cafes being offered by the council/local suppliers to larger employers. I would welcome an electric scooter hire scheme for coastal stretches in the future too. I would like to make it easier for people to choose to leave the car behind. It should be easier and safer for local people to cycle to work, to school, to the shops or for leisure. I support more cycle lanes, more places to park cycles in town centres and workplaces, more 20mph speed limit zones and an affordable integrated public transport system.

More information about the policies I support is at https://www.ewslabour.org.uk/2022/04/14/our-priorities-for-cycling-and-transport-in-adur/

Over eight months since the last round of consultation, we still await West Sussex County Council’s decision regarding the next steps for Upper Shoreham Road – not with a return to temporary lanes of orange wands, but with a well-designed, attractive set of improvements that will work well for all.

With so much of Shoreham’s planned cycle network still to be built, why has there been so much ongoing fuss about Upper Shoreham Road, you may ask?

It’s a fair question, with several answers:

Upper Shoreham Road is useful.

No other road in Shoreham connects so many homes to destinations like schools, shops and green spaces (while coming close to the town centre and railway station). Space for cycling on Upper Shoreham Road will help many people to make many types of everyday journey.

Upper Shoreham Road has waited long enough.

The street was first identified by WSCC as a key cycling route 30 years ago. Since then it has been highlighted in multiple studies, plans and strategies, at district, county and even national levels. Despite three decades of ambition, there has been no action to create high-quality well-designed improvements.

Upper Shoreham Road is outdated.

Its current layout harks back to before the construction of the A27 Shoreham bypass. By today’s design standards, Upper Shoreham Road resembles a trunk road, not a residential street.

Upper Shoreham Road needs to be better for walking.

Its facilities for walking are in need of improvement. People getting about on foot are not kept safe enough by the wide-splayed side road crossings and improvised crossing islands. These need updating.

Upper Shoreham Road can work for all.

For much of its length, Upper Shoreham Road is wide enough to accommodate various needs without competition. Space for cycling, for car parking, for walking, and for driving can all co-exist with some smart design. Preliminary work by WSCC’s engineers has shown residents and councillors how this may be achieved.

Upper Shoreham Road is supported.

The Department for Transport – the experts in creating safer streets – know that levels of support for such projects always grows, sometimes from an initial low level, often to a very high level as people see and feel the benefit. The last consultation showed a 48% level of support, and a 48% level of opposition, giving Upper Shoreham Road a headstart in public acceptance of positive change.

Upper Shoreham Road is the easiest place to start.

Though WSCC have assured us that different areas of Shoreham are not to be considered alternatives in decision-making around cycling, we know that some have questioned whether other roads should be first in line when it comes to creating the next link in Shoreham’s cycling network. Many of the alternatives mentioned will bring huge challenges, for both engineering and politics. Upper Shoreham Road is, frankly, the easiest place to make a start. We have consulted with independent engineers who regard Upper Shoreham Road as a golden opportunity.

We continue to communicate with county councillors, district councillors and our MP, Tim Loughton, on behalf of our growing membership. You can add your voice to this growing movement by becoming a member of Shoreham-By-Cycle.

We have asked all candidates in May’s Adur District Council elections to answer some questions on cycling and transport, to help residents decide on their vote.

Here are the responses we have received so far for St Nicolas ward. If you do not see a response from a candidate you’re looking for, we have not yet received one, and we’ll publish it when we do.

• Julian Shinn, Green Party
• Bob Towner, Conservative – no reply received yet
  
  To view candidates for a different ward, see our main 2022 local elections page.

Candidate: Julian Shinn
Party: Green Party

1. What will you do to bring meaningful improvement to cycling in Adur, not in the distant future, but soon?

My guarantee as a Green candidate is a genuine commitment to cycling & other forms of active travel. When you vote for a Green candidate, you know where my priorities lie. You know that my fundamental concern is the climate crisis facing our planet & people and that I will work persistently to address this challenge on a local basis. 

One key part of that challenge is the urgent need to re-think the way we move around. For all the many benefits it has bought us, the internal combustion engine is destroying our planet, choking our children, and clogging up our capacity to get around.

It is essential to our future that we re-design our living environment to allow and encourage people to move away from the car and enjoy other methods of moving around – walking, cycling, mobility vehicles, other wheeled transport (scooters, etc) and public transport. 

In our future, the current priority given to motor vehicles – even electric – cannot be sustained. It is inefficient, unequal, and dangerous, especially when operating in the same spaces as pedestrians and cyclists.

This is the bottom line. And whilst many solutions lie at national government and county council level, I will do everything in my power, if elected as district councillor, to promote cycling as a key component of active travel.

This means holding cycling safety and infrastructure high and central in my priorities, making strong and persistent arguments for change, supporting local campaigns, and showing leadership. 

Leadership means advocating change not because it is the prevailing political mood, but because the future health of planet and people demand it. It means taking brave decisions, even in the face of opposition and not hiding behind consultation after consultation.

Consultation on the nature and design of improvements is, of course, important and all stakeholders need to be involved in this, but the decisions for change need to be clear and determined. This had very sadly been lacking over many, many years at district and county level.

I believe that, at district level, it is possible to effect change and, as we gain more Green councillors in years ahead, this impact will grow. 

There’s much that can be done already. Motions of support for cycling and other travel infrastructure at district level will influence county planning. Giving support to campaigning initiatives, such as the Red Lion crossing, can add weight and legitimacy. Raising cycling infrastructure in regard to all planning applications, with generous targets for bicycle use, storage and access.

Let me address specifics…

2. In your ward, or in Adur more widely, what specific problems, challenges or solutions would you like to address that would enable more safe, easy everyday journeys by bike?

I will be supporting and proposing a number of initiatives –

1. A motion of support for a 20mph speed limit for all residential areas of Shoreham and throughout the district. Evidence has shown that this improves safety significantly for cyclists & pedestrians, it is not an expensive change and I believe the motion of support would create a strong signal of support for county council decision making.
2. Place pressure on the county council to complete the Red Lion crossing.
3. Urgently address Middle Road cycling infrastructure which persistently places our young people at risk as they head to and from Shoreham Academy.
4. Give persistent support to the campaign to develop infrastructure for the Upper Shoreham Road which is designed to the best specifications and creates a safe artery for cyclists, pedestrians, and mobility vehicles.
5. Give similar support to and lobby for the development of the A259 artery.
6. Lobby for all cycling infrastructure to meet Department for Transport “Gear Change” Key Design principles (attached).
7. Continue to lobby and support extension of cycle share schemes into the Adur area .
8. With local stakeholders, develop a blueprint for effective cycling arteries throughout the district – east to west and north to south.
9. Scrutinise planning applications to ensure that cyclist provision and infrastructure is a key component within any new build.
10. Lobby for ‘before and after’ school road closure schemes at local schools (eg. Swiss Gardens, Shoreham Academy / Hammy Lane entrance)

3. Do you have any other ambitions for cycling or other forms of sustainable transport in Shoreham and Adur, particularly as the population of our district grows in coming years?

Very much so! As I explained above, our ambition should be for a network of ‘movement arteries’ across our area which allows and incentivises safe, active travel.

1. Scrutiny of all planning applications to ensure they promote rather than restrict pedestrian through-paths.
2. Further pedestrian development in Shoreham and throughout the district. Specifically in Shoreham to promote pedestrian walkways from Station / Pond Lane right through to Ferry Road and Shoreham Beach.
3. Given the development of the New Monks Farm area, to lobby for an A27 limited bus service to provide a ‘northern public transport artery’ to the district.
4. Lobby for bus lane infrastructure on the A259 to increase the efficiency / reliability of the Stagecoach 700 service between Worthing and Brighton.
5. Lobby for improvement to bus services north of the Upper Shoreham Road including frequency and timing of the Compass 19 service.
6. Lobby for ticket integration between companies – Stagecoach / Compass / Brighton & Hove – to minimise multiple tickets over extended journeys.
7. Lobby for extension of Car Share schemes into the Adur area. Car clubs reduce private car ownership and congestion. Ensure all new developments have ‘Car Club’ parking provision.
8. Lobby with Southern Rail to improve the capacity and frequency of West Coastway services. This is an essential public travel artery and services should include larger, more frequent trains.

We have asked all candidates in May’s Adur District Council elections to answer some questions on cycling and transport, to help residents decide on their vote.

Here are the responses we have received so far for Manor ward. If you do not see a response from a candidate you’re looking for, we have not yet received one, and we’ll publish it when we do.

• Carol Albury, Conservative – no reply received yet
• Maggie Rumble, Green Party
• Nigel Sweet, Labour & Co-operative Party

To view candidates for a different ward, see our main 2022 local elections page.

Candidate: Maggie Rumble
Party: Green Party

1. What will you do to bring meaningful improvement to cycling in Adur, not in the distant future, but soon?

Engage residents in discussion about what they want from cycling provision.

I would suggest dedicated cycle lanes, not just coned off bits of road, more cycle racks and cycle storage areas, making it easier to take bikes on trains,  greater & more visible profile given to safer cycle friendly routes through towns.

2. In your ward, or in Adur more widely, what specific problems, challenges or solutions would you like to address that would enable more safe, easy everyday journeys by bike?

Place 20 mph speed limits in residential areas and close to schools. Better enforcement of existing speed limits. Possible restriction of motor transport close to schools at certain times of day (e.g. North Lancing Primary).  Provision of more cycle tracks and better maintenance of existing ones. Ensuring cycle routes join up sensibly and don’t just end abruptly on ordinary roads. For example, extending the cycle track from Shoreham to Lancing along the A27 towards Worthing. And adding a cycle track on the north side of the A27 between Manor Road and Hoe Court. Improving a north-south route through Lancing.  Adding dropped kerbs where appropriate.

3. Do you have any other ambitions for cycling or other forms of sustainable transport in Shoreham and Adur, particularly as the population of our district grows in coming years?

Cyclists’ and pedestrians’ needs to be considered for all new development.

Provision of secure cycle storage close to railway stations and other transport hubs. 

Candidate: Nigel Sweet
Party: Labour & Co-operative

1. What will you do to bring meaningful improvement to cycling in Adur, not in the distant future, but soon?

I believe I was a newly elected Adur councillor in 1996 when the first moves were made towards forming a policy and some goals for the council. I was a keen cyclist then but I’m less keen now due to my age, the local road conditions and air quality problems. If elected on May 5, I realise that Adur District Council on its own cannot transform cycling, sustainable transport and public transport. We need urgent co-operative action across all local and National government, and as a new member of the Labour Group of Adur councillors that would be my aim. 

2. In your ward, or in Adur more widely, what specific problems, challenges or solutions would you like to address that would enable more safe, easy everyday journeys by bike?

I am no expert on planning for cycling and sustainable transport, and so I would ensure experts in the field, as well as representatives of transport users and operators, figure centrally in any plan making. I believe we have the expertise but lack the political will and commitment which I can provide.

3. Do you have any other ambitions for cycling or other forms of sustainable transport in Shoreham and Adur, particularly as the population of our district grows in coming years?

Ambition for improvements for the people you aim to represent is essential for any aspiring politician, and I have that in buckets full!  That ambition covers many issues including cycling, sustainable transport and reducing pollution. The local Labour Party’s policy is set out here…  https://www.ewslabour.org.uk/2022/04/14/our-priorities-for-cycling-and-transport-in-adur/

We have asked all candidates in May’s Adur District Council elections to answer some questions on cycling and transport, to help residents decide on their vote.

Here are the responses we have received so far for Southwick Green ward in Southwick. If you do not see a response from a candidate you’re looking for, we have not yet received one, and we’ll publish it when we do.

• David Batchelor, Liberal Democrat
• Jude Harvey, Labour
• Leila Williams, Conservative – no reply received yet

To view candidates for a different ward, see our main 2022 local elections page.

Candidate: David Batchelor
Party: Liberal Democrat

1. What will you do to bring meaningful improvement to cycling in Adur, not in the distant future, but soon?

Now we have the bones of a network we need to facilitate the actual use of bikes. That means more secure parking in town centres, bike storage for residents without garages, and integration with other public transport. If elected, LibDem councillors will use carbon free transport wherever practicable when carrying out their duties. As councillors, we would use the current hike in petrol prices as a rallying cry to encourage more low carbon travel options, including cycling and walking.

2. In your ward, or in Adur more widely, what specific problems, challenges
or solutions would you like to address that would enable more safe, easy
everyday journeys by bike?

It’s a real shame that cycle facilities have passed us by in Southwick. We need cycleways to link the schools, Buckingham Park, Southwick Square and Holmbush. Anyone that braves the Brighton Road or Upper Shoreham Road knows that cycling to Hove and Brighton is not for the faint-hearted and needs sorting.

As the fiasco with Upper Shoreham Road demonstrated, cycle schemes are
tolerated and begrudgingly adopted by Tory councillors after central
government pressure. Cycles are equal and vulnerable road users. There are
not enough segregated safe spaces to give cyclists of all levels of experience
the confidence to use bikes as everyday transport and exercise. In the past,
shared spaces have often been poorly designed and caused friction between
users. Cycling will not be an afterthought for LibDem councillors.

3. Do you have any other ambitions for cycling or other forms of sustainable transport in Shoreham and Adur, particularly as the population of our district grows in coming years?

We will create a cyclists’ Adur Ring. It will link the Coastal Path, Downs Link
and South Downs Way. It will be a marked and branded circuit that will link the
beach to the downs and the river. It will provide a cycling link between
Shoreham and Southwick as well as a link northward to Steyning. It will provide
an opportunity for more residents to use bikes to travel safely between local
towns. It will be a fabulous accessible recreation facility and another amenity to attract visitors. We shall be doing more work on the precise route of the
Adur Ring and, in due course, will publish details on Facebook
@FocusonShorehamanSouthwick.

Candidate: Jude Harvey
Party: Labour

1. What will you do to bring meaningful improvement to cycling in Adur, not in the distant future, but soon?

Consultation has just closed on a possible cycle route along the A259 through Southwick to Hove. Many good ideas were put forward, but it seems to me that over the years council officers put forward good ideas only for Conservative councillors to come up with reasons why we should not do them. As a councillor I want to see action, I want to see improvements made.

2. In your ward, or in Adur more widely, what specific problems, challenges or solutions would you like to address that would enable more safe, easy everyday journeys by bike?

I cycle most days in Southwick and experience the pot-holes and poor road surfaces that entails. I will press the county council to do more on that. The issue of potholes is extremely important. They can burst a car’s tyre but they can throw a cyclist from their bike on a busy road used by heavy lorries – Kingston Lane for example. It’s also difficult for a cyclist to be watching out for potholes at the same time as gauging traffic behaviour.

I will also argue for more reminders of the speed limit would be helpful. Signs that remind motorists of the place of cyclists in the new highway code hierarchy of road users at strategic points would be worthwhile too.

As an Adur councillor for Southwick Green I will want to see improvements to the Square so that it is more bike friendly, including more parking places for bicycles. Much more needs to be done and I will talk to residents about that. On-line surveys and consultations by the county council are one thing, but we need genuine local involvement to bring about change.

3. Do you have any other ambitions for cycling or other forms of sustainable transport in Shoreham and Adur, particularly as the population of our district grows in coming years?

Transport is the biggest cause of pollution in Adur so we would like to make it easier for people to choose to leave the car behind. It should be easier and safer for local people to cycle to work, to school, to the shops or for leisure. I support more cycle lanes, more places to park cycles in town centres and workplaces, more 20mph speed limit zones and an affordable integrated public transport system. More about the policies I support are on https://www.ewslabour.org.uk/2022/04/14/our-priorities-for-cycling-and-transport-in-adur/

We have asked all candidates in May’s Adur District Council elections to answer some questions on cycling and transport, to help residents decide on their vote.

Here are the responses we have received so far for Southlands ward in Shoreham-by-Sea. If you do not see a response from a candidate you’re looking for, we have not yet received one, and we’ll publish it when we do.

• Tania Edwards, Conservative
• Dan Flower, Labour
• Ian Jones, Liberal Democrat
• Anne Younger, Green
  
  To view candidates for a different ward, see our main 2022 local elections page.

Name: Tania Edwards
Party: Conservative

1. What will I do to bring meaningful improvement to  cycling in Adur, no in the distant future, but soon?

I have only been a Councillor for the last year (and if I am re-elected) I aim to continue working with the Highways and WSCC to get urgent repairs in Southlands as many of the potholes are at risk of reaching Australia and are a serious hazard to all road users!  Parts of Kingston Lane, Wilmot Road, Arundel Close (crater), Middle Road, are now scheduled to be repaired/resurfaced this year – photos sent to them obviously paint a thousand words!

However the above is mainly remedial work and I feel to help add value to Southlands and in order to link up with all the other surrounding Adur districts to have a more cohesive travel plan for all, whether by bike, walking, active travel through good public services and car, we need to have a major restructuring of Stoney Lane, Kingston Lane, Hammy Lane and last but not least Middle Road.  If we can get these roads/links right, I believe we can enhance the experience for all travellers, encouraging more that are physically able to get out and about.  

There are many families living in Southlands, however over 60% of residents are aged 60 yrs plus, there are a large number of people under0 – 60yrs too that have a variety of disabilities and are in specially adapted homes.  As I mention below, my challenge will be to serve all these needs, whilst trying to work closely with other wards as we are slap bang in the middle and therefore need to work together to achieve a cohesive plan.

The answers to many of the issues raised by everyone so far will depend on the same old issues – quality and proposed layouts.  Afterall we have the technology and the know-how, we just need to get on and apply it.

2. What in my ward, or in Adur more widely, are the specific problems, challenges or solutions that I would like to address that would enable more safe easy everyday journeys by bike?

I have addressed part of this already in Question 1.   

I would add:

• I think that reducing speed restrictions in some areas (which has also been raised by many of the other candidates too) should be considered, some countries e.g. America have brought in ‘dual speed limits’ for areas that have children going to school which apply at certain times of the day (with hefty fines imposed if breached).
• I think that we need to have a national road training programme and awareness for all road users, however I will settle for getting something up and running in Adur to start with, as in the last 10yrs alone the law has changed on so many fronts with regard to road use e.g. who gives right of way to who and people across all ages/modes of travel have not been keeping up and Covid has added to this problem.  I have seen all ages using all modes of transport and they seem to have lost their confidence and/or are completely oblivious to the dangers as they were vastly reduced when we were all in lockdowns.

3. Do I have any other ambitions for cycling or other forms of sustainable transport in Shoreham and Adur, particularly as the population of our district grows in the coming years?

I would very much like to work to get the buy-in from all on how we use our roads and pavements throughout Adur (and nationally).  To achieve this I think that following any training for all, this will help with accountability which everyone needs to take ownership.   In Amsterdam I have been amazed at how pedestrians, car drivers and bike riders can live in harmony and everyone respects each other as equals, whether this is resulting in bike riders being registered I believe this has helped to give bike users a higher profile and formal recognition. 

Overall it is about working with all parties and authorities and whilst discussions are still needed, more doing is also imperative!

Candidate: Dan Flower
Party: Labour

1. What will you do to bring meaningful improvement to cycling in Adur, not in the distant future, but soon?

We have had many consultations on cycle lanes. Many good ideas were put forward, but it seems that over the years council officers put forward good ideas only for Conservative councillors to come up with reasons why we should not do them. As a councillor I want to see action, I want to see improvements made.

2. In your ward, or in Adur more widely, what specific problems, challenges or solutions would you like to address that would enable more safe, easy everyday journeys by bike?

In Southlands safe cycling is especially important with the number of school students on their way to and from Shoreham Academy. The county council likes on-line surveys and consultations. That’s not good enough. Ideas for Middle Road and Upper Shoreham Road appear and disappear without anything happening.  As a councillor I will insist on genuine local involvement to bring about change and to ensure safe, active travel becomes an option for local people. How refreshing would it be if we heard from our children about their experiences of cycling and walking to school, from dog walkers about crossing the roads to the parks and from people with pushchairs, wheelchairs and mobility scooters about dropped kerbs.

3. Do you have any other ambitions for cycling or other forms of sustainable transport in Shoreham and Adur, particularly as the population of our district grows in coming years?

Transport is the biggest cause of pollution in Adur so I would like to make it easier for people to choose to leave the car behind. It should be easier and safer for local people to cycle to work, to school, to the shops or for leisure. I support more cycle lanes, more places to park cycles in town centres and workplaces, more 20mph speed limit zones and an affordable integrated public transport system. More about the policies I support are on https://www.ewslabour.org.uk/2022/04/14/our-priorities-for-cycling-and-transport-in-adur/

Candidate: Ian Jones
Party: Liberal Democrat

1. What will you do to bring meaningful improvement to cycling in Adur, not in the distant future, but
soon?

Now we have the bones of a network we need to facilitate the actual use of bikes. That means more secure parking in town centres, bike storage for residents without garages, and integration with other public transport. If elected, LibDem councillors will use carbon free transport wherever practicable when carrying out their duties. As councillors, we would use the current hike in petrol prices as a rallying cry to encourage more low carbon travel options, including cycling and walking.

2. In your ward, or in Adur more widely, what specific problems, challenges
or solutions would you like to address that would enable more safe, easy
everyday journeys by bike?

As the fiasco with Upper Shoreham Road demonstrated, cycle schemes are tolerated and begrudgingly adopted by Tory councillors after central government pressure. Cycles are equal and vulnerable road users. There are not enough segregated safe spaces to give cyclists of all levels of experience the confidence to use bikes as everyday transport and exercise. In the past, shared spaces have often been poorly designed and caused friction between users. Cycling will not be an afterthought for LibDem councillors.

3. Do you have any other ambitions for cycling or other forms of sustainable
transport in Shoreham and Adur, particularly as the population of our district
grows in coming years?

We will create a cyclists’ Adur Ring. It will link the Coastal Path, Downs Link and South Downs Way. It will be a marked and branded circuit that will link the beach to the Downs and the river. It will provide a cycling link between Shoreham and Southwick as well as a link northward to Steyning. It will provide an opportunity for more residents to use bikes to travel safely between local towns. It will be a fabulous accessible recreation facility and another amenity to attract visitors. We shall be doing more work on the precise route of the Adur Ring and, in due course, will publish details on Facebook
@FocusonShorehamandSouthwick.

Candidate: Anne Younger
Party: Green Party

What will you do to bring meaningful improvement to cycling in Adur, not in the distant future, but soon?

Like so many of us I walk, cycle and drive a car, to be honest, not necessarily in that order! Nobody should be made ill, to feel guilty or unsafe doing any of those, but sadly they do. As a Green candidate I know that it could be so much better if we are brave, willing to see other perspectives and open ourselves to change. It is going to be the only way we survive as a race.

I would bring energy, drive and an absolute conviction to a whole range of ideas aimed at improving cycling and active travel, starting on day one. Above all I would look at things differently, putting our health and that of the planet first – because we depend on it (oh and it is very beautiful).

Despite the oft-quoted opinion that the County Council have all the power when it comes to improving active travel, Adur District DOES have some rights and jurisdiction. It would be my priority to push to use these to make early changes to our local roads and infrastructure – a great example being where I live and where I am standing as candidate – Middle Road in Southlands ward.

In your ward, or in Adur more widely, what specific problems, challenges or
solutions would you like to address that would enable more safe, easy everyday journeys by bike?

Use Adur District’s local powers to make Middle Road safer for school children and all other users by providing cycling infrastructure.

Give support to a motion for a 20mph speed limit for all residential areas of Shoreham and throughout the district, improving safety significantly for cyclists & pedestrians, at low cost.

Back the campaign to develop infrastructure for the Upper Shoreham Road and A259 which is designed to the best specifications and creates a safe artery for cyclists, pedestrians, and mobility vehicles.

Support extension of cycle share schemes into the Adur area.

With local stakeholders, develop a blueprint for effective cycling arteries throughout the district – east to west and north to south.

Scrutinise planning applications to ensure that cyclist provision and infrastructure is a key component within any new build.

Lobby for ‘before and after’ school road closure schemes at local schools (eg. St Peter’s, St Nicolas and St Mary, Shoreham Academy)

Do you have any other ambitions for cycling or other forms of sustainable
transport in Shoreham and Adur, particularly as the population of our district grows in coming years?

Besides active travel, other keys to easing the move away from the car are to provide well planned public transport services – rail and road, and to have a shared vision for revitalising and localising our urban spaces. I would support/ lobby for the following:

Station–town-river-sea pedestrianisation via Brunswick Road, East Street, footbridge, Ferry Road.

Given the development of the New Monks Farm area, to lobby for an A27 limited bus service to provide a ‘northern public transport artery’ to the district.

Lobby for bus lane infrastructure on the A259 to increase the efficiency/reliability of the Stagecoach 700 service between Worthing and Brighton.

Lobby for improvement to bus services north of the Upper Shoreham Road including frequency and timing of the Compass 19 service.

Lobby for ticket integration between companies – Stagecoach/Compass/Brighton & Hove – to minimise multiple tickets over extended journeys.

Lobby for extension of Car Share schemes into the Adur area. Car clubs reduce private car ownership and congestion. Ensure all new developments have ‘Car Club’ parking provision.

Lobby with Southern Rail to improve the capacity and frequency of West Coastway services. This is an essential public travel artery and services should include larger, more frequent trains.

Thanks to fellow Green candidate Julian Shinn for many of these suggestions.

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We have asked all candidates in May’s Adur District Council elections to answer some questions on cycling and transport, to help residents decide on their vote.

Here are the responses we have received so far for Buckingham ward in Shoreham-by-Sea. If you do not see a response from a candidate you’re looking for, we have not yet received one, and we’ll publish it when we do.

• Emma Evans, Conservative
• Nico Kearns, Liberal Democrat
• Joe O’Halloran, Labour – no reply received yet
  

To view candidates for a different ward, see our main 2022 local elections page.

Candidate: Emma Evans
Party: Conservative

1. What will you do (and, if incumbent, what have you already done) to bring
meaningful improvement to cycling in Adur, not in the distant future, but soon?

In the time I have been a district councillor there has definitely been a shift in
emphasis to a more sustainable way of living.

With that comes the greater importance active travel, whether walking or cycling it is here to stay.

How we make that safer whilst bringing all of our community along with us is a
challenge. There are polarised opinions both for and against.

We are making strides in the right direction with the Local Cycling Walking
Infrastructure Plan and improvements such as the crossing going in across the A283 at the Red Lion.

2. In your ward, or in Adur more widely, what specific problems, challenges or
solutions would you like to address that would enable more safe, easy
everyday journeys by bike?

In Buckingham the pinch point for any cycle lane is particularly outside our local shopping parade where the road is narrower and the shops benefit from a lot of passing trade.

I don’t believe the scheme in 2020 was a well thought out one. Had it gone in in
March when the first lockdown happened the problems would have been excusable, however it didn’t go in til September and was not finished when it was removed in January 2021.

Do you have any other ambitions for cycling or other forms of sustainable
transport in Shoreham and Adur, particularly as the population of our district
grows in coming years?

My ambition, should I be re elected, is to find schemes initially that can be supported by many if not all residents. I believe that most would like to see schemes that enable children to have safe routes to school. The new crossing will help with those travelling west to Sir Robert Woodard Academy.

I feel that Eastern Avenue and along Middle Road would also benefit from a scheme, promotion and linking up of the national cycle route is key.

My dream scenario for the town would be for lorry/port traffic to be stopped from using Old Shoreham Rd, Upper Shoreham Rd and the High Street, instead using the route intended for them in Portslade. For the roads such as West St to become left turn only, and for there to be a reduction in the number of bus stops on the High Street.

I am very much looking forward to the new bike hire scheme coming to town, which will have electric as well as pedal power bikes, making active travel a viable option for many at a reasonable cost.

Also with the new developments, whilst controversial they do give the opportunity for a linked up coastal cycle route opening up the river views and safe routes East to West.

Candidate: Nico Kearns
Party: Liberal Democrat

1. What will you do to bring meaningful improvement to cycling in Adur, not in the distant future, but soon?

Now we have the bones of a network we need to facilitate the actual use of bikes. That means more secure parking in town centres, bike storage for residents without garages, and integration with other public transport. If elected, LibDem councillors will use carbon free transport wherever practicable when carrying out their duties. As councillors, we would use the current hike in petrol prices as a rallying cry to encourage more low carbon travel options, including cycling and walking.

2. In your ward, or in Adur more widely, what specific problems, challenges
or solutions would you like to address that would enable more safe, easy
everyday journeys by bike?

As the fiasco with Upper Shoreham Road demonstrated, cycle schemes are tolerated and begrudgingly adopted by Tory councillors after central government pressure. Cycles are equal and vulnerable road users. There are not enough segregated safe spaces to give cyclists of all levels of experience the confidence to use bikes as everyday transport and exercise. In the past, shared spaces have often been poorly designed and caused friction between users. Cycling will not be an afterthought for LibDem councillors.

3. Do you have any other ambitions for cycling or other forms of sustainable transport in Shoreham and Adur, particularly as the population of our district grows in coming years?

We will create a cyclists’ Adur Ring. It will link the Coastal Path, Downs Link and South Downs Way. It will be a marked and branded circuit that will link the beach to the downs and the river. It will provide a cycling link between Shoreham and Southwick as well as a link northward to Steyning. It will provide an opportunity for more residents to use bikes to travel safely between local towns. It will be a fabulous accessible recreation facility and another amenity to attract visitors. We shall be doing more work on the precise route of the Adur Ring and, in due course, will publish details on Facebook @FocusonShorehamandSouthwick.

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