The council eliminated the Higher Shoreham Highway lane in January as a part of the reversal of a number of schemes throughout West Sussex arrange throughout the summer time lockdown.
Whereas the opposite lanes in West Sussex have been nearly universally criticised, the case for Shoreham’s was much less reduce and dried because it was confirmed to have elevated cycle journeys with out affecting visitors or elevating air air pollution.
Now charity Biking UK has submitted an software for the council’s choice to be judicially reviewed, branding it ‘irrational and illegal’.
“/>
Pop-up cycle lanes on Higher Shoreham Highway, Shoreham. Pic Steve Robards SR201101 SUS-200211-170755001
The group has accused the council of failing to hold out an equality affect evaluation earlier than making the choice and ignoring the statutory steering on the administration of their highways community.
A spokesman for the group mentioned: “Regardless of the recognition of the route for Shoreham’s households and residents, and no proof to assist unsubstantiated claims the lane had induced congestion or visitors delays, an arbitrary choice was made to take away the lane by councillor Roger Elkins, West Sussex County Council’s cupboard member for highways and infrastructure.”
The choice had initially been referred to as in by councillors, with a majority of 6-2, however Mr Elkins opted to stay with the unique plan to take away all the West Sussex lanes en masse.
A freedom of knowledge request later revealed Mr Elkins had by no means visited the lane in individual.
Duncan Dollimore Biking UK’s head of campaigns mentioned: “When the council launched this cycle lane, folks quickly modified how they travelled domestically. Youngsters started biking to highschool, pensioners felt secure to trip into city and commuters began swapping vehicles and public transport for his or her bikes. It was an entire success story.
“Cllr Elkins’ choice to take away the lane 5 weeks later with out contemplating the proof displaying the lane’s advantages is opposite to statutory steering. It demonstrates a essentially flawed course of, which Biking UK would argue, is each irrational and illegal.”
Regardless of successful the assist of biking teams, the lane was not an entire success story and introduced criticism from some residents, significantly of Higher Shoreham Highway.
Considerations included the lane forcing supply drivers and different autos to park throughout folks’s driveways, affecting companies and residents.
On-street parking was additionally eliminated to make approach for the lanes, which restricted prospects’ entry to native merchants.
Following the announcement of the removing choice, the county council mentioned it could take a look at putting in a redesigned, everlasting scheme, following a full session.
Biking UK has argued the county council didn’t contemplate the affect on younger folks when deciding to take away the cycle lane.
Underneath the Equality Act age is a protected attribute, which on this case the charity says the council ought to have thought-about earlier than making its choice.
Commenting on the advantages of the cycle lane alongside Higher Shoreham Highway Clive Andrews, a member of Shoreham-By-Cycle mentioned: “For a couple of weeks, the folks of Shoreham-by-Sea had a style of what it felt like to have the ability to select safer, extra protected journeys by bike, on this key route throughout our city. The pop-up lanes had fairly an affect: doubling biking ranges, and in some weeks even trebling them.
“The challenge was serving to our city to contemplate how a greater future for native journeys might look – particularly for youngsters’s journeys to highschool. WSCC’s choice to take away the lanes got here as a shock, given the large improve in cycle visitors, and the potential that was there to go away them in situ whereas choices for longer-term adjustments could possibly be explored.
“The information that Biking UK has been wanting on the legalities of this choice is admittedly fascinating, and we respect the efforts of Biking UK in analyzing the implications of what’s occurred right here in West Sussex.”
Biking UK is funding its authorized problem through its Bike owner Defence Fund, and is anxious West Sussex CC’s actions could possibly be mirrored by different native authorities beneath stress from vocal minorities proof against enhancements of their neighborhood.
“Regardless of the general public’s enthusiasm for having safer routes to stroll and cycle alongside, it’s irritating to see the admirable ambitions of some councils wither away on the first signal of criticism,” mentioned Mr Dollimore.
“If councils determine to make baseless knee jerk choices with no proof, then they should realise there shall be penalties. They need to anticipate to be challenged, as a result of such arbitrary and irrational choice making can’t be allowed to go unchecked.”
A council spokesman confirmed it had been served with authorized proceedings however was unable to remark.
