Introduction
In 2021 Seaford Community Partnership commissioned Transport Initiatives to carry out a Better Cycling Options Study for Seaford, as part of a suite of projects being developed by Ouse Valley Climate Action (OVCA). Enabling people in Seaford to choose to cycle more, especially shorter trips, would bring many benefits including improved public health. People who walk or cycle also spend more money in local shops.
Provision for cycling was assessed using tools produced by the Department for Transport (DfT). Detailed options for a network of safe, convenient and attractive cycle routes were developed, based on site visits plus advice from stakeholders. The network was based on proposals included in the East Sussex “Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan” (LCWIP), published by East Sussex County Council (ESCC) in September 2021. As part of the study, we talked to the four statutory bodies: ESCC, South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA), Lewes District Council (LDC) and Seaford Town Council (STC). A public consultation was carried out on the proposed network in March and April 2022, with many responses. There was broad public support for the proposed measures, of around 70%.
Policy and funding changes at the national level required a revised version of this report, published in October 2023.

Government Policy
Since 2016 there have been a number of significant developments in Government policy for ‘Active Travel’ (walking, wheeling and cycling):

  • 2016: First Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS 1) published by DfT
  • July 2020: New Government strategy “Gear Change: a bold vision for cycling and walking” and guidance “LTN1/20 Cycle Infrastructure Design”, accompanying major funding for local authority schemes via the Emergency Active Travel Fund as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic
  • May 2022: Announcement by DfT of £200m Active Travel Fund (ATF) 2021-22 awards to councils based on assessment of bids using formal criteria
  • July 2022: Second Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS 2)
  • August 2022: Establishment of Active Travel England (ATE) to lead on active travel, with a target of 50% of short trips in towns and cities to be walked, wheeled or cycled. ATE has taken over ATF as well as providing training and other support on planning, development and design of active travel schemes.
  • February/May 2023: Announcement of £200m ATF funding for 2023-24 (with reduced funding of £100m for 2024-25), including £1.2m awarded to ESCC

Research & analysis
Transport Initiatives carried out an earlier study for LDC which assessed the suitability for cycling of the town’s roads and paths, showing there was little provision for safe and convenient cycling. It highlighted particular issues around the number and quality of main road crossings, for walking as well as cycling. The current study analysed existing travel in and around Seaford (by all types of transport), showing that most trips were short and within the town itself. There is clear potential for a proportion of these to be made by cycling (and indeed walking) instead of driving if conditions were better.
We also examined locations with higher levels of road casualties (both walking and cycling), as well as places where a new link or crossing would help people wanting to cycle in the town, and considered how improvements to these might also help people walking and wheeling (using wheelchairs or mobility scooters). All cycle parking in the town was also surveyed and assessed. There were only 19 cycle parking locations, with 126 spaces (nearly a third at Seaford Station). Around 10% of these spaces were sub-standard in some way, mostly due to their poor condition.

Please click to enlarge
Key

Proposals
We developed an initial network, based on a combination of routes in East Sussex’s LCWIP and our research. This was then revised following feedback from public consultation, councils and stakeholders.
The proposed network has 24 routes (plus some short links) totalling 42km. We have drawn up proposed measures including junction and crossing improvements, protected space for cycling, traffic calming measures and signing. There were no proposals for the A259 in central Seaford as this overlaps with ESCC’s A259 South Coast Corridor Study.
The measure were costed and the routes were given a score based on various factors (e.g. how many people would benefit, deliverability and cost). They were then classified into three priorities (Top, High, Medium). The plan to the right shows all the routes, with Top and High priority routes labelled. Implementing these would cost around £7.6million (including contingencies). It is important to note that this is intended as a 10 year programme.
The three highest scoring routes, around Seaford Head School, would be suitable for developing first (highlighted on the plan) at an estimated cost of around £1.65m. Based on Government guidance this would be “High Value for Money”, mainly due to improved health and reduced congestion.
A list of proposed new cycle parking measures was also developed, more than doubling provision in Seaford as well as improving existing poor parking. These are shown on p. 17. To implement all the cycle parking proposals would cost around £70,000 which could be delivered in a phased manner.
Funding could come from a number of sources, primarily a bid to the next round of the Active Travel Fund when this is announced. Contributions could also be sought from other government funding and third parties (such as developers), as well as the National Lottery.

Recommendations

  • Establish a Seaford Active Travel Partnership, hosted by one of the councils with representatives from relevant bodies, to progress the study proposals
  • Include at least the three routes around Seaford Head School in ESCC’s bid to the next round of ATF when this is announced by Active Travel England.
  • Implement more and better cycle parking – the first phase of this could be done relatively quickly and cost-effectively.

Next steps
To progress this study, further discussions will take place with SCP/OVCA and councillors and officers of ESCC, LDC and STC. These will establish the processes and timetable for bidding for ATF and other sources of funding, as well as the commissioning of more detailed feasibility studies.