A24 Findon Valley

Background

This proposed improvement is included in the WSCC Cycling and Walking Strategy as a priority together with forming part of the West Sussex Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). The scheme will connect the South Downs National Park gateway of Findon Village with Findon Valley and its local businesses whilst enabling onward connection to Worthing and its transport hubs as well as the Sussex Coast via the existing cycle network. The £1 million scheme links communities with important local amenities as well as nationally significant tourist attractions and leisure facilities and will be used by local residents and visitors from outside the area.

The scheme promotes cycling through the use of a shared facility, on the eastern side of the A24. The new facility will provide a continuous high-class provision for cyclists that includes priority over existing road users at side road junctions. The facility will be constructed entirely within the existing highway land and is expected to be constructed in the middle of 2022.

To view the consultation report for A24 Findon Valley, please click on the following link:

A24 Findon Valley Consultation

Overall, there is a deeply polarised split between supporting and opposing a cycle scheme along the A24 between Findon Village and Findon Valley with: - 50% of respondents strongly supported or supported a cycle scheme along the A24 but 41% of respondents either opposed or strongly opposed to this.

Respondents from the Arundel & South Downs constituency were more supportive with 62% of respondents strongly supporting or supporting the scheme compared with 49% from respondents in the East Worthing & Shoreham constituency.

The variance in support for the scheme between the constituencies prompted a meeting, on 16^th November 2021, where MP’s, County, District and Borough Councillors advised of their desire to re-route the southern section of the proposed A24 Findon cycle route. Three options for the re-routing were presented and these can be viewed here:

Alternative Option A

Alternative Option B

Alternative Option C

The preferred option for the East Worthing and Shoreham Constituency is to divert the route away from its proposed routing adjacent the A24 to follow an on-road provision via May Tree Avenue and Lime Tree Avenue (Option C); this will entail a signed route and supporting measures.

Next Steps

The Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport will consider the desired changes to the scheme and will make a decision on the routing with construction to take place within the 2022/23 financial year.