​Boost for cycle tourism in 1066 Country as six Southern stations gain nearly £220K in cycle improvements

A Bexhill cycling club has welcomed plans to improve bicycle facilities across six Southern stations, hailing it as an important step towards creating a cycle network.

Govia Thameslink Railway has been awarded funding from the Department for Transport, via the sustainable transport charity Sustrans, to make a series of improvements for cyclists across its rail network.

On the Southern route, Bexhill, Normans Bay, Collington, Winchelsea and Three Oaks will all benefit from cycle scheme funding, which has been boosted by a contribution from East Sussex County Council and Rother District Council. Appledore has also benefitted from cycle scheme funding, boosted by a contribution from Kent County Council.

At Bexhill station, £190,000 will be spent on refurbishing an existing unit within the station to create more than 70 cycle spaces in a two-tier system, along with a maintenance/repair area. There will be free key card access, plus CCTV and LED lighting. Cyclists will also benefit from lockers and a changing area. Members of the local community will be running cycle hire from the hub as well.

Bexhill Wheelers and Classic Cycle Group spokesman Ian Hollidge said: “It has always been Bexhill Wheelers’ ambition to create a Bexhill Cycle Network and when the Bexhill Cycle Hub is open, it will form an important part of that.”

The cycle club sees the investment in cycle facilities as “a great opportunity for cycle tourism to develop in Bexhill and the surrounding area, attracting tourists visiting 1066 Country”. 

Normans Bay, Collington, Winchelsea, Three Oaks and Appledore will each gain six cycle spaces at a total cost of nearly £30,000. At present, none of the stations has cycle parking.

Construction for these schemes and the Bexhill scheme is expected to be completed by spring.

GTR’s Head of Environment Jason Brooker said: “By improving cycle facilities at these Southern stations, we hope to encourage more rail users to use pedal power as part of their commute. Getting to the station by bike is not only good for the environment, but it has multiple health benefits for the cyclist. We also hope that people will feel more confident leaving their bikes at Bexhill station thanks to the new well-lit cycle storage area and CCTV.”

Jason added: “We would like to thank the Department for Transport and the councils for their support in funding this project.”

Cllr Claire Dowling, East Sussex County Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Environment, said: “We were really pleased to team up with GTR to provide these new cycle facilities, which will enable more people to use sustainable transport for their daily journeys and help reduce congestion and carbon emissions. The new hub at Bexhill station will provide a secure ‘one-stop shop’ for cyclists including cycle parking, storage lockers, bike maintenance facilities and charging points for electric bikes.”

Anita Konrad, England Director at Sustrans – the walking and cycling charity, said: “Combining walking and cycling with rail helps people reduce their reliance on the car and makes for healthy journeys. The shift towards more sustainable modes of transport can also go a long way to alleviating congestion and air pollution in our towns and cities and more environmentally friendly ways of getting around in the countryside. We hope the new cycle schemes will encourage more people to choose cycling as part of their everyday journey.”

Cycling and Walking Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “Cycling to your nearest station to catch a train to work or school is a great way to keep healthy, reduce emissions and help make our towns and cities vibrant places to live. I’m delighted that as a direct result of Government funding more passengers across the GTR network will be able to park their bikes securely, making greener travel more convenient.”

Ends

Editor’s notes

Sustrans is managing the Department for Transport’s Cycle Rail Grant Fund which provides money to improve facilities for people cycling to railway stations.