Lewes to Ringmer
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According to Alan Cook, Head of Transport Strategy at East Sussex County Council, traffic flows are being reviewed following the completion of the Beddingham road works. Ideally ESCC would like to complete the whole cycle route at once, but if this is not feasible financially they will need to complete the first section out of Ringmer by a certain time in order not to lose the developer funding they already have. We understand that this will need to be done (or started) by 2010.
Background
Lewes to Ringmer is one of the most heavily commuted routes around Lewes, with flows of employees into Lewes and school and college students in both directions. The distance should be easy to cycle - but the B2192 road with its dense fast traffic at peak times puts off all but the most committed. The potential for switching people from cars to bikes makes a cycle lane here the top-scoring cycle plan using ESCC's evaluation system, but it is an expensive scheme, particularly at the Lewes end where the narrow embanked road would need to be re-engineered.
An alternative idea was taking a cycle path from the top of Mill Road across the nature reserve to the layby outside Ringmer. However many felt that 'utility' cyclists, particularly those new to cycling, could be put off by the steepness of Mill Road and the isolated feeling of the path. Another obstacle was that the nature reserve managers would only consent to a temporary, rather than a permanent route through their land.