CYCLING campaigners have told of their delight after Brighton and Hove became the first non-London council to sign up to the national Space for Cycling campaign.

The campaign, led by national cycling charity CTC, aims to create the conditions where "anyone can cycle anywhere".

The news was welcomed after disappointment over Chancellor George Osborne’s autumn spending review which slashed transport funding and punctured the Prime Minister’s vision of a ‘Cycling Revolution’.

The city council Green Group’s motion to back Space for Cycling in Brighton and Hove received 62% support from councillors, with the Conservatives abstaining.

A Conservative amendment proposed by Councillor Tony Janio asking for a costed report was defeated.

Becky Reynolds, campaigns officer at campaign group Bricycles, said: “We are delighted the City Council has voted to support CTC’s Space for Cycling campaign.

“There was agreement at Tuesday’s environment transport and sustainability committee to ask Brighton and Hove’s chief executive to sign the council up to the initiative.

"This shows admirable unity of purpose between the Labour chair of the committee, Councillor Gill Mitchell, and the Green Group, led by Coun Pete West, who tabled the motion.

She added: “Bricycles has been promoting Space for Cycling since the start of the campaign led nationally by CTC. We now hope to see a continued and renewed focus at local level on the remaining barriers to cycling, particularly dealing with busy roads and dangerous junctions.”

Campaign officer Sam Jones said: “Brighton has clearly shown that it recognises the need for cycling and the enormous benefits it brings, just at the time the national government is poised to drastically damage Prime Minister David Cameron’s vision of a ‘Cycling Revolution’.

Roger Geffen, policy director at CTC, added: “The council’s vote is great news for Brighton. On a national scale, however, the Chancellor’s spending review spells bad news for cycling.”