HUNDREDS of cyclists are set to benefit from improved bicycle facilities at the county’s railway stations after £1.5 million of new funding was announced.

New cycle facilities will be installed at 10 Southern stations across Sussex following an announcement by the Department for Transport on funding for the next wave of cycle parking improvements across the country.

Southern has been awarded £1.5m from the Government for the scheme, with a further £168,000 to be funded by local councils.

Among the biggest new projects, £350,000 will be spent on a hub with 150 additional cycle spaces, maintenance, hire and repair business at Hove Railway Station Cycle Hub.

The £450,000 project at Portslade Station Cycle Hub will convert an unused listed building into a cycle hub with an additional 200 spaces, cycle maintenance workshops, cycle hire and meeting area for cyclists run by a local business.

London Road and Moulescoomb stations will also get 20 new sheltered cycle parking spaces with new lighting and signage costing £50,000 and Newhaven Town Station Cycle Hub will get 50 cycle spaces at £150,000.

Bexhill Station will get 50 more cycle spaces in £150,000 project, Polegate station cycle parking will double to 60 spaces with £20,000 of funding while Seaford, Rye, Crowborough and Uckfield biking commuters will also benefit.

Paul Best, Southern’s project manager, said: “This is extremely good news for customers who cycle to and from our stations.

“The addition of 1,000 spaces to the 6,000 we already have represents a significant increase and I’m sure this will encourage even more people to leave the car at home and get the bike out.”

Councillor Ian Davey, Brighton and Hove City Council lead for transport, said: “I am delighted that, working with our partners at Southern Rail, we have secured a further £765k for cycle facilities at four more stations across the city, including Portslade, Hove, London Road and Moulsecoomb.

“This builds on our success, through numerous projects, in supporting more people to travel by bike.

“Not least of these is the new Cycle Hub at Brighton Station which now offers secure parking and will soon provide maintenance services and a café.

“All this is great news for the city in helping us toward a truly integrated approach to transport.”

Becky Reynolds, from Bricycles, said: “I’m very happy to hear this, the combination of bike and train gives as much if not more flexibility than driving from A to B with the added benefits towards the air quality situation and the public health issues around a lack of exercise.

“I think more safe cycle routes to stations would encourage more people, particularly the potential cyclist not currently cycling.

“We are not quite there yet but this council has made enormous improvements, we are extremely happy with what they have done so far and hope whatever happens in May we will continue to progress as a cycling city.”